BMW 3 Series Sedan 318i Review: Basically speaking...

What we like:

Price significantly undercuts other German sedans

interior is well put together

class-leading handler

refined when cruising along.

What we dislike:

Engine complains when forced to work hard

missing paddle shifters saps the driving fun

factory-fitted alloys look puny

seat doesn't fold.

There's a reason why the 318i is introduced here. Besides being the "entry-level" variant to allow more buyers access to the BMW badge, it's priced to undercut the $141,888 Mercedes-Benz C180 BlueEfficiency and $139,000 Audi A4 1.8T, sway buyers away from the $94,999 Ford Mondeo and $96,488 Mazda 6, and even give predictable fans of the $96,988 Toyota Camry and $89,800 Honda Accord a German option.

Perhaps, the only issue BMW needs to address is the 318i's engine refinement at higher speeds.

And BMW should relook the price too. While the $126,800 asking price sounds enticing to most executive sedan buyers, pricing it, say, two to four grand lower could do a little trick. After all, it isn't extensively specified to keep the OMV competitive (COE's on the rise anyway).

Whether the 318i could go "boomz" amongst local buyers remains to be seen, but hey, BMW should be credited for its effort to give greater access to the badge... especially at a time like now, where everyone's being smart spenders.

Credits: Story & pictures by Azfar Hashim