2013 BMW 335i xDrive: BMW's All-Around MVP

For two decades the standard-bearer of the BMW brand has been the 3 Series, a versatile model available in coupe, sedan, convertible, and even wagon body styles.  The German marque has also thrown nearly every conceivable drivetrain at this entry-level luxury car, with only rotary power absent from the list of engines that have shown up under the hood of what has become the most popular option in BMW's premium line-up.

With so many permutations of the 3 Series available, the question becomes 'which model would be ideal for the Canadian market?'  Taking into account power, practicality, and seemingly endless waves of snow dumped on this fair country during the winter months, the 2013 BMW 335i xDrive sedan would seem to come out ahead of the rest of the 3 Series pack.

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All-Wheel Drive Tips The Balance

Why the xDrive edition of the vehicle?  For those not up on BMW's naming scheme, 'xDrive' refers to the 335i's all-wheel drive system, which gives the car a significant advantage when dealing with the treacherous roads that are a fact of life during the colder months.  Although some all-wheel drive cars deliver numb handling that tends towards oversteer when pushed hard, BMW engineers have worked diligently to preserve the dynamics of the 335i by sending the majority of torque to the rear axles during normal driving.  The system steps in to instantaneously shuttle more power to the wheels with the most traction in the event that any loss of grip is detected.  On bare pavement, the car is not quite as nimble as the standard version of the 3 Series, but the difference is negligible in almost all situations and is certainly made up for by the added security of the all-wheel drive feature.

Rewarding Drivetrain

The 2013 BMW 335i xDrive has far more than just surefooted handling to sell its driving experience.  The compact sedan also features a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that smoothly delivers 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, managed by an equally silky eight-speed automatic transmission.  Although the autobox arms race might seem to have escalated to a ridiculous new height with the recent introduction of eight and nine-speed designs, the additional cogs stuffed into the BMW's casing do an excellent job of balancing performance with fuel efficiency.  The 335i xDrive returned 9.5 l/100 km in mixed city and highway driving during my time with it, which is not a bad figure for such a quick automobile.

That the BMW 335i xDrive is fleet of foot is never in doubt, for even with the vehicle's Drive Select feature set to Comfort mode its acceleration is confident and immediate and displays no discernible turbo lag.  Choose either Sport or Sport+ mode and the car will startle you with its willingness to leap forward at almost any speed.  The sedan's excellent engine and transmission setup is harnessed by a suspension system that provides a perfect balance between luxury-level comfort and the kind of enthusiast-friendly handling that has long been associated with the 3 Series.  I'm echoing words that have been written by a thousand automotive journalists for the past twenty years, but they remain true nonetheless: this is one of the best-driving, most competent cars in its class - or in any class.

Interior Trappings To Match

BMW has also put effort into making sure that the passenger compartment of the 335i xDrive is at least as rewarding to spend time with as its drivetrain and chassis.  A larger-than-expected rear seat will keep full-size adults happy on road trips, while the use of quality leather upholstery as well as soft-touch materials throughout the cabin indicate the level of detail that has gone into designing the sedan's interior.  Drivers will appreciate the meaty feel of the vehicle's steering wheel, as well as the layout of the center console, the dashboard, and the 335i's gauges, all of which are easy to read and interact with.  One exception would be the placement of the vehicle's active safety feature controls at the bottom of the panel just to the left of the steering wheel, where they are quite easy to overlook.

The 3 Series comes with BMW's iDrive system, a feature that acts as the interface between occupants and the vehicle's multimedia, navigation, and other settings.  The iDrive controller is a rotary dial surrounded by a set of small buttons on the console, and in general it does an acceptable job of guiding driver or passenger through the steps required to access various aspects of the car's functionality.  I would prefer if iDrive had fewer sub-menus, and if the logic behind some of its tree-like command structure was a little less opaque, but if one is determined to avoid installing a touchscreen in a luxury car there are definitely worse alternatives.

BMW's All-Around MVP

It's difficult to think of a more well-rounded set of cars than the turbocharged family of entry-level BMW sedans.  With superior driving dynamics compared to the vast majority of its competitors and an overall package that is very friendly as a daily driver or occasional partner on spirited back roads romps, the BMW 3 Series has earned a special place in the hearts of not just automotive journalists but also legions of owners around the world.  The 2013 edition of the car also happens to be the most handsome of the post-millennial 3 Series models, thanks to a number of tweaks that have toned down the more extroverted styling of the recent past.

If there is a catch that goes with the 2013 BMW 335i xDrive, it's a familiar one in the world of luxury cars: price.  In order to truly experience the level of features that one expects from this type of vehicle, it's necessary to load up on options packages, a state of affairs that drove the MSRP of the model I sampled up to $59,900.  At that point the number of comparable automobiles certainly widens, but the 335i xDrive remains a formidable contender.