MotorMouths

A classed-up, roomier interior, more power and substantially improved gas mileage breathe new life into the redesigned 2012 BMW 3 Series sedan, which should continue to dominate the sport-sedan market.

Reviewing its report card, the 335i earns nothing but solid marks for performance. We have yet to meet a four-cylinder that is able to consistently give us goose bumps – and therein seems to be the calling for the 335i.

The new BMW 3-series may have become more of a “family” sport sedan for the maturing driver, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With its gains in interior room and fuel economy, it still remains the car that other sport sedan makers have to keep squarely in their sights.

BMW has succeeded in building a better 3-series, thanks to the addition of more room, refined performance, and increased fuel economy. Nitpickers might complain that some feedback is lost to the new electro-mechanical steering setup, but in the grand scheme of things, the 3-series is a winner.

The 328i is plenty fast and I thought it was fun to drive. While expensive for a mid-sized four-cylinder sedan, it is priced competitively against competition from other luxury automakers. It is far from a mundane transportation appliance.

We really like the 2012 BMW 328i as a luxury sedan. It’s very quick, spacious, elegant, fuel-efficient, and if we want to explore some back road, the capability is there.

The light, sleek 335i sedan’s comfort, performance and fuel economy set a high standard that goes a long way toward justifying the car’s high price. A quieter interior and better auto-stop would be welcome, though.

The 2013 BMW 3 Series is an impressively well-rounded and highly desirable entry-level luxury car.

The latest 3-series has suffered hardly at all for the cause of greater efficiency. Yes, some aspects of the 3-series have been altered, and others have been improved, but that the overall character of the car has been maintained. And that’s a relief.

Clearly, the new 3-series is the compact sports sedan for a changed world. Without totally abandoning its driving-enthusiast constituents, the 2012 3-series tenders a rich menu of gimmicks and gadgets that probably will appeal to those who always want more.

The 2012 BMW 328i is a quick sedan that gives up little in the way of performance to its competitors. If this is the future of four-cylinder performance, the cylinder sacrifice isn’t going to be a problem.

Offering sporty performance, impressive efficiency and low emissions, with the new 3 Series, BMW has once again improved upon the world’s leading sports sedan.