Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the BMW 3 Series with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

Read the full review here: [ Ссылка ]

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BMW is perhaps the king of evolutionary design, and while the latest visual update to the 3 series may be typically discreet, there's a whole lot more going on under the skin.

Up the front there's new headlights and a revised bumper for non-M Sport models, and new taillights and rear bumper to match at the rear.

The big changes to the new 3 series is a completely new engine lineup, with new three, four and six cylinder engines.

Yep, a three cylinder engine in a luxury saloon…

From November the new base 318i will come with a version of the three cylinder turbo found in the 2 series active tourer and the Mini hatch, and if that doesn't sound like it will impress the neighbours, you can tell them it's also used as the petrol motor in the i8 supercar.

The new 320 and 330i's two-litre petrol engine is also found in the 2 series active tourer Cooper S.

The 320d gets a new 2 litre diesel version of the same modular design, and is now the only diesel in the lineup, while the new 340i flagship is the first model to score a new six cylinder turbo petrol engine from the same family.

All are more efficient than before, and the upper models are quicker too.

We've only managed to drive the 320d diesel and the upper spec 330i and 340i models for now, but each of these engines is a genuine peach.

The old engines were still very impressive, but these bring refinement and responsiveness to another level.

The 320d diesel is quieter than many petrol engines, and delivers smooth performance with an incredible fuel range.

The 330i is expected to pick up where the old 328i left off as the most popular 3 Series, and it's not hard to see why. It's a genuinely quick machine and well equipped for the money.

Like the old 335i, the 340i makes for a more discreet and cheaper alternative to an M3, packing all the luxury of a regular 3 Series with serious performance.

We're very much looking forward to the chance to drive the new three cylinder 318i, so keep an eye on CarsGuide.com.au for the full report.

All continue with the excellent eight speed auto as the default transmission, but unlike all of the 3 Series' rivals you can still order a six speed manual.

The new engines are also complemented by revised suspension, with stiffer mountings and new dampers across the board.

All models from 320 upwards get adaptive dampers too, so you can choose between Comfort and Sport settings. The changes are incremental, but they're all great handlers and ride best with the smaller 18 inch wheels.

The base price has gone up, but the rest of the range has dropped, and all come with extra kit to make them better value overall.

All models now get at least 18 inch alloys, LED headlights as standard, satnav with live traffic updates, and connected drive and remote smartphone integration.

There are minor changes to the interior, with extra chrome trim on the dash and a few other details in the upper models, but it's otherwise business as usual.

The new 3 Series may not look particularly different, but the new engines prove BMW is still one of the leaders in drivetrain tech, and they're still a hell of a good steer.

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