BMW 320d (G20): the diesel 3 Series saloon, versions before and after the facelift, and xDrive

In short. The BMW 320d xDrive in the Aurex fleet is an all-wheel-drive diesel 3 Series saloon after the 2022 facelift. Its 2.0 engine produces 190 PS and 400 Nm, the car reaches 100 km/h in 7.2 s, and the factory consumption is 5.1-5.8 l/100 km on the WLTP cycle. It is rented for long journeys across Poland and for working days in Warsaw.

The G20 and the 320d’s place in the 3 Series range

G20 is the code of the 3 Series generation whose 320d reviews came out in March and April 2019. In this range the 320d is the second from the bottom in power among four diesel versions. According to BMW data for Germany as of May 2024, the line-up is as follows:

• 318d: 110 kW (150 PS) and 320 Nm;
• 320d: 140 kW (190 PS) and 400 Nm;
• 330d xDrive: 210 kW (286 PS) and 650 Nm;
• M340d xDrive: 250 kW (340 PS) and 700 Nm.

In May 2022 BMW showed the updated saloon, which the release simply calls the new BMW 3 Series Sedan, and sales began in July of the same year. The car is built in Munich and in San Luis Potosí. A second update came in 2024: production to this specification has run since July 2024, and the 320d stayed in the range.

Our fleet has the BMW 320d with all-wheel drive: it is the version after the 2022 facelift, with slim LED headlights and the Curved Display in the cabin. Rental terms and routes are on the listing, while this article looks at the model itself. From here on the car is called the 320d xDrive throughout, because it has all-wheel drive.

Technical data: the B47 diesel and the 48-volt assist

Under the bonnet is an inline four-cylinder diesel of 1995 cm3 with BMW TwinPower Turbo. It is a diesel of the B47 family: BMW gives the full code B47D20 for the pre-facelift version. It delivers its peak 190 PS (140 kW) at 4000 rpm, and the 400 Nm of torque holds from 1750 to 2500 rpm. Gears are changed by an eight-speed Steptronic automatic. On top of this is a mild hybrid system at 48 volts, 8 kW (11 PS): according to BMW data for Germany, it is fitted to the 320d xDrive both before and after the facelift. An SCR catalytic converter cleans the exhaust.

BMW’s data for both versions of the 320d xDrive Sedan is gathered in the table. Consumption is stated on different cycles: the figures for the pre-facelift version are NEFZ, those for the new one WLTP, so they cannot be compared directly.

320d and 320d xDrive: what sets them apart

The main difference is the drive. Full xDrive on the 320d is fitted by choice: it is standard only on the top M340i xDrive and M340d xDrive, and on the six-cylinder 330d it also remains an option. The price of the second driven axle was 0.3 s of acceleration and 7 km/h of top speed. The rear-wheel-drive 320d after the facelift has 6.9 s to 100 km/h and 235 km/h, the xDrive 7.2 s and 228 km/h. Before the facelift the rear-wheel-drive car gave 6.8 s and 240 km/h, and the xDrive 6.9 s. Ground clearance on the xDrive is 135 mm.

What the 2022 facelift changed

BMW’s release on the facelift lists these changes:

• a new front end, LED headlights and 17-inch wheels as standard;
• the BMW Curved Display cockpit: a 12.3-inch instrument panel and a 14.9-inch control screen, iDrive running BMW Operating System 8;
• the eight-speed Steptronic and steering wheel paddles on all models;
• three-zone climate control, BMW Live Cockpit Plus, and front and rear parking sensors as standard.

The 320d xDrive’s own figures changed too: acceleration became 0.3 s slower, the top speed is 5 km/h lower, weight rose by 10 kg and length by 4 mm. Among the changes of the 2024 update was a new chassis tune: BMW mounted the rear dampers more firmly and reduced steering effort in Comfort mode. Our car is the 2022 version, which means it does not have the 2024 chassis settings.

How it drives: what was written about the 2019 version

The tests that can be relied on were made on the pre-facelift car: Top Gear (8 April 2019, a 320d M Sport xDrive on 20-inch wheels) and evo (18 March 2019, a 320d M Sport). We could not find reviews of the updated version in these magazines, so what follows describes the character of the generation, not specifically our car.

Engine. Top Gear notes that the new two-litre diesel has become noticeably quieter and smoother than the old one, and on the motorway wind and tyre noise is muted. Evo adds that there is always enough pull, but the engine does not create the feeling of a fast car.

Steering and corners. In Top Gear’s view the steering has lost its old stickiness, and the saloon feels tighter than the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. Evo describes the steering as precise and even in weight, but short on information. Corners, in the magazine’s words, come out flat, and the old dynamic spark of the 3 Series has faded.

