For decades, BMW's 3 Series has earned bountiful renown for its performance, efficiency, and tight construction. Yet, the compact sedans can be short on back-seat room. In 2014, BMW released the 328i Gran Turismo with a longer, taller body and more versatile hatchback design. For the 2017 model year, a new 330i Gran Turismo, with a reworked engine, supplants the previous 328i GT.
What's New for 2017
A new four-cylinder engine brings a model-designation change, from 328i to 330i, as the GT undergoes a modest freshening. Standard equipment now includes matte chrome exterior trim, new LED headlights and foglamps, and a new rear bumper with L-shaped LED taillights. Chrome accents now surround front/rear air vents, and ambient lighting surrounds the center stack.
The optional Luxury Package includes Saddle Brown Dakota leather with exclusive stitching. Black Dakota leather with blue stitching goes into the M Sport Package. The Lighting Package includes LED adaptive headlights and automatic high-beams, while the Cold Weather Package no longer includes retractable headlight washers. Wireless charging and a wi-fi hotspot are newly optional, and the Technology Package with navigation upgrades to iDrive 5.0.
Choosing Your BMW 330i Gran Turismo
As is typical with BMW, the move from the 328i model name to 330i translates to additional power. Like the 328i GT, its successor holds a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but boosted to 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque—gains of 8 horsepower and 3 pound-feet, respectively.
All Gran Turismo hatchbacks have xDrive all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is EPA-estimated at 23 mpg in city driving and 33 mpg on the highway (26 mpg combined). Automatic stop/start technology is standard.
The Gran Turismo rides on a 115-inch wheelbase (versus 110.6 inches on other models), yielding greater rear legroom and cargo space. Seating and ride height are taller, but not so much that you feel like it’s turned into an SUV. An additional 7.6 inches in length, compared to the 330i sedan, means the GT provides an extra 4.2 inches of rear legroom. With seats up, cargo space is 5.4 cubic feet greater in the Gran Turismo.
Standard equipment includes power front seats with driver’s memory, SensaTec leatherette upholstery, a power liftgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, panoramic moonroof, LED headlights, automatic climate control, nine-speaker audio with HD radio, Bluetooth phone and audio, and wood interior trim. The 330i GT starts at $44,945 (including destination charge).
As is customary, BMW offers a host of options, mainly in groups. The $2,600 M Sport Package comes with 18-inch star-spoke wheels (19-inch available), a firmer suspension, aerodynamic body kit, sport seats, and unique interior trim. An adaptive suspension may be added, for $700.
The $950 Premium Package includes lumbar adjustment, keyless access, and satellite radio. The Cold Weather Package adds front/rear heated seats and a heated steering wheel. A navigation system comes with the $2,750 Technology Package, which also offers a larger dashboard display, integrated smartphone apps, and head-up display. The Lighting Package provides full LED exterior lighting and automatic high beams.
For $950, the Driver Assistance Package equips the Gran Turismo with a rearview camera and front/rear parking sensors. A $1,700 Driver Assistance Plus version turns to active safety, with a surround-view camera system, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, speed-limit data, and a city collision mitigation. Adaptive cruise control can be added.
No agency has tested the 2017 330i Gran Turismo, though the 2015 328i GT got a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (four-star for frontal impact).
If you frequently carry adults in the back seat, the Gran Turismo makes particularly good sense. As usual with BMWs, don’t get carried away with the option list. Primarily, we suggest the Driver Assistance package, to get a rearview camera; and better yet, the Plus version with its welcome set of contemporary safety features for a reasonable extra cost.