2006 BMW 330i Road Test

Mixed blessings best describes the newly redesigned BMW 3 Series. Thankfully, the new styling looks quite attractive in the smaller doses this

2006 BMW 330i (Photo: BMW AG)

model conveys to its audience. Unfortunately, all the new electronics and exotic materials that go into making it such a nice combination of ride and drive places the 330i's pricing in a range where the pretenders are quickly dispatched by the scoff of their 700 or less credit scores. In other words, nice to look at, but dear to hold.Larger than the previous model and also better in every user friendly way except for the overly complicated stereo, you can order this model BMW as a 325i or 330i. They both come with a smooth 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder made of expensive magnesium and aluminum alloy that keep the sedan a middle weight at 3500 pounds, but don't expect much acceleration from the 215 horsepower 325i version when an automatic is ordered. Pay the extra and get the 330i and its 255 horsepower and you won't look back. It is a truly remarkable engine. Mom's view: So athletic and comfortable to drive, the BMW 330i is the best of that manufacturer's fleet when it comes to tidy packaging. The six-speed manual transmission is a pleasure to use and fuel economy is seldom below 26 mpg. Quiet and tight with braking that is reassuring and handling that is stands as a model for others are all BMW fortes. But the most impressive item this junior BMW offered was stunning night lighting. Not only do the door handles have lights, but also the interior and headlights are well above average. It is just a delight to drive this vehicle at night.
Dad's view: Solid, yes, but if you order the sports suspension it might be a little too rugged for rutted roads. The interior instrumentation fonts are

2006 BMW 330i (Photo: BMW AG)

too small to read quickly, especially considering that the engine really doesn't get serious until well into the 5000-rpm range. Two things immediately come to mind when driving the 3-Series BMWs. First how well it fits. Visibility is good, the seat belts don't cut into your neck, the controls are easy to reach, and the entire car feels like an extension of yourself. Easy to control whether cutting corners with precision or just lazing along in the slow lane watching the driver's computer read out fuel mileage consumption upward of 36 mpg is the second feeling one gets. You see, despite it reputation for horsepower the competition has caught BMW and, literally and figuratively, passed them, but not in ride, braking, and shift quality. Yes, you can get more horsepower, but you aren't going to find an easier car to drive fast safely in this price range. Let me provide an example. I was driving along in sixth gear and I saw a large SUV approaching at a rapid rate of speed. I didn't want to get run over by a cell phone user depleting the Earth's petroleum products single handedly so I had to quickly get up enough speed to pass a short line of overburdened trucks. Surprisingly, even though I was in sixth gear, the BMW easily enabled me to get out of harms way without having to downshift. Only the air wake from the SUV as it hurtled past even marred the maneuver so well geared is the engine with its variable valve timing. By the way, it appeared that the SUV was hell bent on being the first one at the next stoplight and succeeded.