BMW 335i Sedan Quick Test

The most frequently targeted benchmark in the automotive world

The BMW 3-series' long reign as the king of sports sedans is well defended by the latest and greatest 335i.

New for 2009 but really amounting to a midterm facelift of its three-year-old fifth-generation 3-series sedan, BMW's 335i slots in just below the much more expensive and exotic M3 to stand as quite possibly the world's most frequently targeted automotive benchmark.

Seemingly every automaker in the world looking to build a proper sports sedan has taken a shot at the BMW 3-series - which is a good thing: After all, almost any car could benefit from being a little bit more like the BMW 335i!

Featuring a magnificent 300hp, twin-turbocharged engine mated to either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, the 335 is underpinned by a chassis with moves so athletic it can embarrass many a so-called sportscar.

It is truly a darling of the world's automotive press.

What is it specifically about BMW's bread-and-butter earner that, year after year, earns it high praise?

A magnificent powertrain and a great chassis certainly don't hurt, but what really elevates the 335i to the top of the sports sedan class is the diversity of its talents. It is agile, practical and economical. It is built superbly from premium materials. It features all the usual luxury amenities and more.

Center stage in the 335i performance story, of course, is its award winning 3-liter, twin-turbocharged and direct-injected engine. Smooth and relatively economical (as long as you stay out of the boost), the inline 6 feels more like a larger-displacement V8.

Maximum torque delivery from 1400 all the way to 5000 rpm hides the typical turbo "spike" while throttle lag is nearly non-existent thanks partially to direct fuel injection but mainly to the use of two turbos.

Those twin turbochargers are small, low-pressure units that, thanks to low inertia, spin up quickly to provide instant boost when you get on the throttle.

And then there are the car's other attributes: The 335i offers a level of precision from the helm that few other cars possess, with a ride and handling balance that is perhaps its biggest advantage over its rivals.

Only on the race track is the driver ever left wanting as the lack of a limited-slip differential starts the Dynamic Traction Control light blinking. Disable that system and you're left spinning the inside wheel exiting corners hard on the gas.

To be fair, the 4-door 335i isn't intended to be a track star, and this scrabble for traction at the edge of adhesion is something most owners will never experience.

The 2009 BMW 335i, with its wide array of winning talents, continues its long reign as the king of luxury sport sedans.

Pricey, yes: Starting at just over $40,000, it gets expensive when you spec it with all of the "must have" options.

But, somehow, it's still worth it: The mix of rewarding driving experience with everyday usability is what makes it so intriguing, and gives credence to the BMW 335i's rep as the sports sedan.

BMW 335i Sedan

Performance
- Acceleration: Nearly as quick as last-generation E46 M3 (!!!) - turbo lag nearly imperceptible - pulls and pulls and pulls
- Handling: Traditional BMW balance and precise steering combined with excellent (read: unobtrusive) DSC allows you to adjust cornering attitude at will - still the class benchmark
- Braking: Never less than excellent on the street, they will start to go away on the track despite the brake fade compensation system's best efforts (although in all fairness, this isn't a track car)

Design
- Exterior: Thankfully, Bangle's hand was restrained by BMW's board on the E90 3-series, with this mild facelift mostly improving the car further - organic shapes at the front seem out of place
- Interior: Starting to get a bit dated inside - aluminum option helps keep it more modern chic than the traditional wood

Utility
- Comfort: Great ride/handling balance combined with impressive build-quality results in a comfortable place to be... at least in the front
- Space: Excellent accommodations up front, less so in the rear where competitors offer more space

Safety
- Dynamics: The single best attribute of the 3-series range - after all, if you can avoid the accident in the first place...
- Technology: Everything you expect to find in a car at this price

Value
- Price: Certainly starts to get expensive when you spec the 3 with all of the "must have" options, but somehow, it's still worth it
- Mileage: Driven sanely, not too bad - driven on the boost...

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Excluding the awesome M3, it is the top-spec 3-series, but probably too common and practical to really make your heart soar
- Fun to spank: A little - although a limited-slip option would certainly help (nearly unforgivable oversight BMW!)

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear-wheel drive
Engine: 3 liter, twin-turbocharged Inline-6
Power (SAE): 300 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 300 lb-ft @ 1400-5000 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3605 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec.
Top Speed: 150 mph
Mileage: 17 city / 26 highway
Base Price: $40,300
Competitors: Audi A4/S4, Mercedes-Benz C350, Infiniti G37