Some cars simply define their segment. Say compact sedan, and you think Civic. Say SUV and the Fortuner comes first to mind. And when it comes to sporty luxury sedans, the default answer remains to be the BMW 3-Series.
It doesn’t matter what engine was under the hood. The 3-Series’ magic wasn’t in its speed, but rather, its driving dynamics. Sure, the more recent versions are more buttoned down and mature, but this car always exhibited a high level handling competence.
The bonus of the BMW 3-Series is that it always had a good degree of practicality. Okay, these weren’t always the most spacious cars, but hey, it’s got decently sized back seats, a trunk that’s good enough for a month’s worth of groceries It’s also still comfortable enough to please the family and still a good steer when one fancies the mood to drive up winding roads. Frankly, we can keep preaching to the choir about its well-roundedness.
But hold on a minute, didn’t we review a 3-Series already? Why, yes we have, both in sedan and Touring (read: station wagon) body styles. It’s not because we love the 3-Series that much (okay, maybe we do), but there is one version we haven’t actually tried out.
What we have this time around is the most basic version of the 3-Series sold in the country today. It’s the 318i Business, and we’re here to tell you that it’s still a car that hits the spot for both enthusiasts and the regular folk.
“Really now,” you say. How can something basic be satisfying? Surely, a base spec BMW is something for posers and wannabes who just want that coveted roundel. Allow us to explain that it’s totally not the case here.
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Styling
It’s a familiar shape by now. The current generation of 3-Series has been around since late 2018. Sure, it got a facelift in 2022 and there’s even a second update for the 2025 model year. Still, we think it’s a handsome shape even if it’s already six years old and counting.
This being the Business model, there’s no fancy cosmetic enhancements or any other bits that make it look flashy. Instead, there’s a subtle elegance and athleticism to its design, and one grows to appreciate its clean and purposeful lines. The 3-Series doesn’t need jewelry to attract attention.
Given BMW’s more recent (and controversial) design efforts, the current 3-Series is perhaps the easiest on the eyes among all the company’s other sedans.
Interior
The exterior still looks great, but the interior does draw a more mixed reaction. See, the pre-facelifted version of the 3-Series still had proper instrument cluster with dials and all. However, the update got rid of that and tacked on a wide tablet on the dashboard.
Yes, it’s a curved screen display, and yes, the graphics are crisp and clear. But we’re still divided on the whole ‘iPad stuck to the dashboard’ look most luxury brands are doing these days. There’s really not much to do to add flair to the design other than to make the display look nice.
Oh, and a big chunk of its basic controls have been moved to the screen. Want to lower the air-con temperature? Press the screen. Turn on the air-con recirculate to block out bad air from the outside? You’ll have to dig through a few menus. Even something as simple as changing the radio station requires a few extra steps. Sure, there’s voice commands, but that’s a solution to a problem that shouldn’t have existed if it had buttons instead.
But, on to the nicer parts of the 3-Series’ interior. As one would expect from a BMW, the general feel is solid and robust, ensuring its would be owners that every centavo they spent on this car was worth it. The screen aside, ergonomics are actually good and fall easily to hand. Space isn’t half bad either with loads of room at the front and a reasonable amount at the back, and there’s 480 liters of cargo space in the trunk. This is the largest 3-Series to date, after all.
Engine Performance
Like the Sport and Touring models we’ve tested before, the 318i Business comes with the same engine as those mentioned. It’s a 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine that pushes out 154hp and 250Nm of torque. Not impressive figures, but we’ll tell you a little something about BMW’s engines.
BMW has this, er, tendency to underrate their figures. In the case of the 318i’s 2.0-liter, it feels as if there’s an extra 20 horsepower under the hood. Yes, the turbo helps by giving a big slug of torque from take-off, but it does it in a way that feels linear and smooth.
It’s complemented by its slick eight-speed automatic that doesn’t muddle up the gear changes. There’s no hint of jerkiness when you’re going up and down the gears, and the only clue you have that it’s shifted is by sound. As far as automatics go, this is one of the best out there. All in all, the 318i is not what one would call rapid, but it’s quick enough for most folks.
One surprise was fuel economy. In heavy traffic, our tester still returned 8.2km/L at an average speed of just 17kph. Those are good numbers given that 2.0-liter engines typically have a reputation for being thirsty. In lighter traffic, those numbers go up to 12.1km/L while averaging 27kph.
Ride and handling
“The Ultimate Driving Machine.” It’s the tagline BMW used back in the ‘90s. But it wasn’t just a bunch of words for the company, it was a motto. Fast forward to today and there’s still a bit of that statement present in the current 3-Series.
We’ll go straight to the point and say feel and feedback isn’t like the models from, say, 20 years ago. Fans of the brand (this writer included) will say that the past versions of the 3-Series were more fun to drive on backroads and race tracks, regardless of what's engine it had. While BMW still caters to enthusiasts, the majority of customers don’t take these cars out for a Sunday blast up winding roads. The result is a compromise between a lighter steering effort and sportiness.
Mind you, it’s a lot better compared to the previous generation 3-Series. The last one was BMW’s first foray into electric power steering and that one felt too light and vague. In this one, there’s enough heft to satisfy the spirited driver, but light enough to twirl around tight spots.
Handling is BMW’s forte and this one doesn’t disappoint. It still feels dynamic and playful when you want it to be. Most folks won’t feel the benefits of rear-wheel drive, but we urge its owners to take it on a fun drive from time to time. This is a sedan that can put a smile on your face even with its conservative horsepower rating.
Ride, on the other hand, is a touch on the firm side. It’s not back breaking in any way, but one feels that the suspension is tuned more towards sport than comfort. It still does a great job dealing with road imperfections, especially at higher speeds, but passengers can feel a few bumps make their way to the cabin. That said, it’s far more comfortable than the Sport variant we tested before.
Extra features
Well-equipped but not fully loaded. That’s the best way to describe the 318i Business in terms of features. Standard kit includes cruise control, power seats with memory, the comprehensive infotainment system, and customizable individual driving modes.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are, of course, standard. Unlike the previous 318i Sport we tested, CarPlay can be ported via cable or wirelessly. There’s no front or side cameras in the 318i Business, however, it does come with 360-degree view sensors.
There’s another neat feature called the Reversing Assistant. In essence, it remembers the steering movements of the last 50 meters traveled and ‘retraces’ the path it took. What’s it for, you ask? For those struggling to get out of tight spots, the car will pull itself out for the you.
So, what’s missing here, then? There’s a lack of advanced driver assist systems in the 318i. There’s no adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, or lane keep assist here. It seems like the car wants you to focus on the task of driving instead of relying on these systems. A double-edged sword, this. On one hand, distracted driving is a no-no, but these features also add convenience for long distance trips.
Verdict
What’s left to say about the BMW 318i? We’ve praised its driving dynamics, powertrain, fuel efficiency, and design. This is far from the base model Bimmers from back in the day, and while not fully loaded, it won’t make you feel like you paid too much for a bare car. It’s a great starter BMW, one that follows the true sport-luxury ethos of the brand. This is why we say that this entry-level model can still stir the soul of enthusiasts and casual punters.
Okay, so the infotainment system has a learning curve, and some might wish the ride was softer. It would also be nice if BMW Philippines offered a slightly more powerful version that slots in between this and the punchy 374hp M340i. But all in all, it’s hard not to love 3-Series, even in its most basic version.
SPECS: 2023 BMW 318i Business
Price: P3,590,000
Engine: 2.0-liter turbopetrol
Power: 154hp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Layout: Rear-wheel drive
Seating: 5
Score: 18/20
