There  was a time when choosing a BMW 3 Series over its primary rivals in the compact  luxury car segment was an easy decision, especially if you enjoy the act of  driving. Today, the 3 Series still adheres to the qualities that made it  popular in the first place and remains a rewarding choice for enthusiasts, but  it's no longer the only game in town. In addition, many alternatives to this  BMW offer appealing traits unavailable in a 3 Series, like an electric drive  system, a wagon body style, and more value for the money.;Last  year, the seventh-generation 3 Series received its midlife updates right on  schedule, and a redesign is rumored to arrive for the 2026 model year. So,  expect few, if any, changes to the 2024 BMW 3 Series. It continues with  turbocharged four- and six-cylinder gas engines and a turbocharged plug-in  hybrid powertrain, each paired with rear-wheel drive or BMW's xDrive  all-wheel-drive system. The high-performance M3 remains in the lineup but is  reviewed separately.;If  we sound lukewarm about the 2024 3 Series, know that we still enjoy getting  behind its steering wheel, firing up its engine, and seeking out fun roads to  explore. But this BMW faces more capable competitors than ever, which dilutes  its appeal. For additional perspective on the 3 Series check out the Edmunds  testing team's full Expert Rating of the car.;BMW  hasn't released official information on the 2024 3 Series as of this writing.  We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's 3  Series, we recommend the 330e plug-in hybrid version. It doesn't cost much more than a base 330i, but it  provides an estimated 22 miles of electric driving before switching to hybrid  operation. Better yet, there is no penalty in terms of performance.;[Editor's note: The following  unofficial information is based on last year's 3 Series. We expect the 2024  model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have  complete information.] The BMW 3 Series sedan lineup  includes the 330i, 330e and M340i. Each one has a slightly different mission. The 330i is the  entry-level 3 Series while the 330e is a plug-in hybrid. The M340i is the  sportiest and most powerful. Keep reading for our editors' curated breakdown of  each trim's powertrain and standard and optional features. ;330i
  The base trim comes reasonably well equipped  with:;Tech features include:;330e
  The 330e includes all the standard features of  the regular 330i but adds a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged  four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor (combined 288 hp, 310  lb-ft). The EPA estimates it can drive about 22 miles on a fully charged  battery. 
  M340i
  The M340i provides a big increase in performance thanks to  its larger engine:;BMW offers a variety  of options and packages for the 3 Series. Depending on the model, key choices  to look out for include:;