The 2019 BMW 3 Series finishes in the middle of our luxury small car rankings. It's one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the class, but some rivals have more lavish interiors and easier-to-use tech features.
The 2019 BMW 3-Series's #9 ranking is based on its score within the 2019 Luxury Small Cars category. Currently the BMW 3-Series has a score of 7.7 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 22 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Yes, the 2019 3 Series is a good used luxury small car. Available in three body styles, the 3 Series has energetic engines, dynamic handling, a comfortable ride, and good gas mileage ratings. Its cabin has two rows of comfortable, roomy seats and plenty of standard and available features. Cargo space is great for the class. The 3 Series' main faults are that it falls short of rivals' when it comes to interior quality and infotainment functionality.
We’ve researched 22 BMW 3 Series reviews, as well as hard data points like reliability ratings and cost of ownership estimates, to help you make the best car-buying decision possible.
U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the best cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years’ worth of auto industry experience combined. To keep our reviews unbiased, we don’t accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside company manages our advertising.
Based on listings for the 2019 BMW 3-Series, the average list price is $31,552. Prices range from $39,234 to $44,648 and vary depending on the vehicle’s condition, mileage, features, and location.
The 2019 3 Series’ five-year costs for gas, insurance, taxes, fees, repairs, and maintenance are projected to be about $33,400, or $6,680 per year. That’s about average for the class.
The 2019 3 Series sedan received a redesign that brought several noteworthy changes. Performance upgrades included sharper steering and a new base engine with 45 more horsepower than the prior generation’s standard engine. The 2019 3 Series also got a revamped iDrive infotainment system with new features.
Compare the 2018 and 2019 3 Series »
Here are key changes for the BMW 3 Series over the last few years:
If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2016 3 Series, 2017 3 Series, and 2018 3 Series reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.
The 2019 3 Series has a predicted reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average.
Read more about 3 Series reliability »
There have been 5 safety recalls issued from NHTSA.
See more information on BMW 3 Series safety recalls »
The 2019 BMW 3 Series comes in two trims: 330i and 340i. There are also three body styles: sedan, Sports Wagon, and the hatchback-style Gran Turismo. The sedan was fully redesigned for 2019, while the Sports Wagon and Gran Turismo carry over with very few changes from 2018.
Shoppers should consider the 330i sedan, which offers plenty of power for most daily driving. Aside from the larger engine, the 330i is available with most of the amenities you can get throughout the 3 Series lineup.
Each model offered additional features for an extra cost at the time of sale. That means you may be able to find BMW 3 Series models with features in addition to those listed here. The Premium package is worth seeking out. It adds heated front seats, a navigation system, Apple CarPlay capability, and a head-up display.
See 2019 BMW 3 Series trims and specs »
The BMW Certified CPO program is available on vehicles no older than five years with between 300 and 60,000 miles on the odometer. The program covers buyers for one year with unlimited mileage after the four-year/50,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty has expired. This warranty can be renewed for a fee, but there is a maximum of five years of coverage. Each BMW must pass a road test and a 196-point inspection before earning CPO status. Additional benefits like towing and 24-hour roadside assistance may be available. This CPO coverage can be transferred to subsequent owners, but some restrictions may apply, so read the BMW warranty page carefully.
BMW has one of the less-attractive CPO programs among luxury car manufacturers, according to our research. You’ll get better warranties from Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Jaguar.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2019 3 Series an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the side crash and rollover tests and four stars in the frontal crash test.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2019 3 Series the highest rating of Good in all six of the organization's crash tests. Models equipped with the Executive package received a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Depending on trim, the 3 Series' headlights received the top rating of Good, the second-lowest rating of Marginal, or the lowest rating of Poor for how well they illuminate the road ahead.
The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. The 3 Series earned the highest rating of Superior for its standard and available vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system. The standard vehicle-to-pedestrian system also earned a Superior rating, but the available system received the second-highest rating of Advanced.
Standard advanced safety features:
Available advanced safety features:
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a good car, and the better pick between it and the 3 Series is a matter of personal preference. While the BMW distinguishes itself with sporty performance, the Mercedes stands out with one of the finest interiors in the segment. Top-shelf materials, excellent craftsmanship, and lots of standard features are among its highlights.
The 2019 Audi A4 is a better luxury small car than the 3 Series. The BMW is more athletic, but the A4 is still fun to drive. The Audi comes with more standard comfort, infotainment, and driver assistance features than the BMW, and it has one of the most upscale cabins in the class.
Compare the 3 Series, C-Class, and A4 »
The 3 Series sedan is a true sports sedan. It feels agile and stays planted on winding roads. The other body styles also have engaging handling, making all of the cars in the 3 Series lineup enjoyable to drive. Ride quality is good as well.
The redesigned sedan has a different base engine than the other body styles: a turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers exciting acceleration and has little turbo lag. The turbo-four engine powering the other body styles is no slouch, either. The sedan's available six-cylinder engine delivers more vigorous acceleration, but not every buyer will feel the need to upgrade to it.
The 3 Series sedan gets slightly above-average fuel economy ratings for the luxury small car class, while other models are right around the average. Models with the six-cylinder engine are a bit less fuel-efficient.
Read more about 3 Series performance »
The 2019 3 Series seats five people in two rows. The 3 Series' interior is stylish and uses plenty of quality materials, but it's still a step below the finest cabins in the class. This BMW's front seats are supportive and comfortable. The rear seats provide plenty of head- and legroom, even for taller adults.
Standard seating features:
Available seating features:
The 2019 3 Series has two complete sets of LATCH car-seat connectors for the rear outboard seats and an upper tether for the rear middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the highest rating of Good for ease of use.
The 3 Series sedan received a redesign for 2019, but the other models didn’t, so there are some infotainment differences between the body styles. The 330i sedan features the latest iDrive infotainment interface and a larger display, while Gran Turismo and Sports Wagon models feature an older iDrive system.
The iDrive interface is fairly intuitive and responsive, but some rival systems are more user-friendly. What's more, some features, such as the Intelligent Personal Assistant, don't always work as well as you want them to, making them frustrating to use.
Read more about 3 Series interior »
Every version of this BMW has good cargo space for a luxury small car. The 3 Series sedan provides 17 cubic feet of trunk space. The hatchbacklike Gran Turismo has 24.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 56.8 cubic feet with them folded. The Sports Wagon's 27.5-cubic-foot cargo area can expand to as much as 61.5 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats. Some models come with a power trunk lid, and a hands-free trunk lid is optional.
BMW built the 2019 3 Series in Germany.
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