Browse over 9,000 car reviews
What's the difference?
Back in the day, the 3 Series sedan was often the entry to the brand for first time BMW owners, and for good reason. They offered practical interior space without compromising on engine performance.
And they simply looked good, no boring nanny design elements. Then the 1 Series came along and price points bumped up, so how does the ‘entry’ BMW 320i M Sport live up to its long-standing reputation?
With an updated dashboard that brings the interior and tech up to market and a sharper exterior design, it more than holds its own at the table of luxury sedans, despite hard competition from the likes of the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C200 and Jaguar XE.
However, if the Merc is a placid and well-behaved mare… the BMW is the barely-broken-in bronco and it takes a certain kind of ‘rider’ to enjoy what the 320i has to offer.
I’ve been discovering just that this week with my family of three. What did we find out? Read below!
I don’t think I’m overselling it to say that this is the car that could make or break Tesla in Australia and around the world.
Crazy, right? That seemed impossible not so long ago, back when the brand appeared untouchable. But new competition, largely from China, plus the giant Musk-shaped elefant (it is German for elephant…) in the room, has seen sales and profit plummet.
Just last month, for example, the Tesla Model Y lost its best-seller crown in Australia to BYD, admittedly in the weeks before the new 'Juniper' version arrived.
The point is, a new version of its biggest seller is a Very Big Deal. But have they changed enough, and changed it well enough, to cut through the noise?
We put the cheapest variant, the Tesla Model Y RWD, to the test to find out.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the BMW 320i M Sport. It’s fun to drive and I felt connected to what the car was doing on the road. The harder ride may not appeal to some but I didn’t mind it. The cosy back seat and boot mean it will probably suit a smaller family best and one which doesn’t have to worry about carrying a lot of gear around regularly, but it suited my needs just fine.
I reckon this is a car for those drivers who don’t want to compromise on performance but still have a kid or two. If you’re after the cushioned comfort of a Merc, this won’t appeal but I didn't want to give this one back and happily give it a firm 8/10.
My son liked the sports car looks and enjoyed the amenities in his row. He gives it a 10/10.
Tesla promised wholesale improvements to the Model Y, and this Juniper update delivers where it counts. But with increased, and sometimes cheaper, competition arriving every day, the pressure remains on Tesla to keep the Model Y ahead of the pack.
Sharper than its predecessor, the new 320i has LED everything with the rear lights being longer and curving around to the sides of the car.
The classic 'kidney' grille is darkened and more pronounced, with the black panelling extending to the rear to create an unapologetically sporty presence. A presence that’s accentuated by the twin exhausts.
The batcave interior with its black headliner, black seats… black everything, looks smart and stylish.
You do have a fair bit of harder touchpoints throughout but the customisable ambient lighting helps to soften the overall effect.
With its 2068mm width, 4709mm length and 1435mm height, the sedan makes its presence known without feeling cumbersome to manoeuvre. Urban dwellers need not fear their local car park!
We’re not talking massive changes here – more a modernising of the Model Y offering that doesn’t really change the shape or dimensions.
The most noticeable changes outside are the front and rear light bars, spanning the width of both the bonnet and the boot. They’re a nice touch, and seriously soften what many (including me) consider the worst angles of the Model Y. There are also new headlights, a refreshed front bumper and a new look for the alloy wheels.
Inside, it is the absolute definition of pared-back minimalism. In fact, some could argue it’s gone a little bit too far.
There are no physical buttons anywhere but on the steering wheel, and there's just the one stalk, which has the sole function of operating the indicators. Everything else - mirrors, windscreen wipers, headlights etc - are accessed either through the steering wheel, or through the central screen.
And that includes the gear selector, which is now a swipe-down-for-reverse, swipe-up-for-drive function on the central screen. You might love that, but I don't. I'm sure I'd get more used to it, but initially it did nothing but slow down how quickly I could get the car moving.
Helpfully, the central screen is big and very easy use, and logging into Spotify and Apple CarPlay does largely negate the missing phone mirroring – though if the function exists, I couldn't get it to read my incoming texts to me.
Our test car's cabin was black but highlighted with quality-feeling fabric panels in the doors and on the dash, which are then framed by a metallic-feeling mesh, helping the Model Y's cabin feel definitely elevated from the vehicles that came before it.
For such a sleek looking sedan, it’s generous up front with plenty of head and legroom.
You can adjust the seat to sit quite low and both front seats have extendable under-thigh supports, which should excite taller drivers.
My 189cm (6’2”) brother has the 328i and is very comfortable but taller front passengers will encroach on back seat passenger comfort.
The front seats are quite firm on the backside, they also lack adjustable lumbar support, so expect to stretch the kinks out on a longer trip.
The amenities and tech feel well thought out and easy enough to use. The 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system looks great and has the best-looking graphics I’ve sampled.
The BMW system is intuitive to use once you get used to it. If you’re not interested in using the touchscreen, you can also utilise the rotary-wheel for menu selections.
