The BMW 3 Series is still the car every compact luxury sedan is measured against. Fifty years after the first 3 Series, Munich has split the name into two cars that look almost the same and share almost nothing underneath: a gas-powered G50 on an updated CLAR platform, and an electric i3 on the Neue Klasse architecture. BMW unveiled both on 30 September 2026. In the United States, the outgoing G20 is still the car you can buy today, and the new models are scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2027.
Update (October 2026): For what the i3 means for the outgoing i4, see The BMW i4 Is Being Discontinued: What Replaces It, and Whether to Buy One Now. For every new BMW model, see Every New BMW for 2027: iX3, i3, iX5, the New X5 and the EVs BMW Is Killing.
That split is the story. If you are shopping now, the relevant car is the current 3 Series — a 330i or M340i. If you can wait until 2027, the relevant car is the new one.
What the BMW 3 Series is
The 3 Series is BMW’s compact sports sedan. It sits below the 5 Series, above the 2 Series Gran Coupe, and against the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 / A5, and Genesis G70. Rear-wheel drive, a low seating position and a straight-six at the top of the range are the reasons enthusiasts still default to it.
The current seventh-generation car is the G20, launched in 2018 and facelifted in 2022. Production of that generation ends in October 2026. The eighth-generation G50 sedan starts production at Dingolfing in November 2026. The related electric i3 has been in production at Munich since August 2026.
2026 BMW 3 Series price in the US
The 2026 model year is a carryover G20. BMW left the car alone while it finished the successor.
| Trim | Engine | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| 330i | 2.0L turbo-four, 255 hp, 295 lb-ft, RWD | from about $48,000–$48,675 |
| 330i xDrive | same, AWD | about $50,000–$50,675 |
| M340i | 3.0L turbo-six, 386 hp, 398 lb-ft, 48V mild hybrid, RWD | about $62,300–$62,875 |
| M340i xDrive | same, AWD | about $64,300–$64,875 |
Both engines use an 8-speed automatic. The rear-drive 330i is rated around 28/35/31 mpg city/highway/combined. The M340i is close behind at about 27/33/29 mpg, which is the quiet achievement of the 48-volt mild-hybrid B58. Edmunds and U.S. News still rank the car near the top of the luxury small-sedan class. The 330e plug-in hybrid was dropped for 2025 and does not return for 2026.
The new BMW 3 Series: G50 gas and i3 electric
BMW unveiled the eighth-generation car at the end of September 2026. The gas models and the electric i3 share a face, a cabin and the 3 Series name. They do not share a platform.
- G50 3 Series (gas): updated CLAR architecture, related to the current 5 Series and 7 Series. Longer hood, traditional dash-to-axle proportion.
- i3 (electric): Neue Klasse platform. Slightly shorter hood, longer wheelbase, structural battery in the floor.
Production of the gas car starts at Dingolfing in November 2026. US sales of the 330, 330 xDrive and M350 xDrive are scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. US prices had not been announced at the unveil.
Launch specs
BMW’s launch figures for the six-cylinder flagship and the two i3 versions are below. They are manufacturer claims in metric units; the US-specific figures BMW has published are covered in the sections that follow.
| Model | Powertrain | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M350 xDrive | 3.0 gas mild hybrid, AWD | 437 hp | 580 Nm | 4.1 s | 250 km/h |
| i3 40 xDrive | Dual motor, AWD | 369 hp | 520 Nm | 5.4 s | 200 km/h |
| i3 50 xDrive | Dual motor, AWD | 463 hp | 645 Nm | 4.7 s | 200 km/h |
A plug-in hybrid and an i3 M60 xDrive are due later, the M60 in 2027. There is no diesel. BMW has confirmed the new 3 Series sedan will be gas, gas mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid only — the first 3 Series without a diesel since the original E21.
Dimensions
| G50 gas | i3 electric | Outgoing G20 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,765 mm | 4,760 mm | 4,713 mm |
| Width | 1,850 mm | 1,865 mm | 1,827 mm |
| Height | 1,455 mm | 1,480 mm | 1,448 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,860 mm | 2,897 mm | 2,851 mm |
| Trunk | 450 liters | 420 liters + 31 liters under the hood | about 480 liters (sedan) |
The gas car is 56 mm longer and 23 mm wider than the G20, on a wheelbase only 9 mm longer. The i3 trades 30 liters of trunk space for a frunk and a longer wheelbase.
Electric range and charging
BMW’s Gen6 drive uses cylindrical cells (46 × 95 mm) and an 800-volt architecture. The company claims about 30 percent more range and 30 percent faster charging than the previous generation of its electric hardware.
| i3 40 xDrive | i3 50 xDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (net) | 82.8 kWh | 108.7 kWh |
| WLTP range | 566–710 km | 729–912 km |
| Peak DC charging | 300 kW | 400 kW |
| Range added in 10 minutes | up to 337 km | up to 423 km |
| 10–80 percent DC | 21 minutes | 21 minutes |
| Unladen weight | 2,090 kg | 2,205 kg |
The WLTP numbers above are BMW’s launch figures on the European test cycle. US figures published around the unveil put the i3 50 xDrive at 463 hp, a 0–60 mph time of about 4.5 seconds and a claimed range of up to 468 miles, with 208 miles added in 10 minutes on a 400 kW charger.
