BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine 320Ld Luxury Line First Drive Review

Step on the gas and go past the 2,000rpm mark, the turbo spools up giving you a nice powerful punch as you gain speed. BMW claims a 0-100kmph time of 7.6 seconds which is quite impressive considering the size of the car and the engine. Staying there is not too difficult either as you have ample punch to keep your pace constant.

And when it comes to the daily commute, the 3 Series delivers equally smoothly. The eight-speed gearbox does its thing silently in the background and apart from some of the diesel clatter, you don't hear much of anything. Switching the drive selector to eco-pro mode will give you a muted response from the engine as well as some extra re-gen to charge up the batteries. Those choosing to be driven around will be quite comfortable at the back with little fuss or drama from the engine, even when the driver makes quick overtakes in traffic.

Additionally, BMW has added 3 driving modes – Sport, Comfort, and Eco-pro, each of which adjusts the aggressiveness of the steering and throttle response. A nice little touch is that the instrument cluster turns an aggressive red when you go into Sport mode. What's more, you can configure the touchscreen system to show stats like the G-Forces you achieved as well as how much torque and power you are using at every step.

The ride quality is impressive with BMW managing to find a good balance between ride and handling. It's on the firm side but manages to smoothen out everything in its path sans any major drama. A part of this comfortable ride is also down to the smaller wheels and chunky tyres. Ground clearance, which is normally an issue for such cars, is quite good and will clear most speed breakers and potholes without the need for any weaving around. But given the odd conditions of our roads, it's still a good idea to be on the side of caution.

Extended length apart, the rear seats in this 320Ld luxury line car that we are reviewing also get rear AC vents with its climate zone, USB type-C charging point, centre armrest storage, and fold-out cup holders that can be accessed by pressing down here. However, we would have liked it if BMW had added in sun blinds and the ability to move front passenger seat from the rear as standard fitment for this long-wheelbase 3 Series.

While this car’s main USP is the large rear space, it’s a BMW 3 Series and that means the front seats are still the stars of the show. Get in and you are transported into a luxurious space lined with leather, high-quality plastics, and two large screens. Everything feels nice and falls easily to hand. We are glad that BMW still offers a plethora of physical buttons for all the functions which could have easily become one too many but they are all well laid out and it won’t take much time to develop muscle memory for all the functions.

The buttons all work for this- the 10.25-inch display running BMW’s live cockpit professional with in-built navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as screen sharing. You also get access to BMW’s inbuilt apps which can be downloaded from respective online stores. Oh also, if you want to go direct, then this screen is also a touch unit, something that’s been introduced with this generation of the 3 Series.

The seats themselves are quite comfortable with electric adjustment and memory function for the driver. The visibility all around is surprisingly good thanks to the large glass area and the sight of watching those lines on the hood lead the way is a BMW 3 Series experience in itself.

One feature that we found very useful is the auto parking assist which parks the car for you. All you need to do is identify an appropriate spot and work the pedals with the guidance of all the automated systems to have your long-wheelbase 3 Series safely parked away.

The safety net on the 3 Series is quite comprehensive across both trim levels with six airbags, ABS with brake assist, cornering brake control, traction control, and tyre pressure monitoring system as a part of the package.

BMW is expected to price this long-wheelbase 3 Series in the range of Rs 44 lakh to Rs 49 lakh. It will rival the likes of the Jaguar XE, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Audi A4 in the Indian market.

Photos: Kapil Angane