Sure, it's not an M-car, but can the 330i still boogie on the backroads?
First thing to do when driving this one: You gotta put it in the sport mode. Now the shifts feel crisp, and the car just comes alive.
No, it’s not an M-substitute, but it’s a worthy successor to the 3/4 Series lineage. It’s the right size. It’s the right shape.
If there’s a word to describe the chassis, I’d call it competent. In today’s world of SUVs and overstuffed everything, maybe this one is a bit of a throwback. Compared to most of today’s field, it’s crisp–yet, at the same time, not jarring.
Behind the wheel of the BMW 330i is, as expected, comfortable: seats, wheel, gauges, view out the window. No offensive wind noise.
It’s easy to get in and out of. (And, yes, these are pretty much the same things that we have been saying about the 3 Series since there was just a 3 Series.)
The 330i’s panoramic display pairs nicely with the traditional gauges. The screen doesn’t look like an afterthought, like something that the marketing department insisted upon.
BMW continues to find new ways to package the shifter, though, with this one kind of resembling an oversized toggle switch. Knock it back twice to engage that sport mode. You get used to it, but at the same time, what was wrong with the traditional PRNDL?
BMW does offer something that, sadly, is becoming a bit of a rarity in today’s marketplace: a trunk. A real hide-your-stuff-from-prying-eyeballs trunk. By the way, the trunk of the BMW 330i perfectly holds a Fender Jazz Bass–with the back seat in its fully upright and locked position.
We need to talk about the grille, right? Dear BMW, I would so love to see this face–mature, restrained, purposeful–on the M cars. The mouth gapes a bit, but the relationship between the grille to the rest of the car is spot on. (This is officially known, by the way, as the g/c ratio.)
Closing thoughts on the latest BMW 330i: While maybe not the first choice for laps, it’s nearly perfect for the daily grind. If I had to drive this one cross-country tomorrow, I’d only hesitate to grab my stuff.
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