There’s also Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus built-in satellite navigation.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel is customisable and the information displayed simply but you won’t really look at it because of the head-up display.
Front occupants enjoy a wireless charging pad for their smart phone, a USB-A and USB-C port plus a 12-volt socket. Rear passengers get a couple of USB-C ports, too.
The storage is good for this size sedan but overall passenger room takes priority, but the glove box and middle console will suffice for everyday use.
While it may not excite others, I love the big bottle holders in the doors. They’re large enough for my big 1.5L bottle and angled for easy access. These are found in the rear doors as well.
Back seat passengers enjoy climate control, directional air vents, two cupholders, netted map pockets and reading lights.
My six-year old was happy with the amenities and lower ground clearance because he felt comfortable and had his independence.
The boot offers a good capacity of 480L and the aperture isn’t too narrow, so you can comfortably access items if they roll to the back.
I had plenty of room for my little family’s needs but if you’re a larger family, you may need to get strategic with gear storage.
Being a base model, you do miss out on a powered tailgate, which is a shame but not too much of an issue given this is a sedan and the lid isn’t heavy.
There’s also no spare tyre or even a puncture repair kit but you have run-flats, so you should be able to limp to a service centre if need be.
The new Model Y stretches 4792mm long, 1982mm wide and 1624mm tall, and the practicality perks of the outgoing model still shine strongly in this new version.
Climb into the backseat and you’ll find a seriously spacious area, and one that feels even bigger and lighter thanks to the completely flat floor and the glass roof.
Even sitting behind my own 175cm driving position, there was ample knee and headroom, and the addition of the 8.0-inch rear screen, which supports two headphone connections, is a clever touch. Gone are the mind-numbing days of staring out the window on long family road trips. Now, kids get access to YouTube, Netflix and a heap of games.
There are also two USB charge points, and a pull-down divider that separates the comfortable rear seats. The door pockets front and rear are sizeable, and cabin storage abounds, including a hugely deep storage bin that separates the front seats.
Open the boot, and remove the shade, and you'll find another fairly massive storage area, including a deep hidden area under the boot floor. But you won't find a spare tyre – instead Tesla offers a 24-hour call-out service for the life of the warranty, where someone will come and repair or replace your tyre, should you have an issue.
Tesla isn't good at detailing specifics about its vehicles, but says you can expect a total 2138 litres of storage space in the Model Y, presumably with the rear seats folded flat and measured to the ceiling.
There are seven variants for the BMW 3 Series sedan and our model is the base model for the petrol variants.
There is a plug-in hybrid version, the 330e, if you’re after a more fuel-efficient option but it will up the price by about $20K.
As it stands the 320i M Sport is $78,900, before on-road costs. Our model has been finished in 'M Brooklyn Grey', which adds $1539 to the price.
That puts it at a similar price point as its rivals. You get a well-specified package with the M Sport but it doesn’t have the same sense of cushioned comfort as the Merc does, but more on that later.
Still, the sporty and streamlined interior is headlined by BMW’s dual 12.3-inch screens that sit propped on the dash like a futuristic cockpit.
The mix of synthetic leather and cloth seats are electric and have adjustable side bolsters for when you want to go hard in a turn.
The interior also boasts a sunroof and wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. There are some other highlights like the 18-inch alloy wheels, leather steering wheel and the crystal-clear head-up display, to name a few.
So yes, this Model Y RWD is the cheapest way into the Model Y family, listing at $58,900 before on-road costs – exactly $10k cheaper than the Long Range All-Wheel Drive.
That’s a little more than some of its core Chinese rivals, like the XPeng G6 which kicks off at $54,800, and a lot more than vehicles like the Leapmotor C10 and Geely EX5. But you could argue that Tesla has more brand standing than them in Australia, given it has been around for so much longer.
Tesla has also jacked up the included features for this update, with heating and cooling for the front seats, new 19-inch alloy wheel designs, adaptive LED headlights, and a very cool 8.0-inch rear screen that gives backseat riders access to games, YouTube and Netflix.
Tech up front is handled by a 15.4-inch central screen on which you can connect your Spotify or Apple accounts, but there’s no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system pairs with a nine-speaker stereo, and there’s still the best wireless charging pad in the business below the screen.
The 320i M Sport has the ‘baby’ engine in the 3 Series line-up but the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol powertrain still delivers on power with a maximum output of 135kW/300Nm.
This is a rear-wheel drive and has an eight-speed auto-transmission which delivers very smooth gear changes.
Despite having the smaller engine, it can still go from 0-100km/h in just 7.4 seconds.
Again, Tesla keeps its cards close to its chest on specific outputs, but data we've seen points to this Tesla's rear-mounted electric motor producing 255kW, a smallish increase from the 220kW of the outgoing model.
Tesla says that's enough to produce a sprint to 100km/h time of 5.9 seconds.
In a world with rising fuel prices, the efficiency of this decently powered sedan should excite you.
The official combined fuel cycle is 6.5L/100km. Real world testing saw my figure at 7.4L/100km after a mix of open-road and urban driving this week.
