2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 review notes - AutoWeek
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Comparing this 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 to the 328i may be a logical leap, but it's flawed thanks to a single, critical detail: The ActiveHybrid 3 gets BMW's exquisite straight six-cylinder versus the coarse turbo four... If you're a true BMW enthusiast -- as in a marque devotee -- there's no substitute for the straight six. If your station in life or your eco-conscience demands the hybrid moniker, then the ActiveHybrid 3 will be your selection. I've made no bones about my opinion of the four-cylinder 3-series (I hate it), and it took all of three seconds behind the wheel of the ActiveHybrid 3 to remind me what a real 3-series feels like. Even with the electrical soft-start and initial motor input, the presence of BMW's inline six is felt instantly. While fuel economy is impressive, things aren't perfect with the ActiveHybrid mechanism. There was a stumble in the gear change that felt like clutch judder, so I'm not sure if this is a characteristic of the ActiveHybrid 3 or an issue with the eight-speed transmission in our particular tester. The sweet spot for this car is the 335, but if you absolutely have to have a hybrid, at least you can rest assured your ActiveHybrid 3 comes with a worthy BMW powerplant under the hood. Source: autoweek.com