AC charging is 11 kW as standard, 22 kW optional. Bidirectional charging covers vehicle-to-load at up to 3.7 kW and vehicle-to-home or grid at up to 11 kW with a DC wallbox. Drag coefficient on the i3 is 0.21.
The M350 xDrive, and why it matters
The M350 replaces the M340i as the six-cylinder flagship until the next M3 arrives. Output is 437 hp and 580 Nm — a clear step up from the 386 hp of the US M340i it replaces. US timing is 3.9 seconds to 60 mph, or 3.6 seconds with rollout.
Hardware carries over in spirit: adaptive M suspension, M Sport differential, variable sport steering, M Sport brakes and the 8-speed Steptronic Sport. The party trick is Drift Moment, a rear-biased mode that arrives as a software update in 2027 and is switched on from the central screen. It is the first time BMW has put that kind of party mode in a non-M 3 Series.
The four-cylinder US cars keep a familiar number. The 330 and 330 xDrive use a 2.0-liter turbo four with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, and a claimed 5.9 seconds to 60 mph. Every gas engine is a 48-volt mild hybrid and is approved for E20 fuel.
Design and cabin
The look is Neue Klasse, not a facelift of the G20. Kidney grille and headlights merge into one light panel, daytime running lights run diagonally, door handles sit flush and pop out on unlock, and the tail is a thin horizontal light bar. On the gas car the hood is longer and the grilles are darker, so the two cars are not quite identical once you walk around them.
Inside, the instrument cluster is gone. Panoramic Vision projects driver information across the base of the windshield. A 17.9-inch central screen is angled toward the driver and runs BMW Operating System X, built on Android Open Source Project. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto remain. An optional 3D head-up display sits above the panoramic strip. The steering wheel is new, with a central spoke and thumb rests.
Driving Assistant Plus, a Level 2 system, is standard in the launch markets. BMW also plans a hands-free Motorway Assistant, with lane changes confirmed by a glance, for 21 countries by the end of 2026.
How the generations compare
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | E21 | 1975–1983 | The original. No diesel. |
| Second | E30 | 1982–1994 | The car that made the name. First diesels. |
| Third | E36 | 1990–2000 | Multi-link rear axle, the modern 3 Series template. |
| Fourth | E46 | 1997–2006 | The enthusiast benchmark. 330i and M3. |
| Fifth | E90 | 2004–2013 | Bigger, first turbo sixes late in the run, 335d. |
| Sixth | F30 | 2011–2019 | Turbo fours become the default. Gran Turismo added. |
| Seventh | G20 | 2018–2026 | Lighter CLAR shell, curved display from the 2022 LCI. Last 3 Series with a diesel, and the last regular 3 Series offered with a manual (Europe only, gone by 2022). |
| Eighth | G50 / NA0 i3 | 2026– | Gas models on updated CLAR. Electric twin on Neue Klasse. No diesel. No manual. |
Rivals
Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The default cross-shop in the US. Quieter, more traditional luxury, usually a little less keen on a bad road.
Audi A4 / A5 and Genesis G70. The Audi is the comfort and tech play. The G70 is the driver’s alternative in the US and undercuts the 3 Series on equipment. Neither has the straight-six heritage of the M340i or M350.
BMW i4 and the new i3. Until the i3 reaches US showrooms, the i4 is BMW’s electric answer in this size. The i3 is the closer match on shape, and its 400 kW peak and claimed range of up to 468 miles put it in a different charging conversation from the cars it replaces.
Who should buy which one
Buy a 2026 330i if the brief is a daily luxury sedan around $50,000. Step to the M340i only if the six-cylinder is the point. Both are end-of-line G20s. That is a reason to negotiate, not a reason to avoid the car — the platform is proven and the mild-hybrid six is the best version of this generation.
Wait for the G50 or i3 if the cabin technology is the priority, or if you specifically want the M350’s 437 hp and Drift Moment.
FAQ
How much does the BMW 3 Series cost in the US?
The 2026 330i starts at about $48,000–$48,675, the 330i xDrive at about $50,000–$50,675, and the M340i and M340i xDrive at about $62,300–$62,875 and $64,300–$64,875. Prices for the new 3 Series had not been announced at the September 2026 unveil.
Is the new BMW 3 Series electric?
Both. The G50 gas 3 Series and the Neue Klasse i3 were unveiled together in September 2026. They look alike and are built on different platforms.
What is the range of the BMW i3?
US figures published at the unveil claim up to 468 miles for the i3 50 xDrive, which uses a 108.7 kWh battery. The i3 40 xDrive has an 82.8 kWh battery and is rated at 566–710 km on the European WLTP cycle.
When does the new 3 Series reach the US?
BMW has said the 330, 330 xDrive and M350 xDrive go on sale in the US in the first quarter of 2027. Prices were not announced at the September 2026 unveil.
Does the new 3 Series have a diesel?
No. BMW has dropped diesel from the 3 Series for the first time since the E21.
Verdict
The 3 Series name now covers two ideas. One is the G20 you can buy this month: a 255 hp 330i or a 386 hp M340i, both still among the best small luxury sedans on sale. The other is the car BMW unveiled on 30 September 2026 — a bigger gas sedan with a windshield for a dashboard, a 437 hp M350, and an electric twin that claims up to 468 miles and a 400 kW charge rate.
Buy the current car if the straight-six and a known dealer experience are enough. Wait if you want the new cabin, or the i3, and you can live with a 2027 delivery.
