The BMW 3-Series is a well-renowned car for BMW lovers and regular drivers alike. That said, unlike other BMWs that are well-known for their quality, the 3-Series isn’t doing too hot according to critics. Here’s a look at how critics and consumers are torn over the 2020 BMW 3-Series.  

What the critics have to say

Consumer Reports reviewed the 2020 3-Series recently, and it was a mixed bag. On one hand, the 3-Series did really well on the road test, as Consumer Reports gave it an 89 out of 100 in that section of the review. The 3-Series, according to Consumer Reports, simply had a great performance, handling, and interior quality.

That said, the 3-Series flopped in several areas of the review. For example, Consumer Reports said that the 3-Series didn’t do too well in terms of its owner satisfaction and reliability ratings.

In fact, Consumer Reports gave the 3-Series a 1 out of 5 in terms of its predicted reliability rating. Its owner satisfaction rating was a little better, as Consumer Reports gave the 3-Series a 3 out of 5 for it. 

As a result, Consumer Reports said that, while the 3-Series will provide a great driving experience, it won’t really provide owners with much value. Consumer Reports gave the 3-Series a 90 out of 100 for driving experience but only 39 out of 100 for its value.

Overall, Consumer Reports gave the 3-Series a score of 63 out of 100, which made it one of the worst cars in its segment. The 3-Series is ranked 11th out of 15 cars in the segment. 

What the consumers have to say

Customers were not deterred by the negative reviews, however. According to GoodCarBadCar, in the first quarter of 2020, the 3-Series is the best-selling car in its segment so far, and by a large margin, too. BMW has sold over 10,000 3-Series in those three months, compared to the second-place Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which has sold almost 7,000 cars in that same time span. 

Compared to other BMWs in the same segment, the 3-Series is doing even better. The second best-selling BMW in those three months was the 4-Series, and it sold less than 2,200 cars.

In terms of year-to-year changes, it’s even starker. The 3-Series is selling 29% better than it did the year before, compared to massive drops in sales for almost every car in the segment. For example, the 4-Series saw a 70% drop in sales over the year. 

This great sales performance tells BMW the only thing it needs to know, and that’s the fact that BMW customers are still buying and enjoying the 3-Series. The 3-Series still provides the signature speed, handling, and quality that BMW fans expect from a 3-Series, and Consumer Reports said as much in its review. But, if you’re not a Beemer fan, then there are better cars on the market for you.

Alternatives to the BMW 3-Series

The best car in the segment, according to Consumer Reports, is the Audi A4. The A4 is basically what the 3-Series should’ve been. It has great performance specs, handling ability, and a high-quality interior. On top of that though, the A4 is also a very reliable car, and that’s exactly what the 3-Series isn’t. 

The second-best car, according to Consumer Reports, is a tie between the Genesis G70 and the Volkswagen Arteon. The G70 isn’t as great on the road as the A4 or the 3-Series are, but the G70, like the A4, is also very reliable. The Arteon doesn’t have as great of a reliability rating, but it makes up for it by having great performance figures, just like the A4 and the 3-Series do.