BMW 320d M Sport Road Test Review

But that has not deterred companies like BMW from making performance vehicles which also meet the legal requirements of the land. The M Sport package on the new 3 Series adds a power packed punch to this vehicle and makes it a more desirable option amongst buyers looking for more than just the ordinary. BMW's M division has been making performance cars since the summer of 1972 and now in the year 2016 they have brought the 3 Series M Sport to Indian shores.

The 3 Series has been a big hit for BMW in India and with the option of the M Sport, Indian buyers get added performance and a feel of the M's as well. The refreshed design on the 3 Series consists of aggressive looking LED headlamps which come as standard now, the car also gets new aprons with revised air intakes, standard LED tail lamps and the M Sport is also available with an exclusive Estoril Blue (Metallic) colour. The 3 series has been craftily combined using elegant design lines and aggressive styling. On the inside the cabin feels more like the cockpit of a space ship with contemporary design elements and efficient use of exquisite materials. The M Sport features a car key with the M trim, M logo on the front wings, an exclusive chrome trim in the centre console area and an M Sport leather steering wheel.

The 3 Series M Sport can go from 0-100kmph in 7.2 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 230kmph. The German engineering is quite evident on this sedan with a smooth, comfortable and sporty ride. The 3 Series M Sport which we drove sits on 255/40 R18 tyres which provide a phenomenal grip on tarmac and the steering is light, responding immediately to driver inputs. The suspension setup is a double joint spring strut in the front and a five arm one in the rear. BMW has increased the suspension stiffness on the new 3 Series and this caters to a well balanced and comfortable ride. The car glides over potholes and bumps with ease rendering minimum discomfort to the occupants. One of the biggest advantages to have is choosing a driving mode to suit your situation and convenience.

With the M Sport one can select between four driving modes -- Comfort, ECOPRO, Sport and Sport+. While Comfort and ECOPRO modes are for a more relaxed and laid back driving behavior of the car which caters to a better fuel efficiency, the Sport and Sport+ mode are for more responsive and aggressive driving behavior of the car. The Sport+ mode is where there is minimal intrusion from the various driver aids which have been installed in the car. This offers drivers more freedom to explore the capabilities of this sedan. The build quality of the car is superb as expected from BMW and it handles like a dream be it smooth tarmac or rough roads. The ground clearance of the 3 Series stands at 157mm which is decent by my standards. We took the sedan over some broken roads and it did not bottom out even once however one does need to be careful of those nasty speed breakers.       

On the inside the 3 Series provides comfortable seating for four average build Indian adults, it would get a little cramped if five adults were to sit in this cabin. The seats provide adequate support and the cabin feels roomy. The driver and co-passenger get power adjusted seats as well. Another very handy feature I found on the 3 Series was the full colour HUD (Heads Up Display). The HUD allows drivers to maintain focus on the road without having to peep down at the speedo from time to time. It also has the provision for displaying maps and directions which makes the drivers job easier. The 3 Series also comes with a start/stop function and brake energy regeneration to improve the fuel efficiency of this car. On the safety front the 3 Series M Sport comes fully loaded with features like airbags for the driver and co-passenger, head airbags for the front and rear occupants, side airbags for the driver and co-passenger, ABS, corner braking control, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control, crash sensors, vehicle immobiliser and run flat  tyres which can be driven up to 80kmph for a limited distance.

The 3 Series M Sport also comes with a sliding armrest as well as plenty of storage spaces and cubby holes. Occupants get a two zone climate control and rear ac vents as well. The 3 Series M Sport package comes with a 22.3cm iDrive colour touch infotainment system with handwriting recognition, DVD playback, integrated 3D maps, bluetooth audio streaming and USB integration. The BMW 3 Series M Sport is available for Rs. 44.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The vehicle has a lot to offer to buyers and is a very versatile and dynamic car with immense capability. At the price point BMW has offered the new 3 Series M Sport one can arguably say it is a solid deal.