Ride. On 20-inch wheels Top Gear found the suspension choppy and sensitive to the surface, and the base suspension, in the magazine’s opinion, firm enough as it is. Evo writes that the M Sport is tied-down but fidgety over bumps. In the updated range 17-inch wheels with 225/50 R17 tyres are named as standard.

xDrive. Top Gear advises skipping all-wheel drive altogether: in the magazine’s view it gives only false confidence in bad weather and improves neither cornering nor braking. The rival from Ingolstadt: in Audi’s German price list for June 2024, the A4 saloon in 40 TDI quattro form is listed with 204 PS and 400 Nm, with a seven-speed S tronic. That is 14 PS more, with one gear fewer in the gearbox.

Interior and practicality

There are five seats in the cabin, and the body has four doors. The boot holds 480 l, and the wheelbase is 2851 mm. After the facelift the main element became the Curved Display: two panels of 12.3 and 14.9 inches replaced the 2019 instrument panel, which Top Gear called unsuccessful because of an unreadable speedometer and a confusing menu. Evo separately noted that the 2019 version has Apple CarPlay but no Android Auto. Whether the updated car has Android Auto, our team will confirm when you book.

Of the dimensions, the length of 4713 mm and the height of 1445 mm are known. The 1827 mm width is given without mirrors, and BMW does not publish it with mirrors in its technical appendices. Ground clearance on the xDrive is 135 mm, so high kerbs and uneven entrances to courtyards are best taken at an angle.

The 320d in Polish conditions

There are no vignettes for passenger cars in Poland, and toll sections of motorways are paid separately, as described in detail in the piece on Poland’s toll roads. Warsaw has the Clean Transport Zone (SCT). Whether a specific car meets its rules, our team will confirm when you book. In autumn and winter, all-wheel drive and the diesel’s 400 Nm of torque from 1750 rpm are useful when leaving town, but the tyre requirements are best checked in advance; they are covered in the article on winter tyres in Poland. A typical scenario for the 320d: a journey between cities such as Warsaw and Kraków or Warsaw and Gdańsk in one day, when a calm ride, moderate consumption and a boot for five people matter.

Who it suits and who it doesn’t

It suits:

• those travelling between cities who want a diesel with 400 Nm of torque and WLTP consumption from 5.1 l/100 km;
• a party of up to five with luggage that fits a 480 l boot;
• those who need all-wheel drive on autumn and winter roads, remembering that xDrive does not shorten the braking distance;
• those who value a modern cabin: the Curved Display and front and rear parking sensors are standard across the updated range.

It doesn’t suit:

• those who expect vivid performance: a 7.2 s sprint and an engine that, in evo’s view, does not feel fast;
• those who need a steering wheel with rich feedback, since evo finds it short on information;
• those who look for rear-wheel drive and a 6.9 s sprint in a 320d: ours is an xDrive;
• those who need a specific set of options and a colour: we have no such data for the fleet car.

FAQ

How does the BMW 320d differ from the BMW 320d xDrive? In the drive. The 320d without a suffix is rear-wheel drive, the xDrive has all-wheel drive, and it is optional. After the facelift the rear-wheel-drive car accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.9 s and reaches 235 km/h, while the xDrive takes 7.2 s and reaches 228 km/h. Power is the same: 190 PS and 400 Nm.

What changed in the BMW 320d after the 2022 facelift? A new front end, LED headlights, 17-inch wheels as standard and the Curved Display cockpit with iDrive on BMW Operating System 8. Three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and steering wheel paddles were added. On the 320d xDrive acceleration became 0.3 s slower, and weight rose by 10 kg.

How wide is the BMW 3 Series, and will it suit the narrow streets of an old town? Without mirrors the body is 1827 mm wide and 4713 mm long. BMW’s 2022 technical appendices do not give the width with mirrors, so in practice the car is wider. In the tight courtyards of Stare Miasto, go by the mirrors and use the front and rear parking sensors, which are standard in the updated range.

Which diesel versions does the BMW 3 Series have? BMW’s data for Germany as of May 2024 lists four: 318d (150 PS), 320d (190 PS), 330d xDrive (286 PS) and M340d xDrive (340 PS). The 330d has an inline six and 650 Nm of torque, the M340d 700 Nm. The 320d is second from the bottom in power on this scale and stayed in the range after the 2024 update.

What tyres and ground clearance does the BMW 320d xDrive have? According to BMW, the tyres are 225/50 R17 on the base 17-inch wheels, and ground clearance on xDrive versions is 135 mm. The 2019 tests were on 20-inch wheels, and their conclusions about the ride cannot be carried straight over to 17 inches. Our team will confirm the wheel size of a specific fleet car when you book.

What did the 2024 update of the 3 Series change? This is the second facelift: production to this specification has run since July 2024. Among the changes was a new chassis tune: BMW mounted the rear dampers more firmly and reduced steering effort in Comfort mode. The 320d stayed in the range. Our 2022 car belongs to the first facelift.

BMW rental in Warsaw