I thought that was great for how hard I drove it and for the power, you won’t be wincing when you put your foot down. I would expect it to be higher in an urban setting.
The 320i has a 59L fuel tank and based on the official combined cycle figure, you should get just over 900km of driving range, which is great, especially if you do 'roadies' like me!
Again, more cloak and dagger from Tesla here, but most reporting suggests a 75kWh battery is housed beneath the new Model Y.
We do know that our rear-drive Model Y will deliver a claimed 466km driving range on the WLTP cycle.
Charging is capped at a reported 220kW, with the brand suggesting 238km in driving range can be added in 15 minutes when using a 175kW Supercharger. Home AC charging is capped at 11kW.
There's a lot that I like about how this performs but a highlight is how eagerly the car responds when you accelerate.
However, it’s not unbridled power. There’s no bucking at the front or shuddering through the steering wheel. It’s controlled but still very fun.
The lower centre of gravity and coupe-like height of this does mean it handles corners well and the bolstered seats hold you firmly into place, meaning you can be free to drive this a little harder than you might normally. Which I did and can confirm it handles itself well.
This has the M Sport suspension, which means it’s stiff, but you feel very connected to the road.
You do get a lot of talk-back from bumps in the road but unless you hit a big pothole, you never feel rattled by them.
But it is a harder ride than other luxury models, which doesn’t bother me as I like the handling, but if you want limo-like comfort, look elsewhere.
The cabin is very nice to spend a lot of time in and relatively quiet, even at higher speeds.
The 11.4m turning circle and sleek dimensions makes it very handy to park, even in tight car parks. The nose is long but the front and rear parking sensors take out any ‘will I make it’ moments and the super clear reversing camera is great.
Reviewing a Tesla Model Y at the moment is no mean feat. The company's very public figurehead is fighting for a front-row grid position in the battle for world's most unlikeable human at the moment.
But anyway, journalist hat on, personal views aside, Tesla has done a good job with the new Model Y. I actually didn't much like the outgoing model – the ride was too harsh, the steering too darty and the cabin too austere – but Tesla has comprehensively overhauled each of those drawbacks to create a car that is genuinely much better than it has ever been before.
Let's start with the cabin. It's still austere, but the quality feels higher and more premium, and while I'll die on a hill of the screen-controlled drive selector being a bad idea, it is otherwise now a nice place to spend time. The screen and the software powering it largely replace the perks of Apple CarPlay, and the addition of the rear screen is a very good one, too.
But the biggest improvements are in the way the Model Y drives. It's far more compliant on Sydney roads, while the steering sensitivity has been dialled back so it doesn't feel as though you're constantly making corrections.
I also like the power delivery in the RWD. It's not lightning fast, but the grunt is constant and feels really instantaneous and usable.
It's no sports car, though. Our test car took in some of the windiest roads in greater Sydney and beyond, and while the body roll and composure feels on point, the Model Y does struggle with really sharp cornering. The aggressive traction control was a constant passenger on the really challenging stuff.
Overall, the improvements are good, and very noticeable.
The safety list includes a suite of features and the following come as standard: adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking (operational from 5.0-210km/h), blind-spot monitoring, speed sign recognition, forward collision warning, SOS emergency call button, daytime running lights and rear cross-traffic alert.
I like the intelligent seatbelt reminder and that the bonnet is considered 'active', meaning it will lift up and away from the engine if the sensors detect that a pedestrian has been hit.
However, I have to call out the lane departure and keeping aids. It’s a hit or miss system and I tested it extensively this week once I noticed it.
You can customise the sensitivity levels and even on the highest sensitivity, it works too sporadically for my liking. BMW should improve this system for future instalments.
The 3 Series has been awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating but it was done a while ago in 2019. It only has seven airbags and is missing the newer front centre airbag.
There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and three top tether anchor points but the back seat is a bit too narrow to comfortably fit three child seats side by side.
You'll be able to fit a 0-4 rearward facing child seat but may struggle if you're a tall family.
This Tesla Model Y wears the same five-star ANCAP safety rating as its predecessor, awarded back in 2022.
Everything you expect is present and accounted for, including seven airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning and assist (the latter being a little too panicky for my tastes) and cameras front and rear.
Special mention for the brand's semi-autonomous functionality, which – while not perfect – is among the best I've experienced. On the highway, it will stay in the centre of its lane, rather than the bumper-bowling-style swaying that some systems serve up, and change lanes for you when you indicate.
The 320i comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is standard for this class.
You can choose between a three- or five-year capped-priced servicing plan. The five-year plan costs just $2150, or $430 a year, which is competitive for this class.
Like other BMWs, servicing intervals are condition-based, with the car letting you know when it needs to be serviced.
Underwhelming, I'm afraid. A four-year/80,000km warranty might be the worst offered by any mainstream brand in the country. For the record, five-year/unlimited km is now the minimum standard, with many brands far exceeding that.
Servicing intervals are a bit scattered, with the brand instead listing when things need to be done, rather than a traditional schedule.