
Mzansi Life had an opportunity to review the BMW 320i Luxury Line for a week and we can confirm that the car is the class leader in many disciplines.
What stood out most for us is the combination of irresistible and vibrant design, outstanding practicality as well as matchless agility. It’s long bonnet, short overhangs and long wheelbase are instantly recognisable.
The sporty-elegant exterior is harmoniously coordinated. The front lights emphasise the wide stance on the road.
We were also impressed with the spacious interior that comes with plenty of storage possibilities – the luggage compartment ensures outstanding functionality. The seating segment on the driver’s side can be folded down together with the middle segment, allowing for outstanding loading flexibility.
The classy design and superior craftsmanship, aluminium and fine-wood trim finishes of the interior are obvious at the very first glance.
Interior
The BMW 320i cabin looks very sophisticated. The Veneto Beige Dakota leather seats with exclusive stitching (that demonstrates attention to details) creates a premium ambience.
The car features door sill finishers in aluminium, sport leather steering wheel and Walnut wood trim. Chrome trim is also used for air conditioning and radio controls.
The BMW ConnectedDrive technology provides versatile connections between the driver, vehicle and the world. The full-colour head-up display indicates current speed, gives a constant view of traffic conditions and tells you in advance what sort of bend is coming up next.
The park assist system makes parallel parking easier and measures any parking gaps the vehicle passes.
The driving assist system combines the camera-based lane departure method and collision warnings. When changing lane unintentionally, the system also draws attention by means of slight vibrations in the steering wheel.
Exterior
The first thing you notice about the BMW 320i is its muscularity with a low and sporty front that comes with a kidney grille, offering a distinctive personality.
The high-gloss chrome, aluminium wheels – with multi-spoke styling – high-beam assist, dynamic brake lights, fog lights, xenon and adaptive headlights complete the 320i.
On the road
The BMW 320i handles sharp curves very well. The car is very solid, feels safe on the road and comes with exceptional fuel economy – thanks to its twin-power turbo technology, lightweight design, brake energy regeneration and the auto start/stop function.
The driving experience control enables an individual adaptation of powertrain by allowing the driver to select either Comfort, Sport or Sport+ mode. The ECO PRO mode helps to minimise fuel consumption and displays potential savings in the instrument cluster.
When you take your foot off the accelerator in the ECO PRO mode, the transmission shuts the engine off to reduce fuel consumption.
Tech Specs
- Engine:1997cc
- Power: 135kW at 5000rpm
- Torque: 270Nm at 1250 – 4500
- 0-100 km/h: 7.3 seconds
- Top speed:235km/h
- Fuel consumption: 6.2 litres per 100km
- Fuel type: Petrol
- Fuel tank capacity: 60 litres
- CO2:147g/km
- Price: From R463 000
What we like about the car:
- Luxury interior finishes
- Irresistible and vibrant design
- Exceptional fuel economy
- It feels safe
- It is solidly built
- Cargo space
- Great performance
- Advanced audio system and sound quality
What we don’t like about the car:
- Nothing!
Five star rating:
- 5/5