Here's every generation of the BMW 3 Series: which is your favourite?
"It's a perfect place to sit and operate the machinery. The seat and pedals are just-so. Visibility is astounding through deep windows and past slim pillars. It's wonderfully compact and concise. Take hold of the thin plastic rim on the huge steering wheel and head off..."
Read Top Gear's review of the E21 BMW 316 here
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"What a brilliant powertrain. It makes 192bhp, which is pretty special for an elderly naturally aspirated two-litre. And it pulls like a happy puppy all the way to 7000rpm, which means about seven-and-a-bit seconds to 60mph, on a weight of just 1200kg..."
Read Top Gear's review of the E30 BMW 320iS here You might like
"Oh my word, this is a magical car. The E36 got all-new rear suspension, and its principles are still used today. It got a freshly styled body and new cabin. And it all gelled together magically..."
Read Top Gear's review of the E36 BMW 323i here
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"Time for another big leap, and a controversial one. This Three got a jagged Bangle-ised exterior and an interior dominated by the primordial iDrive. It feels heavier, is bigger, and more serious than what's gone before. But more likeable? Nope..."
Read Top Gear's review of the E90 BMW 320iS here
"The main thing is new engines. But then, this is the Bavarian Motor Works we're talking about, so it's what you might call a core competence. One of them wears a new badge on the tail: 340i. Historians will note the significance of a new generation of BMW straight-six, as this turbo 3.0-litre is making its first appearance in any car. It produces 326bhp. It's actually the last man standing in the great tradition of petrol straight-six 3 Series..."
Read Top Gear's review of the F30 BMW 340i here
"Inside, BMW's finally stopped fiddling with its 1990s design themes and gone chasing after Audi and Mercedes modern-cool ambience. We've got a 12.3-inch digital instrument display that lies flush with a widescreen iDrive console. Metal buttons add a touch of class to fiddling with the air conditioning. There's ambient lighting, more sculpture to the shapes and surfaces, and the centre console's been thoroughly reimagined..."
Read Top Gear's review of the G20 BMW 3 Series here
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Top Gear
17 minutes ago
- Top Gear
Mercedes-Benz CLA Review 2025
The electric Mercedes-Benz CLA, offering next-generation of everything, from batteries to MB-OS supercomputer specs and artificial intelligence lurking behind the dash. Actually it's lurking in the Mercedes-Benz 'intelligent cloud', but you get the idea. It's apparently the cleverest car Mercedes has ever made, but more practically it's an electric Mercedes that offers monster range and conveniently rapid charging from a new NMC battery, and doesn't look like a bar of lightly-used soap. Advertisement - Page continues below We're talking 484 miles of WLTP range from 85kWh of usable cells, excellent efficiency across the board, a two-speed gearbox (more on that later) and the ability to ferret out the closest hipster coffee shop that serves matcha-latte but also allows dogs. This we will explain when we get to the Interior section. It just looks… like a slightly swoopier CLA. Which is kind of the point. This is Mercedes delivering change while not spooking the conservative horses. A mid-sized, four-door saloon with decent proportions and a slight obsession with… er… stars. Yep, this is the most starry Merc ever. Look closely and they're absolutely everywhere; the optional multibeam LED headlights have star-shaped running lights (standard ones have a chrome bit in a star shape), and the taillights are also starry, while the electric car's nose features 142 individually animated stars for that Dubai-nighttime feel. The combustion-engined hybrid has a more trad grille, but it still has a star. The interior has lots of stars – there'll be a star-studded electrochromic glass roof in the forthcoming CLA Shooting Brake – and there's the general feeling that maybe Merc got a bit carried away. Advertisement - Page continues below But still, it's handsome enough in a slightly anonymous way. Offence would be hard to come by, but desire might also be a bit of an overstatement. We'll be getting the hybrid CLA (and the estate/Shooting Brake version) a bit later, but for now, we get the pure electric one in two different formats: the 250+ with rear-wheel drive and the 350+ 4Matic with all-wheel drive. Although the higher-powered one arrives slightly later. The 250 comes with a single 268bhp rear-mounted motor and the biggest efficiency scores, the 350 adds a front motor to give around 350bhp. Both use the same 85kWh (usable) NMC battery, and the 250 manages those impressive figures: if you option the right wheels and drive like a laboratory technician, some 484 miles of WLTP range is available. A smaller 58kWh LFP battery will be offered later for those with more urban-centric needs. That's