2022 BMW 3 Series

Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the 2022 lineup does not see any major changes, the modest updates being reshuffled option packages, new standard features for specific models and an updated roster of individual options. MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) singles out the one change most buyers will notice: every 2022 3 Series has a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge display, which were previously standard only on higher-end models. The mid-cycle facelift with the curved display arrived later, so a 2022 is the last of the original styling.

Car and Driver lists the powertrains: the 330i's turbocharged 2.0-liter four at 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet, the 330e plug-in hybrid with up to 23 miles of all-electric range, and the M340i's turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with a 48-volt hybrid system at 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet, all with an eight-speed automatic and rear- or all-wheel drive. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) lists a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds for the 330i and 4.4 seconds for the M340i. MotorTrend picks the 330e plug-in as the best of the range for its mix of versatility, features and performance.

NHTSA lists three recall campaigns for the 2022 3 Series. 22V070000 covers a transmission mechatronics unit that may not have been assembled properly and could leak internally, which dealers fix by replacing the unit, and every vehicle in that population has been repaired. 23V584000 covers audio-module software that may fail to generate the audible seat-belt warning, fixed by a software update, and 26V056000 covers an engine starter that dealers replace, a recent campaign shared with several other BMW models.

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, led by power train, electrical system, unknown or other and tires with 3 each, then engine and steering with 2 each. That is a small sample for a car that sold in volume, and VinSpectorAI (opens in a new tab) reads the record as very few complaints, suggesting a reliable choice. Bimmerboom (opens in a new tab) is more cautious, saying many owners report good reliability while some have had electrical and engine problems and that a few have felt rough shifting or hesitation from the otherwise smooth eight-speed.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts used 2022 3 Series prices at $23,900 for the 330i sedan to $42,100 for the M340i xDrive sedan from a dealership, with trade-in values of about $19,450 to $35,200 and private-party values of about $22,400 to $39,400 depending on trim. The spread is wide because the lineup runs from a 255-horsepower four to the M3, so the trim matters more than the year.

EPA rates the 2022 3 Series at 25 to 30 mpg combined and $2,600 to $3,100 a year in fuel. The 2022 Audi A4 rates 26 to 29 at $2,650 to $3,000, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 22 to 29 at $2,650 to $3,500, the Genesis G70 20 to 24 at $3,250 to $3,900, the Alfa Romeo Giulia 20 to 27 at $2,850 to $3,900 and the Volvo S60 28 to 31 at $2,500 to $2,750. Car and Driver says rivals such as the G70 offer better value and the Giulia is a sexier alternative, but no other sports sedan has the 3 Series' breadth of powertrains. The S60 is the most efficient and the A4 the one with standard all-wheel drive.