The BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series has been the benchmark for sport sedans for generations.

That's a good mountain to stand atop. The entry-level sport sedan is usually the most popular offering for luxury automakers. It often draws buyers into the brand, hopefully staying loyal as they move up in life — and can make larger monthly payments.

When the 3 Series was redesigned for 2012, the company put a new turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood instead of the standard six-cylinder that had powered it for decades.

BMW wasn't alone in this play for improved fuel economy among luxury nameplates. Mercedes-Benz's C-Class swapped out a base six for a turbo four-cylinder. Cadillac introduced an all-new ATS sport sedan with a turbocharged four. And the stylish Audi A4? Well, its turbocharged four has been a favorite of ours for years.

This trend was enough for us to develop a Challenge around it. We also examined the features you should look for in this class and at this price.
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