After India and most recently Thailand, it is now Malaysia's turn to launch the 2021 BMW 330 Li (G28), the long-wheelbase (LWB) counterpart of the regular 3 Series. Locally assembled (CKD) in BMW's Kulim, Kedah plant, only one variant is offered - the 330 Li M Sport.

The 2021 BMW 330 Li (G28) has an estimated price of RM 300,800 (OTR excluding insurance, inclusive of SST and extended warranty + service package).

Dimensions - G28 vs G20

The price tag puts the G28 right in between the 330i M Sport (RM 293,800, without SST exemptions) and BMW 520i (RM 328,800 sans SST). What do you get then for the extra dosh over a regular G20?

For one, a longer and taller car, which does have its benefits. We'll explain later on:

Exterior - Familiar, just longer

Ours is the M Sport version, which gets the M aerodynamics package that includes a reworked front bumper, slightly tweaked rear bumper with trapezoidal exhausts, and of course black high-gloss trims. 

Completing the M outfit are 18-inch Style 858 M wheels. There's a choice of two colours only, which are Mineral White and Carbon Black.

Interior: More head- and legroom now

Step inside and you're greeted by Vernasca leather seats and Sensatec (BMW's synthetic leather) upper dashboard area, finished in Mocha with black stitching. 

Niceties include electronically-adjustable seats, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay.

Rear-seat passengers get a bit extra space now - the extra length and height of the 330 Li offers an additional 42 mm of legroom and 4 mm extra headroom over the standard 3 Series. 

Hiding behind the M Sport leather steering wheel is a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster that comes complete with a head-up display (HUD). 

Other fancy features include a hi-fi sound system, ambient lighting, and BMW's Comfort Access System.

Meanwhile, owner/car interaction will be handled through the new My BMW App, which will supersede the BMW Connected App come July 2021.

Also read: There's a new app to communicate with your BMW/MINI

Powertrain - Should be enough

Powering the G28 is a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder mill churning 258 PS and 400 Nm, with power sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

Meetings will be hard to miss then as BMW claims the 330 Li can hit 100 km/h from a standstill in just 6.2 seconds.

Safety - ADAS is standard

Safety wise, here's what the 330 Li comes with:

• 6 airbags
• Cruise control
• Front collision warning with brake intervention (FCW, AEB)
• Blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (BSM, RCTA)
• Rear collision warning (RCW)
• Lane departure warning (LDW)
• ISOFIX mounts

What else should I know?

Besides the stretched 3 Series, the locally-assembled (CKD) 2021 BMW X3 sDrive 20i also made its Malaysian debut at the same event.

Also read: Priced from RM 286k, the G01 2021 BMW X3 20i is cheaper than a GLC 200, but would you buy one?