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:
BMW 3 Series (G20) vs LWB (G28) |
|
G20 |
G28 |
Length (mm) |
4,709 |
4,819 (+110) |
Width (mm) |
1,827 |
1,827 (0) |
Height (mm) |
1,435 |
1,441 (+6) |
Wheelbase (mm) |
2,851 |
2,961 (+110) |
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?