Medium car over $50,000

BMW 330i Sport Line 

Medium-size cars are continuing to feel the pinch in the market as our obsession with all things SUV keeps growing. But within the relatively small field for this year’s program, competition is still fierce.

Premium European and Japanese brands dominate the category and typically showcase the best of their powertrain options and technology portfolios, which is great news for buyers.

Over the last few years, the trophy for Best Medium Car Over $50,000 has been a two-way battle between Mercedes-Benz and BMW, with BMW making it two in a row in 2018. The specification level of the ‘Bimmer’ has changed from Luxury Line to Sport Line for this year, which brings a slight increase in price.

The BMW continues to get the important things right for this segment, and in key areas like seat comfort and build quality, the 330i has few peers. Research shows buyers in this segment rate these attributes over low running and repair and insurance costs.

BMWs are known for their on-road dynamics, built around a philosophy of close to 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution and (until recently) rear wheel drive. That continues to pay dividends in handling, where the BMW excels over its rivals.

A thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel communicates high levels of road feel to the driver, while the chassis balance and overall preciseness have yet to be matched by its competitors. Nor does sharp handling compromise the 330i’s ability to soak up bumps and it continues to impress the judges with its excellent marriage of ride quality and handling.

All this is achieved without introducing road noise – the 330i rates highly in smoothness and quietness. BMW’s 185kW/350Nm turbo four-cylinder remains one of the best offerings available, with maximum engine torque always at the ready courtesy of BMW’s slick shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

Acceleration is brisk, and it shades the rest of the turbo four-cylinder brigade in this class over the 0-100km/h dash. That’s not at the expense of fuel consumption, either – apart from the hybrid Lexus models, the BMW leads the way in economy.

The downside to the 330i is its pricing. With an indicative drive away price of $77,459, it falls behind the Mercedes C200 and Volvo S60 by a big margin, countered to some degree by a reasonable standard features list that includes BMW’s intuitive iDrive system and clear head-up display.

The winner and finalists all score 10 for safety, no surprise when advanced features such as lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian warning, and cross traffic alert are the norm.