To improve the driving experience, though, try the $1300 Sport package that adds staggered 18-inch wheels with summer tires and an M Sport–tuned suspension. A choppier ride is a minor trade-off for quick reflexes and unshakable stability. We measured 0.87 g on the skidpad, which isn’t very impressive, but all of that grip is usable on freeway ramps or canyon roads.
Cut free of frippery, the 320i becomes a car that goads you to play with it instead of the trinkets inside. A vinyl-trimmed interior sounds like a hardship, but we suspect that anyone who sits in this BMW will assume the upholstery is bovine-based. A 6.5-inch display that juts out of the dash will make folks think you paid for navigation. You will have to manually dim the mirror, and winter may make you wish you had splurged for heated seats.
So while your butt may be a little cold, your heart will be warm with the satisfaction of spending less than $35K for a genuine Bavarian work of motor. If that still seems like a lot of money—and it is—recall that a loaded Ford Fusion costs about $35,000. Which would you rather have?
Basic or not?
Horsepower:
320 hp
0-60:
4.9 sec
Top Speed:
149mph
EPA:
20/29 mpg
SPECS: