The BMW 3 Series has been a perpetual mainstay in the brand's model lineup, ever since the first model was launched back in 1975. Through six generations, much has changed - the design of the car has moved on significantly from the boxy early E21 model to the rounder (and much bigger) F30 model.

Of course, each successive generation also saw the car infused with new features and technologies. However, one thing that has remained constant is the involvement of the driver - for many, the 3 Series is the consummate sport sedan thanks to its best-in-class handling.

Now, the brand new seventh generation G20 3 Series is here, bringing with it an expected host of design, technological and dynamic upgrades. We headed up to Portugal to give it a spin.

A mean mug

The new 3 Series has grown notably bigger - it is 76mm longer (with a 41mm longer wheelbase), 1mm taller, and 16mm wider than its predecessor. The design language has also evolved, with a shift towards using fewer but more distinctive lines.

In this particular M Sport trim, we think the car looks quite good, with a wide and muscular front end and a sleek side profile underpinned by a cleaner, sharper design. We reckon the rear looks a little bland compared to the rest of the car, but overall it's hard to deny that the new 3 Series looks a whole lot sharper than before. 


Techy savvy

The interior is pretty much the same across the new generation BMW models. That's a good thing though. It's cleaner and sleeker than before, achieved through the simplifying of surfaces and the clustering of control buttons. However, we did find the new M Sport steering wheel to be slightly too chunky for our Asian hands. 

Notably, cabin refinement has been improved significantly. Our car came fitted with the optional acoustic front windows, on top of the standard acoustic windshield, which makes for a very quiet and serene cabin. 

The boot space remains the same at 420 litres, but the car's increased dimensions allow the boot to be reconfigured to offer more usable space in the primary loading compartment. 

The car is loaded with the latest technology, and the one that will likely see the most use is the Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA). Essentially, it allows you 'talk' to the car (though you shouldn't expect to be able to hold an entire conversation). After activating it by saying 'Hey BMW', you can then proceed to do a range of things - anything from adjusting the air-con, checking your remaining range or even locating the nearest Starbucks. 

One thing we did discover is that the IPA actually detects commands from the front passenger side as well. While seated in the passenger seat, we asked the car to adjust the air-con and it actually adjusts just the passenger side air-con. Pretty cool. Additionally, we found that the IPA reacts well, even managing to pick up our voice commands when the music was turned up pretty loud (and mind you, we had Iron Maiden blasting over the Harmon Kardon speakers).

Of course, the car comes loaded with the latest in driver assistance systems. The newest one is the Reversing Assistant, sort of like the rewind buton you'd find in games. If you find yourself stuck in a tight spot or dead-end road, the car is able to autonomously 'undo' the last 50m, following the exact same line you had driven. All you have to do is operate the brakes.