In 1855, Robert Browning popularised the phrase "less is more" in his poem, The Faultless Painter. This phrase has been used to accentuate the beauty in simplicity and was one of the things that came to this writer's mind when he spent a weekend in the car that you see across these pages.
The BMW 3 Series has achieved a similar cult status as the above mentioned phrase for being the poster boy of compact executive sedans. However, with the latest Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) iteration of the 3 Series, BMW seems to have raised a few eyebrows by doing away with one pot in the entry-level model that you see here.
This eyebrow-raising change comes in the form of a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol heart that sits in the 3 Series Sedan 318i Sport. Derived from the MINI Cooper, this three-pot turbo motor is also more recently found in the 2 Series Active Tourer.
Up close and Personal
Visual changes are minimal but should not be too difficult for BMW fanboys to distinguish. To the rest of us mere casuals, it could very well be like a game of Where's Wally.
This 318i sports a slightly resculpted front bumper, new aprons with revised air intakes at the front as well as redesigned LED head and tail lamps that come standard.
Although aggressive and sporty in its execution, the car retains a premium styling cue that has come to define the marque.
Those who have owned or driven the previous models will find themselves right at home in the cabin of this new one as a large part of it remains the same.
A dash of chrome highlights now decorate the controls, air vents and central control panel. You will also find an improved centre console with a sliding lid for the cup holders.
Media and vehicle information is accessed via the BMW ConnectedDrive system housed in a 6.5-inch screen. As always, the interface is idiot-proof and a joy to use.
The Drive
After spending some time around town with the car, it is easy to forget that the engine powering it is a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit. Before you mutter to yourself that this must be a terrible mistake, it actually drives as though it packs more than the 136bhp and 220Nm of torque as said on paper.
Accompanied by a throaty grunt, the 318i picks up speed with ease and its mid-range punch guarantees the ability to overtake traffic without the slightest hint of struggle.
BMW claims that the 318i offers four-cylinder performance with three-cylinder fuel consumption and it isn't wrong. With the amount of driving this writer was planning to do over the weekend, his initial consumption concerns proved to be unnecessary when the car returned an average fuel consumption of 16km/L.
This performance to efficiency ratio is aided by the
BMW claims that the 318i offers four-cylinder performance with three-cylinder fuel consumption and it isn't wrong. With the amount of driving this writer was planning to do over the weekend, his initial consumption concerns proved to be unnecessary when the car returned an average fuel consumption of 16km/L.
eight-speed ZF Steptronic transmission that also provides seamless gear changes. A downside of this said transmission is the lack of flappy paddles.
The 318i is a sedan that you will enjoy driving, not just along stretches of roads in town but also around a series of bends.
Suspension can be described as comfortably firm but this has been a characteristic of the marque for quite some time already. Combined with a few clever adjustments to the power steering system's software, the car will confidently take on any directional changes that you point-and-shoot it in.
Conclusion
The$180,800 price tag (as of 12th September 2015) on the 318i allows more people to own a 3 Series without breaking the bank. And even though it lacks the power of the 320i or 328i, the 318i Sport sure as hell isn't any less of a BMW than its bigger brothers - proving indeed that less can be more.