getting close to ICE range – how's it doing that? With the application of marginal gains. The battery is 20 per cent more energy dense than a battery with purely graphite nodes – this one has silicon-oxide/graphite – so you've got more energy to use. The rear-motor has a two-speed 'box, but unlike something like a Porsche Taycan or Audi e-tron GT, it's not necessarily for off-the-line speed – more an overdrive to keep the motors spinning at their most efficient rpm when on a motorway. The multi-source heat pump is air-to-air and uses about a third of the energy of a traditional auxiliary heater, and the underfloor is completely flat, too. Even the rear suspension has aero-shrouding to manage airflow. It's also very parsimonious when it comes to energy recuperation from the braking system. It's an integrated efficiency buffet that all contributes to a car that uses every last erg of energy to max effect. Pretty much what you would hope all electric cars do, but don't. What's the experience like? Solid. The CLA is an easy car to get good range from. Add to that 320kW of charging ability and you're looking at 201 miles of range in ten minutes, 10-80 per cent charge in 22. That's very good. The downside of the gestalt is a car that's a bit vanilla to drive. It's fast enough, rides well, does everything you expect it to, but lacks much character, even for an EV. In fact, the experience is definitely canted towards the on-board electronics, featuring as it does artificial intelligence from Google and Microsoft in the new MB-OS, something that operates in a way that allows for complex interrogation of the Virtual Assistant. Which apparently can sense moods and actually has a short-term memory. Sounds a bit like it might end up taking over the world and eliminating its inefficient human masters, but in practice it works well. Any stiff competition? Small segment this, because SUVs and crossovers have been hogging the limelight on Planet Electric. The CLA's closest rivals are the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, which are similar sizes but bookend the Merc on price: the former is cheaper, the latter dearer. Neither gets close on range. Then you've got the Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 to think about. The VW ID.7 is bigger, and priced accordingly. The CLA 250+ is £45,615 but you can push that over £50k if you ascend the trim ladder. Pricing for the 350+ remains TBC, and the same goes for the Shooting Brake and hybrids that will follow. A hugely sensible and technologically interesting car from Mercedes-Benz, but one that lacks the sparkle to make it a no-brainer. The driving is perfectly acceptable, but 'fine' is a lacklustre epithet. The AI and tech works very well, and it's a handsome enough saloon, but the thing that stands out is the sheer convenience. Moderate performance but big range and fast-charging will make all the difference when it comes to living with this thing, and it'll be an absolute beast at numbing those boring journeys. The estate also looks nicer, but gets all the same kit, so that will be worth waiting for. Page 2 Page 3
Auto Blog
28 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
BMW Isn't Going to Like the Genesis GV70's 27-Inch Dash Display
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Genesis is quietly dismantling the luxury status quo—one screen at a time Although there's a push in the industry to return to physical buttons, switches, and dials rather than touchscreen-only controls, there's no going back to a time when cars were screenless. Technology will only become more advanced, and touchscreens are a present reality that's not going away anytime soon. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen Audi reveals sporty new A5/S5 with an emphasis on design Watch More It took BMW several iterations of its iDrive system before it got it right, having started in 2001 in the 7-Series. BMW's iDrive 8.5 is now present on most of the brand's current models, with infotainment screens ranging from 10.7 inches in the 2-Series up to 14.9 inches in models like the 7-Series, X5, and XM. iDrive 8.5 is beautiful, easy to operate, and quick to respond–together with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, the expansive setups are the focal point of the premium cabins. However, Hyundai's luxury arm, Genesis, has something to say about that, with a huge 27-inch panoramic OLED display in models like the GV70, which we recently drove. It's sleek, futuristic, and user-friendly—and BMW definitely won't like how good it is. 27 inches of beautiful screen real estate The GV70 has already earned praise for its refined driving manners, powerful engine choices, unique styling, premium materials, and outstanding value. But the 2026 model, part of Genesis's mid-cycle refresh, introduces what could be its most game-changing feature: the massive 27-inch digital display. Unlike many automakers that split screen real estate into separate gauge clusters and infotainment screens, the version in the GV70 is one big swath of electronic goodness with no black frame partition in between. Drivers can split the screen if so desired, but no line of demarcation prevents full-width display. The result is a sweeping curved display that enhances usability while offering a visual smorgasbord of menus and driver data in one stunning layout. