The 2023 BMW 3 Series Standard Safety Features List is Lacking Compared to the Competition
With modern cars featuring more technology than ever, safety has gotten a major boost in recent years. However, what standard safety features does the BMW 3 Series have? Unfortunately, the 2023 BMW 3 Series standard safety features lag behind the competition. However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid it altogether. With help from MotorTrend we’ve looked at the 2023 BMW 3 Series safety packages to get a clearer picture of what you can get.
Standard Safety Features in the 2023 BMW 3 Series
The 2023 BMW 3 Series standard safety features include some advanced driver assistance features. You’ll get Frontal Collision Warning and City Collision Mitigation in all 3 Series models. They are BMW’s automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection features, and they work quite well. The system uses both camera and radar sensors to relay information, making it robust. But it is by no means a self-driving or semi-autonomous vehicle. The new 3 also comes stock with lane-departure warning, though notably, lane keep assist is not a part of the standard fare. However, you will get a Fatigue and Focus sensor that detects drowsy or distracted driving. A chime will sound to warn you that it might be time to pull over.
A Plethora of Optional Driver Assistance Features
In addition to the BMW 3 Series standard safety features, there are several optional extras. To get the same standard driver assistance features as you’ll find on competing models, you’ll have to plunk down an extra $700. This gets you the Driver Assistance Package, which offers a trio of additional features to round out your experience.
Lane keep assist is added to the lane departure warning setup to gently guide you back into your lane if you wander. However, the sensitivity of this system can be a bit much. Even slight wavers near the line can cause an alert, making it a bit of a pain to deal with.
However, the adaptive cruise control that is part of this package may be worth the upgrade. You’ll have a series of settings for following distance rules that help tailor it to your preferred driving style. And while it is by no means a semi-autonomous drive mode, it will add convenience.
The final addition to the Driver Assistance package is blind spot monitoring. It’s a feature you’ll definitely want if you are frequently on highways and arterials. The massive C-pillar and small side mirrors of the new 3 Series make for great design, but they also limit visibility.
Notable Absences from the BMW 3 Series Standard Safety Features
There are a few safety and driver assistance features that you can’t get with any new 3 Series model. Options like road sign recognition seem to be absent from the options list, but will be found on much of the competition. Plus, semi-autonomous drive modes haven’t yet made it to the smallest BMW four-door.
Choose the Competition for More Standard Safety Technology
If you want a sport luxury sedan with more standard safety tech, both the new Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class come with a wealth of tech out of the box. That said, you will have a hard time matching the performance and luxury of the new BMW 3 Series for the price. Even with the optional Driver Assistance Package added to the bill, the 3 Series wins out. If performance is what you care about, the new 3 Series takes the cake. Just know you’ll want some add-ons for safety.
