We’ve been in BMW’s Neue Klasse era for a little while now, and its headliner is the all-electric i3. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for the good old fashioned 3 Series, though. The 3 Series has always been BMW’s bread and butter, and while the i3 is essentially an electric 3 Series, the gas-powered car is still the most important car in Bavaria. BMW is a 3 Series company and now it has a new one. The new eighth-generation “G50” 3 Series is here and, while it might look just like the i3, this is its own car with its own impressive set of specs.
Unlike the i3, the G50 3er is built on the CLAR architecture, so it’s the latest version of BMW’s front-engine, rear-wheel drive chassis. That doesn’t mean it’s old-school underneath, though. The new 3 Series comes with all of the latest Bavarian tech, like SAE Level 2 hands-free assisted driving, 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrains, and all of BMW’s fancy interior gizmos. There might be an “ancient” piston engine under the hood but this new 3 is bleeding edge.
Two models, with two different powertrains, come to the U.S. from the jump: the 330 and M350. The former gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged “B48” four-cylinder engine, with 255 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque, and the choice of either rear or all-wheel drive. Most fans will be excited about the M350, though, as that gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged “B58” inline-six-cylinder engine, making a very impressive 437 horsepower and 428 lb-ft. Both models get 48-volt mild hybrid tech, with belt-drive starter generators.
BMW claims the M350 can hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, but that seems ultra conservative. Even the 330 xDrive’s claimed time of 5.9 seconds sounds slow. Expect both cars to be quicker in reality, as BMW has a knack for drastically underrating its engines. All 3 Series models have the same 155 mph top speed.
For those wondering about Drift Mode, it will only be available on the M350 but not right away. BMW will launch it sometime in 2027, and will be added to existing cars via over-the-air software update.
This might be the first time you’re seeing the new 3 Series, but it isn’t the first time you’ve seen this design. The gas-powered 3er is barely distinguishable from the electric i3, both outside and inside. There are a few subtle visual cues that can help separate them, like the 3 Series’ longer, more squared off front end, longer dash-to-axle ratio, and larger lower front air intakes. Those small changes are simply necessary mechanical differences to accommodate the piston engine under the hood. Still, they’ll be tough to tell apart on the road. Which is a good thing, because this is one of the best modern BMW designs. It reminds me of the E12 5 Series (more so the i3 than the 3 Series), which is one of the prettier four-door Bimmers of all time. And the new Le Castellet Blue metallic is quite pretty.
There’s an M Sport package that spices things up, too, with snazzier wheels, a more aggressive lower front lip and rear diffuser, and cool mirror caps. For the M350, you also get what might be the most insulting badge ever fitted to a BMW. The “M3” part of it is big, while the “50” is small, so as to emphasize its relation to the M3. It’s almost as bad as when 3 Series owners replace their badges with M3 badges. It’s disingenuous, right from the factory. What aren’t lame are the cool yellow headlights the M350 gets.
Inside, the new 3er gets the same sort of techno-filled cabin as every other new BMW. It has the Panoramic Vision wraparound dash screen/gauge cluster, the same rhomboid iDrive screen, BMW’s 3D Head Up Display, and that odd four-spoke steering wheel that I just can’t get along with. For the most part, it looks like a great interior, though, with a nice mix of materials — like BMW’s animal free “Veganza” fake leather — and some cool geometry.
This might be the most powerful non-M 3 Series ever, and it’s also the most expensive. The 33o starts at $51,250, and that jumps to $53,250 if you want xDrive. Step up to the M350 xDrive (no rear-wheel drive option) and it’ll cost you $67,250. The i3 50 xDrive actually seems to be the value of the 3 Series range. For $62,850 to start, it’s the most powerful of the bunch, with 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque, and has a range of 446 miles. With 400 kW charging, it can add up to 208 miles of range in just 10 minutes. BMW claims a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds but who knows what it will really be in person. So for less money than the M350, you get more power, a fantastic range, a much newer chassis, and the ability to recharge at home.
All 3 Series models go on sale in Q1 of 2027, so customers won’t have to wait too much longer to take their pick of 3 Series and, for the first time ever, they get to choose between gas or electric.
