2023 BMW 3 Series Freshens Up for July Launch

Competes with: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, Genesis G70, Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Looks like: The 3 Series dodges a garish grille for a bit longer

Powertrains: 255-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (330i); 181-hp, turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and 107-hp electric motor with 9.09-kilowatt-hour battery pack (330e); 382-hp, turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder (M340i); rear- or all-wheel drive; eight-speed automatic transmission

Hits dealerships: July

BMW’s iconic 3 Series sedan is in its seventh generation and enters the 2023 model year with some modest updates to its exterior design and interior technology. As it’s not a full redesign, the 3 Series’ grille remains relatively modest; it’s large, but not 4 Series-large or 4 Series-vertical. Inside, upgrades to the car’s displays and operating system highlight the changes.

Related: 2023 BMW 7 Series Adds Electric Model, Movie Theater Backseat

The updated 2023 3 Series is expected to launch in the U.S. (and the rest of the world) in July, and pricing should be available closer to that date. Interestingly, all U.S.-market 3 Series cars will be built in BMW’s San Luis Potosi, Mexico, factory.

Lightly Updated Exterior Styling

If you’re having trouble telling the 2023 3 Series apart from a 2022 model, you’re not alone. The changes are quite subtle: Lightly revised grille styling and an updated headlight design grace the front, and there are new 18- and 19-inch wheel designs. The M Sport Package appearance package for the 330i and 330e adds a revised rear bumper. The more powerful M340i gets specific performance-oriented styling, including BMW Motorsport badging to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BMW’s M division.

Improved Interior Tech, Mostly

Standard on all 2023 models is BMW’s Curved Display, a combination of a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 14.9-inch touchscreen display. BMW says the displays have improved graphics and use the automaker’s latest operating system with improved Intelligent Personal Assistant functionality.

The new interior design also includes slimmer air vents; regrettably, what comes out of those vents as part of the standard three-zone automatic climate control is managed via touch-sensitive controls, which our editors and consumers generally don’t like.

Powertrains Remain the Same

Unchanged for 2023 is what’s under the hood. The base 330i still gets its power from a 255-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The plug-in hybrid 330e uses a less powerful 181-hp, turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder but combines it with a 9.09-kilowatt-hour battery pack and electric motor making an additional 107 hp. When it debuted, the 2021 330e had 22 or 20 miles of all-electric range depending on if it had RWD or AWD; there’s no word on whether that’s improved for 2023. The most powerful M340 uses a turbo 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder producing a BMW-rated 382 hp; our experience with previous M340s suggests that number may be slightly underrated.

Regardless of which 3 Series you choose, you can get it in RWD or AWD — not counting the line-topping M3 — though your only transmission is an eight-speed automatic.

Pricing and Release Date

BMW says the 2023 3 Series will launch in July, and we expect pricing and additional specs to be revealed closer to its arrival.

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