BMW 328i vs. BMW 328i - RoadandTrack.com
In the case of the BMW 3-series, that compromise is between the "sport" and "sedan" sides of the car's personality: quick reflexes and driver feedback versus comfort, speed, and isolation. While it's no secret that the Three is an industry standard—most carmakers willingly admit to using it as the sport-sedan benchmark—the gap between BMW and its competition has never been smaller. The maroon car here is a 2008 328i—six cylinders, 230 hp. Its basic shell, known as the E90 chassis, was sold from 2006–2011. The red one is a 2012 328i—four cylinders, 240 hp, Sport package (a necessity, as the standard 328i suspension is... We decided against the 335i because the 328i is BMW's volume model, and besides, it's the one we'd buy with our own money. Also, the model's recent switch to a four-cylinder pays enormous dividends in EPA fuel-economy testing. The new Three's extra length pays off in a roomier back seat. Then again, we piled four six-footers into the E90, and each was comfortable enough to spend an hour or two in the car. Our old 328i's base seat and steering wheel aren't as comfortable as this new car's sport-package setup, but all of its interior materials feel a full class more expensive than the new car's. In back, the difference is more pronounced, where the new car feels rental-car grade. On rough roads, the F30 Sport-pack rides better than the non-Sport E90, likely thanks to its adaptive suspension. Source: www.roadandtrack.com
