What does the BMW 320i give up with the 'less is more' argument?

Bargain shopping and buying a BMW 3 Series seem mutually exclusive, yet the 320i exists as the first step onto the model’s price escalator. Despite the nomenclature, this least-expensive 3 Series isn’t just eight less than the high-scoring 328i. Here are the sacrifices.

A substantial 60 horsepower less. Sure, the 320i’s four-cylinder engine shares the same 2.0-liter displacement as the 328i big brother. But thanks to a different turbocharger and camshafts, the 320i only makes 180 hp to the 328i’s 240. That results in …

... More engine noise. You have to work the 320i harder, especially when merging into traffic. And that’s without BMW’s optional xDrive all-wheel-drive; its added weight over the rear-wheel-drive car we sampled certainly won’t help. Both engines sound like diesels at idle, unseemly for a gasoline-powered luxury sedan.

Slower acceleration. While the fleet 328i knocks off 0-60 mph in just 6.6 seconds, an informal run on our test track with a 320i press car took 8.0 seconds. It’s hard to complain about that, given that good four-cylinder midsized sedans such as a Honda Accord accomplish the same. Then again, shouldn’t a BMW be faster than the familymobile Accord?

Less standard stuff. Decadent luxuries such as a split-folding rear seat and power front seats are options ($475 and $995, respectively) in the 320i. The lack of power seats is galling, especially as you yank yourself up by the steering wheel to manually adjust seat height.

Sounds like a bummer, right? So what do you gain?

$2,900. That’s the approximate difference in price once you account for the missing options.

More real-world option flexibility. Want a 3 Series with a light load of options? You’re more likely to find that with the 320i than the 328i. Most of the latter on dealers’ lots come with the Premium package or other goodies. Remember, BMW’s options list is long and lucrative—for BMW—partly because BMW is comparatively stingy on standard features.

Better fuel economy—maybe. EPA figures say the 320i gets one mpg better. That will probably come out in the wash.

Check out our road test of the 320i's more powerful sibling, the BMW 328i.