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Source: Amos Kwon Genesis says the screen was inspired by the horizon, a design meant to increase visual calmness while maintaining important vehicular information. The OLED panel delivers vivid color, deep contrast, crisp fonts, and smooth transitions, making navigation, vehicle settings, and media playback feel intuitive and premium. Widgets are customizable, too, and the redesigned interface is easier to read and decipher than BMWs, reducing the time needed to operate functions. Genesis did its homework, and the payoff is one that balances style and user friendliness. Source: Amos Kwon Genesis hasn't forgotten those who love to drive, either, being a brand that's committed to excellent physical controls, not just on-screen touch controls. The revised center stack provides knobs for audio, temperature control, and infotainment selection. They're wonderfully tactile with great knurling, and they're also nicely sized for easy operation without having to take your eyes off the road. BMW's tech is at its best, but with some issues Source: BMW As we mentioned before, the current BMW Drive 8.5 is one of the best in the industry, after numerous also-ran versions before it. On top of that, the iDrive infotainment system was one of the first to shift control to a rotary knob and screen-based menu system, and the brand continues to innovate with features like natural voice control and augmented-reality navigation. The 2025 BMW X3, now entering a new generation, comes with BMW's iDrive 9 system and a curved display of its own: a 12.3-inch digital cluster paired with a huge 14.9-inch touchscreen, both slightly angled toward the driver. It's a clean, functional setup, but also one that relies on on-screen climate controls rather than switchgear like the GV70's. BMW's recent shift toward touchscreen-only climate controls and deep menu layers for common functions can be frustrating, overly complicating simple operations. While BMW's tech is undeniably powerful, it often feels more like software designed by engineers rather than something intuitive or joyful to use. That's where Genesis not only creates beautiful and seamless screens, but it also carefully thinks about the user experience. The GV70's 27-inch screen seems more fluid in its operation, and climate controls remain accessible through physical knobs below the screen. It seems the Germans prefer a bit of obfuscation, as the menus are visually cluttered and complex. Genesis avoids this, and it speaks volumes about the brand. Genesis is on the rise, and so are its sales Yes, BMW still eclipses Genesis sales figures, but the South Korean luxury brand is making some serious headway. BMW still leads the segment in terms of raw sales, but Genesis has become an increasingly uncomfortable competitor in the Bavarian's rearview mirror. In 2023, BMW sold approximately 65,000 X3s in the U.S., while Genesis sold just under 25,000 GV70s —a respectable number for a relatively new player in a game BMW has been playing for a long time. Genesis exhibited more growth than BMW and Lexus, while Audi has dropped. With the 2026 refresh, Genesis is leaning hard into its tech set. The 27-inch display isn't just a flashy update; it's a direct challenge to BMW in functionality and style. Genesis is making a strong statement that it's not just playing catch-up; it wants to lead the pack. That same 27-inch stunner is also in the G70 sedan and GV80 SUV. Watch the cascade continue. Beyond the display: A complete package Source: Genesis Of course, the GV70 isn't just about the in-car technology. It offers a choice of robust engines, including a 300-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a powerful 375-horsepower 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, both with standard all-wheel drive. The ride and quiet road manners are improved for 2026, yet the GV70 remains responsive, with quick launches and confident cornering ability. Interior materials continue to rival German rivals, with quilted Nappa leather, real aluminum trim, and a clean, airy cabin layout. Source: Genesis For 2025, Genesis has also improved cabin ergonomics and updated the rotary shifter and climate controls for a more streamlined experience. The upgraded and much larger screen also gave rise to an improved center stack and center console. Add standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a new wireless device charger, and driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and blind-spot monitoring, and the GV70 continues to check just about every premium box that a BMW X3 can, for a lower price. The pupil becomes the master Source: BMW Genesis is onto something, and it's not just value. When a newer brand matches