The BMW 3 Collection acquired a bunch of upgrades in 2023 after which acquired some extra for the 2025 mannequin 12 months. Whereas modifications for the latest mannequin 12 months are nearer to “nonexistent” than “main,” the 2026 BMW 3 Collection isn’t precisely down for the rely. Its wonderful normal tech options, peerless powertrain choices, and inoffensive styling enable it to handily stay the usual bearer for compact luxurious sedans — even when taking a 12 months off from self-improvement. We extremely advocate the G20 3 Collection, particularly the M340i, and actually multiple BMWBLOG author has acquired one for themselves through the years. You possibly can take a look at our 2025 M340i assessment and a long-term M340i xDrive assessment for a good suggestion of what to anticipate from the 2026 BMW 3 Collection.
Engine Choices, Transmission, and Efficiency
The three Collection is obtainable with four- or six-cylinder engines, xDrive all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. There aren’t actually any dangerous decisions right here, and your selection needs to be according to what you want the automobile to do. The usual 330i makes do with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Stepping as much as the M340i will get you entry to the legendary B58 engine, rated at 386 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The quickest 3 Collection not carrying an M3 badge is the M340i xDrive, which may reliably obtain a zero to 60 mph time of round 4.1 seconds.
Gasoline Financial system and Actual-World Effectivity
The 2026 BMW 3 Collection doubtless received’t be examined for gas financial system, however we anticipate effectivity to stay unchanged from final 12 months’s mannequin. Rear-wheel drive automobiles get the perfect gas financial system, because the 330i achieves 28 mpg metropolis and 35 mpg freeway for a mixed 31 mpg mixed. Regardless of an enormous energy benefit, the M340i achieves almost as spectacular numbers, returning an estimated 27/33/29 mpg. xDrive drops these numbers just a bit bit, and each automobiles get 29 mpg mixed and 26 mpg within the metropolis. 4-pot fashions have a slight benefit on the freeway, getting 34 mpg the place the M340i xDrive will get 34 mpg.
Inside Options and Cargo House
The three Collection inside noticed minor enhancements simply final 12 months, and nothing modifications for the brand new mannequin 12 months. SensaTec comes normal and is greater than “ok,” however a $1,500 upcharge for Vernasca leather-based is decidedly cheap. We advocate stepping as much as not less than the $1,100 Comfort Package deal on 330i fashions, which provides a heated steering wheel, energy tailgate, and extra driver help options. The $900 Harman Kardon sound system might be definitely worth the improve too, though in the event you’re a real audiophile you’ll doubtless need to look to the aftermarket.
With 17 cubic ft of trunk house, the 2026 BMW 3 Collection outperforms each the Mercedes C-Class (12 cubic ft) and Genesis G70 (11 cubic ft). The Audi A5 — bear in mind, the Audi A4 is now MIA — is technically extra of a hatchback. Because of this, it affords commensurately extra room for issues, 26 cubic ft. However so far as conventional three-box sedans go, the three Collection remains to be a regular bearer for the phase.
Know-how and Connectivity
All the most recent techno gadgetry comes normal with the 2026 BMW 3 Collection, together with a 14.9-inch middle display and 12.3-inch instrument cluster. Voice instructions, navigation, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM radio are all included. The three Collection, in comparison with its rivals, affords a number of worth on this realm, with rivals like Mercedes providing the necessities — like wi-fi telephone compatibility — however not most of the extras. Probably the most tech-savvy customers will doubtless discover a number of worth within the Premium Package deal. For $1,950, you get a head-up show, distant engine begin, and plenty of further driver aids.
Security Options and Driver Help Choices
The 2026 BMW 3 Collection comes with lane-keeping help, Ahead Collision Mitigation, and velocity restrict data displayed within the sprint. Nearly all the things else from BMW’s suite of driver help options might be added, but it surely’ll value you. Once more, the Comfort Package deal is straightforward to advocate, because it additionally contains blind spot detection and lane-departure warning. Greatest $1,100 you possibly can spend on a brand new 3 Collection. Previous that, the $500 Driving Help Package deal can also be an excellent worth. It provides distance management to cruise management techniques, which is able to even be capable to carry your automobile to and from an entire cease. Quick stops (below three seconds) solely, although. Curiously, it has really gotten $200 inexpensive year-over-year. Worth!
Different worth buys embody the $800 Parking Help Package deal, which now additionally contains aspect safety and continues to supply self-parking and a 360-degree digicam system. We’re much less favorable of the $1,700 Driving Help Skilled Package deal. However in the event you really need your 2026 BMW 3 Collection to drive itself in rush hour site visitors, there isn’t a method round it.
Pricing and Trim Breakdown
Final 12 months, the three Collection began at $45,400. This 12 months, you’ll pay a bit bit extra. Base MSRP for the 2026 BMW 3 Collection is $47,500 earlier than vacation spot charges ($48,675 all-in). The Genesis G70 is a discount by comparability, commanding $44,245 and providing extra horsepower, normal driver aids, bigger 19-inch alloys, and a cabin with a number of extra buttons in it. That could be a optimistic or a damaging relying on who you’re. The 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class begins at $49,600; in the meantime the liftback A5 might be yours for across the similar.
Closing Verdict: Ought to You Purchase the 2026 BMW 3 Collection?
As we mentioned firstly of the story, we’ve put our cash the place our mouth is a number of instances all through the G20 3 Collection’s lifecycle. It’s a hard-to-beat worth in its phase and does an awesome job channeling traits that ha made BMW an awesome worth for many years. The 2026 BMW 3 Collection begins manufacturing in August 2025 and can stay in manufacturing by way of subsequent 12 months.
