The facelifted BMW 3 Series has arrived and it gets a nip and tuck, and a host of new tech features. In typical BMW fashion, the changes for the mid-cycle refresh are subtle but this time, you won’t need to squint so hard to see the differences. Reshaped headlights, LED daytime running lights that now curve up instead of down, and a new lower front fascia are among the major updates. The rear end gets a new lower portion with more black trim contrasting with the main body color. In addition to the standard exterior color palette, the 2023 BMW 330e and the rest of the 3 Series lineup are available with a range of special hues from BMW Individual.
BMW added new design features to distinguish 330e models equipped with the M Sport package. These include chrome accents, hexagonal contours, a honeycomb pattern, a rear spoiler, and a special rear diffuser. Opting for the M Sport package also gets you the M Sport suspension, a variable sport steering, and replaces the standard 18-inch wheels with 19-inch light-alloy units shod in all-season or performance tires. The 2023 BMW 330e M Sport is also available with the Dynamic Handling package, which adds the adaptive M suspension, 19-inch wheel with performance tires, and M Sport brakes with blue or red calipers.
Perhaps the biggest upgrade for the 2023 3 Series family is the addition of the iDrive 8 infotainment system. This houses a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch main touch screen under a single curved piece of glass. It also includes a new virtual assistant that understands natural speech and can now open or close the windows and the sunroof. The Premium package includes extra tech and convenience features like a head-up display, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, and lumbar support for the driver. A Harman Kardon surround sound system is available once again as a stand-alone option.
BMW didn’t disclose full details on the 330e’s plug-in hybrid system but we suspect it’s a carry-over unit since every model gets an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. Like the 530e, a 2.0-liter turbo-four is coupled to an electric motor and a 12.0-kWh lithium-ion battery for a total system output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Expect the same EPA ratings to carry over for 2023 meaning the car should have an all-electric range of 23 miles in rear-drive configuration or 20 miles if you opt for AWD. RWD models are rated at 25/33/28 mpg city/highway combined while AWD variants are less efficient at 22/30/25 mpg. The total range is 320 miles for RWD models and 290 miles for AWD-equipped examples.
The 2023 BMW 330e goes on sale with the rest of the 3 Series family this coming July. It will be built at BMW’s newest plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. In addition to the new infotainment system, the 330e gets a decent list of standard equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, power front seats, a sport leather-wrapped steering wheel, a sunroof, automatic high beams, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. In typical BMW style, there’s a long list of optional packages and stand-alone features including the Driver Assistance and Driver Assistance Professional packages, which include a host of collision prevention and safety aids.