or exceeds your tech, comfort, and build quality (often for less money), consumers start to question the premium charged for Bimmers. Genesis was once viewed as an also-ran, lacking the power, polish, and technology of the Germans. Just a handful of years ago, Genesis was considered an alternative brand that was more accessible but less desirable. That's no longer the case when you put them side-by-side. Source: Genesis Genesis understands this shift in mastery and execution and is capitalizing on it. The 27-inch display is more than a screen, it's a statement that the brand is going after BMW's meal with a big fork and knife. Rather than being a copy of BMW, Genesis is doing things its own way, and sometimes even better than the rest of the field. Final thoughts No one will choose the GV70 over an X3 simply due to the displays, but there's no denying that it's an important part of the sport-luxury SUV conversation. It's the entire package, of course, but the Genesis package is that much more compelling with cutting-edge electronics, great visuals, and smooth operation. 2025 GV70's 27-inch panoramic display won't make the X3 obsolete, but it may make it feel unnecessarily complicated. Oh, and those Genesis physical controls add more than just icing to this South Korean automotive cake. About the Author Amos Kwon View Profile
Auto Blog
29 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
Mercedes-Benz Launches Aggressive EQB Lease Offer for July
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. View post: Walmart is selling a 'crystal clear' $130 dash cam for just $50, and it's a 'must-have for any car owner' A surprisingly affordable Mercedes-Benz lease Mercedes-Benz isn't exactly known for its bargain pricing, especially when it comes to its electric lineup. But for July, the German luxury brand is bucking expectations with a surprisingly aggressive lease deal on its EQB compact SUV. It's a rare move for Mercedes, and one that might make the EV-curious stop and reconsider where luxury meets affordability. 0:01 / 0:09 Audi reveals sporty new A5/S5 with an emphasis on design Watch More The EQB, which shares its underpinnings with the boxy and practical GLB-Class, stands out with its upright design, optional third-row seating, and premium cabin finish. Unlike many other electric SUVs in the $50,000 range, it delivers that experience with real Mercedes character—quiet, comfortable, and well-equipped out of the box. 2024 Mercedes Benz EQB SUV — Source: Mercedes-Benz EQB lease deal details for July So, what's the offer? For July 2025, Mercedes-Benz is advertising a lease on the 2024 EQB 250+ for just $299 a month for 36 months, with $4,093 due at signing. That includes 30,000 miles over the lease term—more than enough for most urban and suburban drivers. It's one of the most aggressive lease offers we've seen from Mercedes in years, especially for an EV. If you're already driving a Mercedes on a lease or finance plan, there's more good news: returning customers can knock an additional $2,000 off the signing amount. Combined with dealer discounts, some of which are reportedly in the five-figure range, it's a rare window to grab a luxury EV for a price that rivals mainstream brands. 2025 Mercedes Benz EQB SUV — Source: Mercedes-Benz Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Roomy, refined, and now a shockingly good value Under the skin, the EQB isn't the flashiest EV on paper. The front-wheel-drive EQB 250+ that this lease offer applies to is rated for 188 horsepower and a 0–60 mph time in the eight-second range. It won't smoke tires, but that's not the point. This model is about smart electric commuting, elevated by premium materials and clever packaging. With a usable 251-mile range, it's ideal for daily drives, weekend errands, and short road trips, with the added peace of mind of Mercedes's dealer network and a top-notch interior. Where the EQB really shines is its shape. That tall, boxy profile translates into excellent headroom and visibility. Drivers who feel cramped in sleeker EVs—or who need to haul taller kids or larger gear—will find this design refreshingly practical. It's basically the luxury EV answer to a small minivan, and we mean that in the best way. 2025 Mercedes Benz EQB SUV — Source: Mercedes-Benz Final thoughts The EQB might not be the flashiest EV in Mercedes-Benz's stable, but this lease deal makes it one of the smartest buys this summer. With a premium interior, useful range, and now a genuinely compelling monthly price, the EQB 250+ deserves a fresh look. If you're cross-shopping smaller electric SUVs like the Volvo XC40 Recharge or Audi Q4 E-Tron, it's hard to ignore just how much value Mercedes is packing into this boxy little hauler, especially when you consider the badge on the hood. This deal won't last forever, and with EQB inventory sitting at dealers across the country, now might be the right time to act before they're all gone. *Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle. About the Author Elijah Nicholson-Messmer View Profile
