Fresh off a redesign last year, the BMW 3  Series continues to provide one of the best combinations of comfort,  performance and prestige you'll find among small luxury sport sedans. This new  seventh-generation model is 3 inches longer and 1.5 inches wider than before,  but it remains as agile and steady in the fast curves as ever. ;Keys to its charms are a larger, stiffer  chassis, and retuned suspension and steering, which tighten up the 3 Series'  already considerable handling performance. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine,  carried over from the previous model, gains slightly more horsepower and  increased low-end torque. And for 2020, a six-cylinder engine option returns in  the form of the new M340i. ;It's no ordinary six-cylinder either. The  M340i pumps out a stout 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which was M3 territory  just a few years ago. We assume the forthcoming redesigned M3 will add another  100 hp to that total, but for now the M340i serves as an appealing substitute.  The only downside is that you can't get a manual transmission anymore.;Even with its power and athleticism, the  3 Series is still a sensible sedan. The new model maintains the 3 Series'  hallmarks of interior comfort and quality. You'll find sporty and form-fitting  seats, impressive touchscreen displays and infotainment, and finer details such  as ambient cabin lighting and oak, maple and aluminum accents. A large trunk,  combined with 40/20/40-split folding rear seats and a hands-free opening  trunklid, also offers excellent utility, ;If there's any complaint about the 3  Series, it may be that its competence overwhelms exhilaration. Its Audi A4/S4  rival feels more modern with a tech-oriented flair, and its primary Mercedes  competitor leans more into luxury than performance. Newer competitors, such as  the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Genesis G70, offer drivers something a little  different, including the increasingly rare manual transmission. ;The  2020 BMW 3 Series is a five-passenger compact luxury sport sedan available in  two trim levels: the 330i and M340i. ;The 330i comes standard with a  turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (255 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of  torque), an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. All-wheel  drive (known as xDrive) is optional. ;Standard  features include 18-inch wheels, automatic wipers, a sunroof, simulated leather  upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview  mirror, power-adjustable front seats, an 8.8-inch touchscreen display, a  navigation system, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, two USB inputs and a 10-speaker  audio system.;Forward  collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and  BMW Assist emergency communications are among the driver assistance features  that come standard. ;More  power is available with the M340i,  which comes standard with a six-cylinder engine (382 hp, 369 lb-ft), an  eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is  optional. ;Standard  features for the M340i are similar to the 330i's but also include sport-tuned  brakes and suspension, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, and a digital gauge  cluster display (called Live Cockpit Professional).&nbsp; BMW's Connected Package Professional, which  combines remote and concierge services with real-time traffic information, is  also included. ;Both  trim levels offer several stand-alone options and a handful of option packages,  the most notable being the Premium and Executive packages. The Premium package  adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a head-up display. The  Executive package adds upgraded adaptive LED headlights, surround and  bird's-eye parking camera views, parking sensors, an automated self-parking  system, and gesture control functions for the infotainment system. ;Additional  safety can be had by way of the Driving Assistance and Driving Assistance  Professional packages. The former adds blind-spot monitoring and rear  cross-traffic alert to the standard set of driver aids, while the latter equips  adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, active front cross-traffic alert,  and Traffic Jam Assist, a semi-automated steering system. For enhanced  performance, BMW offers a package that bundles high-performance tires and  improved engine cooling.;Some  of the above features are available as stand-alone options. Other individual  items include 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, leather upholstery,  hands-free trunk opening, ambient cabin lighting, wireless device charging, a  Wi-Fi hotspot, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system.;