2006 BMW 325i Road Test

Based on BMW's historical nomenclature, this 325i has a two-and-a-half litre straight-six behind that trademark twin-kidney, das ist recht?
Er, nein. Don't be fooled by the badge. For marketing purposes, this year's 325i is sandwiched between the $35,200, 174 horsepower 2.5-litre 323i and the $47,900 255 h.p. 3.0L 330i.

And this 325i?
Compared to last year's 325i, horsepower has been upped 31 to 215 (that's only 10 less than the 2005 330i) and there's a wee bump in the torque rating by 10 to 185. And it's not 2.5 but rather 3.0 litres of silky smooth BMW straight-six under the hood. It's essentially the same mill as this year's 330i, but with only a single- versus a three- stage variable induction setup. Whether you choose the stick or the slushbox, six gears are at hand. The shorter gearing in the stick that my test car came with means this year's 325i's on-the-road performance comes close to last year's 330i.

Interesting. Although it kinda' looks like the bigger 5 Series, but not as extreme?
For fear of messing with the Bavarian firm's crown jewel, BMW's designers have shown some restraint with their controversial flame surfacing design language when given the daunting task of redesigning their perennial best seller. Although it's longer and wider than the last gen 3, through more extensive use of lighter materials, the new 325i is only about 25 kilograms heavier than last year's model.

Did they screw with the 3 Series' benchmark ride-and-handling balance?
Not a bit. If anything, this 3 sedan, codenamed E90, is even more refined than the last gen E46 sedan. Quite an accomplishment considering run-flat rubber is standard. Nonetheless, it does feel a little stiffer, especially over some of our winter-ravaged pavement. When you're pretending to be Jacques Villeneuve, understeer can be found, but as per BMW's mantra, the car's near perfect weight distribution delivers mainly neutral at-the-limit handling traits.

What's the best 325i spec for those who love to drive?
My test car was loaded with both the Premium and Sport Packages topping out at $48,385. That's still cheaper than a 2005 330i, but this year's 325i comes feature-laden to begin with, so sticking with the $2,800 Sport Package would be the enthusiast's way to go. You get a more buttoned-down suspension, 17-inch alloys with 225/45 rubber up front and 255/40 out back. Extremely grippy and supportive front sport seats with thigh and bolster adjustments, and a fatter steering wheel are included as well. And here's an interesting bit: the Sport Package ditches BMW's active-steering system.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...but is the 3 Series sedan still the yardstick in the class it invented 30 years ago?
Despite recent competition from the likes of Audi to Infiniti to Lexus nipping at its heels, no worries, the BMW is still the most rewarding sports sedan for those drivers sophisticated enough to appreciate the difference. And with a base price of $40,300, consider the 325i sedan the best performance value in a new 3.