The latest 3 Series finished 34th (out of 75) in the 2018 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, with predictably strong showings for performance and handling. As a whole, BMW finished a disappointing 21st out of 26 manufacturers, which is behind Mercedes and Volvo, but ahead of Vauxhall.

As for safety, the BMW scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests, but it is second to the Lexus IS as it has six airbags as opposed to eight in the Japanese car.

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Adaptive brake lights are also standard on the 3 Series, as well as automatic lights and wipers, and rear parking sensors. You can also buy lane change assist, blind spot warning and auto high beams as optional extras on the lower-spec models.

Warranty

All cars come with a three-year unlimited mile warranty (beating that of the Audi A4) no matter which 3 Series you go for. Of course, things like brake pads and tyres are not included – though some service plans will add these for extra cost.

The 330e gets an extra warranty for its battery pack over and above the standard cover. This lasts for six years, although the Passat GTE has cover for eight years.

Servicing

Various service packs are available for the BMW 3 Series. A comprehensive package covers your car for three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes sooner). Service Inclusive, as BMW calls it, costs around £399 on standard models, or around £1,000 on the M3.

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Which Is Best

Cheapest

Name
320i Sport 4dr Step Auto
Gearbox type
Semi-auto
RRP
£41,655

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Most Economical

Name
330e 22.3 kWh Sport 4dr Step Auto
Gearbox type
Semi-auto
RRP
£47,075

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Fastest

Name
M340i xDrive MHT 392 4dr Step Auto
Gearbox type
Semi-auto
RRP
£62,325

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In This Review

Cars

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Dean Gibson

Senior test editor

Dean has been part of the Auto Express team for more than 20 years, and has worked across nearly all departments, starting on magazine production, then moving to road tests and reviews. He's our resident van expert, but covers everything from scooters and motorbikes to supercars and consumer products.