Launched in 2018 as the G20 saloon with a G21 Touring wagon, the seventh-generation 3 Series was longer, wider and lighter than the car it replaced, then gained a facelift in 2022.
The BMW 3 Series G20 is the seventh-generation compact executive sedan, with a G21 Touring wagon, built on the CLAR platform. It went into production in October 2018, was facelifted in 2022, and kept a 480-litre boot identical to the F30's.
BMW's seventh-generation 3 Series arrived as the G20 saloon and the G21 wagon, which BMW markets as Touring. It was longer and wider than the car it replaced, yet it was also lighter, and it has been built in several countries since its introduction.
Where did the G20 come from?
The reveal came at the 2018 Paris Motor Show on October 2, 2018, with showroom sales from March 2019. BMW management chose a design proposal from Alexey Kezha, one of three options considered, and Auto Bild reported the choice in October 2015.
Production began in mid-October 2018. The M340i and the 330e plug-in hybrid arrived in 2019, with the M340i reaching showrooms in the spring, and the Touring wagon followed on 12 June 2019.
BMW dropped the 3 Series Gran Turismo fastback for this generation, and the 4 Series Gran Coupe took its place. Production geography changed too. BMW began building G20s in Mexico for several world markets, including the US, replacing the Rosslyn plant in South Africa that had built the X3.
A lighter, longer seventh-generation 3 Series that kept the old boot size and added plug-in hybrid power.
How is the G20 built?
The G20 uses the Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform, with increased use of high-strength steel and aluminium. Its suspension combines MacPherson struts at the front with a multi-link rear, and a hydraulic damping system is designed to absorb impacts more effectively.
The underbody is flat and covered, which cut the drag coefficient of the 320d from 0.26 Cd to 0.23 Cd. Set against its predecessor, the car is 55 kg (121 lb) less in weight, 85 mm (3.3 in) more in length and 16 mm (0.6 in) broader, with a 50:50 weight distribution and a 50% increase in body rigidity.
Boot capacity matches the F30 at 480 litres (17 cu ft). The windscreen uses double-glazed acoustic glass, the A-pillars carry extra insulation, and the parking brake is electronically operated with no manual lever.
Which engines and gearboxes did the G20 offer?
The 320d, 320i, 330d, 330i and M340i were offered in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive. Before the 2022 facelift, only the 318d and selected 320d offered a six-speed manual, and after it the ZF eight-speed automatic became standard across the range.
In 2020 the 320d gained a mild hybrid drivetrain as standard, and later models followed. Engine coasting is available in Eco Pro and Comfort modes, and both petrol and diesel models received particulate filters.
The 330e iPerformance, shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019, paired the engine of the 320i with a 50 kW (67 hp) electric motor. Its 12 kWh battery offers 9.6 kWh usable, and an XtraBoost function adds up to 30 kW (40 hp) temporarily.
How did the G20 perform on emissions tests?
A 2023 study by the Graz University of Technology found that plug-in hybrids, the 330e among them, emitted more than three times the CO2 per kilometre that official figures suggest. The university recorded 112 grammes per kilometre on the road, against an official claim of 36 grammes.
What did the long-wheelbase G28 variants offer?
China received a long-wheelbase G28 from April 2019, first as the 325Li with a 2.0-litre turbo making 184 hp and 300 N m (221 lb ft). A cheaper 320Li followed, with 154 hp and 250 N m (184 lb ft), and its wheelbase sat 110 mm (4.3 in) longer.
The right-hand-drive long-wheelbase 330Li for India used a 2.0-litre turbo making 258 hp, and it was later released in Thailand and Malaysia. In India, M340i xDrive deliveries began in January 2023.
How did the 2022 facelift change the G20?
BMW announced a facelift in May 2022. Both ends received new bumpers, the headlights were revised, and the grille keeps its overall proportions. The base and M Sport bumpers have separate designs, and the M Sport adds a larger central intake. The headlights carry an inverted L-shaped daytime running light signature, and the top Laserlight option was replaced by adaptive LED units with matrix high beam.
The interior gained a dual curved display as standard, with iDrive 8 and the BMW Operating System. For the 2025 model year, iDrive moved to BMW Operating System 8.5, and for the 2026 model year the 330i and M340i built for the United States were produced in Munich.
What technology did the G20 offer?
Pre-facelift cars had iDrive 6.0 with an 8.8-inch display and a Live Cockpit Plus cluster. An upgrade to iDrive 7.0 brought a 10.25-inch display and a 12.3-inch digital cluster, branded Live Cockpit Professional and fitted as standard on plug-in hybrids.
iDrive 7.0 received over-the-air map and operating system updates, along with a voice assistant activated by saying Hey BMW. From the 2022 facelift, the BMW Curved Display combined a 14.9-inch infotainment screen with a 12.3-inch instrument display.
BMW also drew criticism for a yearly fee to use Apple CarPlay, a feature built into the car. That charge was reported to have been dropped as of December 2019.
How did the G20 fare in safety tests and awards?
Euro NCAP gave the 2019 car its maximum overall rating, five stars. The 2022 model went through Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, and its top trim earned a Top Safety Pick award.
Awards included Auto Bild Allrad's all-wheel-drive car of the year for cars up to 40,000 euros in 2018, and Auto Zeitung's 2018 best car in the midsize class. Car Magazine named it a Best Buy in 2018, and What Car? gave it the Best Executive Car award in 2019.
What are the G20 and related specifications?
| Model | Drive or engine | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 325Li (China, 2019) | 2.0-litre turbo | 184 hp, 300 N m (221 lb ft) |
| 320Li (China) | Turbo petrol, 8-speed automatic | 154 hp, 250 N m (184 lb ft) |
| 330Li (India) | 2.0-litre turbo | 258 hp |
| 330e iPerformance (2019) | Petrol plus electric motor | 50 kW (67 hp); 60 km (37 mi) electric range |
| i3 eDrive35L (BMW i3 sedan) | Single rear electric motor | 210 kW (282 hp), 400 N m (295 lb ft) |
| i3 eDrive40L (February 2023) | Single rear electric motor | 250 kW (335 hp), 430 N m (317 lb ft) |
How does the BMW i3 sedan relate to the G20?
The i3 sedan, coded G28 BEV, is an electric take on the long-wheelbase 3 Series and borrows the i3 name from the hatchback. It was revealed in March 2022 and essentially debuted the G20 facelift's styling.
The eDrive35L uses a single rear electric motor with 210 kW (282 hp) and reaches 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. Its 70.3 kWh battery provides up to 526 km (327 mi) on the China light-duty cycle, and the sedan supports 95 kW DC fast charging, taking the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 35 minutes.
The eDrive40L, introduced in February 2023, uses the same rear motor as the BMW i4 eDrive40, with 250 kW (335 hp), a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time and a range of 592 km (368 mi). Boot space is 410 litres (14 cu ft), which is 70 L smaller than in a conventional 3 Series.
