[Jason]

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BMW 3 Series Retains What Car? Best Executive Car for 8th Year. X3 Also Retains Title

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The BMW 3 Series Saloon has once again crushed the competition to be crowned What Car? ‘Best Executive Car’ 2013, for the eighth consecutive year with the 320d EfficientDynamics.

The BMW 3 Series Saloon remains the vehicle of choice in the Executive Car category, for being the car that means you can have it all. In EfficientDynamics guise this ‘3’ is the most economical car in its class with its fast yet frugal 2.0 litre diesel engine, making it appeal to both business and personal buyers alike. However, it was not just the BMW 3 Series’ outstanding economy that put it ahead of the competition, the judges noted that its combination of refinement, comfort and agility put it leagues ahead of its larger rivals.

Chas Hallett, What Car? editor-in-chief, said: “When you consider its spacious, classy and user-friendly cabin, and its frugal running costs, there is no need to upgrade to bigger, more expensive executive cars.”

Continuing the success of the ‘3’, the BMW X3 took home the accolade of What Car? ‘Best SUV’ 2013 for the second year in a row. Despite the tough opposition from newer models in this sector, the BMW X3 xDrive20d reigns supreme thanks to its excellent residual values, practicality and superior quality.

Chas Hallett, What Car? editor-in-chief, said: “The winning X3 engine is one of the most refined available today and with its eight-speed automatic transmission it’s hard to beat. The X3 offers the driver and passengers top-notch luxury as well as great economy and extremely attractive residual values. The X3 works on paper and even better in real world.”

Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW UK, said: “For the BMW 3 Series to win the prestigious ‘Best Executive Car’ award for eight consecutive years is an honour and testament to the hard work that goes into producing BMW’s core model. With the X3 also cementing its position as ‘Best SUV’, 2013 is off to a great start for BMW.”

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[BMWFB02]

[ManiacGT]

I wonder if they took rusty seats into consideration?

[ndukyh]

Was happy to read the 3 Series news but the fact that they voted BMW X3 as Best SUV quickly killed it for me

[SE3P_to_E90]

have both the 3 and the x3... both are a blast to drive... with the msport x3, the car is highly capable. Love every bit about both cars (except my e90's radio not working lol).

[Alexzander23]

[nano10]

For somebody that really want efficiency and not lose fun, n20 is amazing

[1.fresh.f30.335]

I knew I made the right choice!

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by nano10

For somebody that really want efficiency and not lose fun, n20 is amazing

How about N20 on a 5 series F10? I'm debating about getting a 528i.

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by 1.fresh.f30.335

I knew I made the right choice!

Are you in New haven?

[BMWFB02]

Who are these pple :

[F30AM]

Personally, due my short and unsavoury experience with BMW Customer Services in the UK, I hope this is short lived and their arrogance and lack of customer care is their Waterloo. I can't wait for this to happen.

[tony20009]

Above, What Car? was quoted as having said: When you consider its spacious, classy and user-friendly cabin, and its frugal running costs, there is no need to upgrade to bigger, more expensive executive cars.

I would tend to agree. But then that makes me wonder why they don't just sell the long wheelbase 3er all over the world. Does it have completely different driving characteristics from the normal 3er? Or perhaps the 5 is just too expensive, even for the typically wealthy Chinese that the long 3er doesn't really canabalize it?

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by ndukyh

Was happy to read the 3 Series news but the fact that they voted BMW X3 as Best SUV quickly killed it for me

What's wrong with the X3?

[Nick E39]

Originally Posted by tony20009

What's wrong with the X3?

+1

[ndukyh]

Originally Posted by tony20009

What's wrong with the X3?

Driven two separate generations of it. Never enjoyed either. Found the interior to feel cheap and it definitely did not feel good to drive. Enjoyed a GLK loaner that we had in the past much better than the X3's we test drove. But I find both of those to be quite ugly. Looking at buying a Q5 or Range Rover Evoque over them in the future. Just my personal opinion though.

[BMWBoss]

As much as I love BMW I'm going to have to call BS on this award. Not sure how the 3 series can even be considered to be an "executive car" and how the x3 is "Best SUV" when there are so many other SUVs that have way better off-road capability.

[Taipei-TT]

Globally...the 3 series is every bit an "executive car." Prices in Taiwan start at $60000USD+ for a 320d model. And for many people, like us who have purchased the car, I really can't use more car than the one I have....other than moving from the e92 to potentially the f31 touring depending on how much the f32 moves my soul in the flesh.

I certainly see the market for luxurious smaller cars as a choice, not because I cannot afford a 5 series. Heck, my 325i E92 costs more than a sedan or touring 520i, 520d, or 523i...and the cost difference between an f30 328i and f10 528i is nominal to the point of irrelevance.

[m1kal]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

I wonder if they took rusty seats into consideration?

hahha

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

I wonder if they took rusty seats into consideration?

[F30AM]

I must admit that there is a small stench of corruption with this award. Yes, the F30 is probably the best small executive saloon and possibly only for a year more until the new Mercedes C Class is released, but naming the X3? The latter is so fugly that a toilet flush would not accept it. But that's only my opinion.

[spernesn]

Someone in this post that likes BMW?