2013 BMW 320i xDrive: An Intriguing Luxury Compromise

The allure of the BMW brand is one that has steadily packed dealerships over the course of the past several decades, as luxury-seeking Canadian drivers have latched onto the German automaker that was once known more for its performance-oriented offers than its plush feature set.  Those sporty days might be getting more distant in the rear-view mirror for BMW, but the company's star has yet to fade in a market where even the hint of prestige is enough to get buyers to open their wallets.

Enter the 2013 BMW 320i, the least-expensive version of BMW's entry-level compact sedan.  The 3 Series is by far the best-selling automobile in the company's line-up, and so it only makes sense that BMW would want to push into as many niches as possible with the platform.  Is there a such thing as going too far in the direction of affordability, to the point where it threatens to dilute the 3 Series' successful package?  I spent a week with the all-wheel drive version of the BMW 320i, the xDrive, to find out.

• Also: 2014 BMW 328d xDrive: Dude, Where's My Ignition?

The One Weak Spot

It's probably a good idea to discuss the elephant in the room right off the bat, so here we go: the 2013 BMW 320i xDrive comes with the weakest engine available in a 3 Series, or indeed, in any BMW sold in Canada.  The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is in many ways similar to the more robust unit found under the hood of the 328i, but is detuned from the factory to produce 180 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque.  This is 60 horses and 55 lb-ft less than the 328i.

Ostensibly, it's been done in order to improve fuel consumption, as well as create a new rung on the 3 Series ladder that targets more budget-conscious buyers.  In the real world, city efficiency is identical to the more generous turbo-powered car, with only a small increase on the highway.  The most noticeable effect of outfitting the 320i xDrive with a less powerful motor is when it comes time to accelerate.  Putting your foot down in this car increases the volume of engine noise coming from under the hood, but doesn't really accomplish much else - forward progress is slow and loud, a situation that is no doubt exacerbated by the additional weight of the all-wheel drive system.  Even with the car in Sport mode rather than the performance-sucking Eco Pro (a setting to be avoided at all costs), there's little joy to be found in scaling the heights of the 2.0-liter's rev range via the car's eight-speed automatic transmission.

Still An Excellent Chassis

That's really too bad, because even despite being one of the slowest BMW 3 Series models in recent memory the 2013 BMW 320i xDrive features the same supple chassis that is gifted to all of the brand's compact sedans.  It's simply a pleasure to tilt the 320i through corners, and the xDrive system features none of the fun-sapping understeer that one might expect from such a traction-adding arrangement.  In fact, it's easy enough to induce oversteer in snowy conditions by way of properly-timed throttle inputs, making the 320i xDrive even more fun in inclement weather.

Don't think for a second, however, that the 320i xDrive's sporty all-wheel drive tuning in any way negatively impacts safety when the road turns slippery.  While it's true that most engine torque is sent to the rear axle during normal driving, xDrive is more than capable of shuttling power to whichever wheels have the best purchase should the tires start to spin.  I piloted the 320i xDrive from Montreal to the Eastern Townships, and then back again, during a terrible ice storm over the winter holidays and the car never felt anything other than solid and in control whether at highway speeds or on barely-cleared secondary roads.

Pleasingly Simple On The Inside

The 2013 BMW 320i xDrive's position as the most affordable 3 Series model means that it doesn't come with a heavy dose of luxury gear (read: gizmos and gadgets).  This is actually what I liked most about the 320i - a simple iDrive interface, useful, but not overly-complicated gauges, and straightforward controls are the order of the day for this low-spec car.  Sure, the seats are leatherette instead of leather, and there's no audio streaming over Bluetooth (the only real frustrating omission from BMW), but my car had heated buckets, dual automatic climate control, fog lights, and 17-inch rims that help to keep tire costs down when switching back-and-forth between winters and summers.  The 320i xDrive really offers all the features you need in a daily driver, and if you can avoid the temptation to spend money on the endless options and packages that are available to balloon the 320i's window sticker, then maybe you can walk out the door with a relative (for the luxury world) bargain.

It's All About Market Position

The 2013 BMW 320i xDrive is a sedan that's engaged in a delicate balancing act.  On the one hand, it's $39,990 starting price ($35,990 without all-wheel drive) is fairly reasonable for a BMW, especially one that is as comfortable and nimble as the 3 Series.  Its lack of power, however, is frustrating, and although I was pleased with the features provided by the 320i, there's no doubt that you can do better in terms of luxury gear at this car's price point if you are willing to look at a domestic, Japanese, or Korean automobile.  Like all compromises, the 320i xDrive forces you to evaluate what you can and can't live without in a luxury car, and then spend your dollars accordingly.