The 2024 BMW 3 Series range has lost its entry-level and plug-in hybrid options, raising the price of entry to nearly $95,000 for the Bavarian sports sedan.
CarExpert has confirmed with BMW Australia that the 320i and 330e variants of the popular 3 Series range have been dropped for the 2024 model year, meaning Australian buyers are now forced to pay over $100,000 drive-away for the most affordable rear-drive BMW sedan.
“The high volume of new BMW models introduced to the local market prompts us to constantly assess our product portfolio in line with customer demand and our commitment to offering products that suit individual needs,” a BMW Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.
“This has led us to restructure the BMW 3 Series variants for 2024. The 3 Series line-up will comprise the successful 330i for both Sedan and Touring and the M340i xDrive Sedan.
“In the electrified space, we will shift our focus from the 330e plug-in hybrid to the fully electric i4 eDrive35. This newly introduced offering is priced at $85,900, exempting it from both Luxury Car Tax (LCT) for fuel efficient vehicles and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) for fleet operators.”
The M3 and M3 Competition go-fast flagships also remain, with a further five variants in total accounting for manual and auto transmissions, as well as Sedan and Touring body styles.
Pricing and specifications for the remaining versions appears to be unchanged, with the 330i M Sport Sedan listing for $94,700 before on-road costs; the 330i M Sport Touring $98,900 plus on-roads; and the M340i xDrive Sedan $106,200 before on-roads.
That’s a near-$15,000 increase to the price of entry into the 3 Series line-up, with the outgoing 320i priced from $80,200 in MY23 guise.
In 2023 the 3 Series retained sales chart leadership amongst its direct German luxury rivals, notching up 3147 registrations (up 11.7 per cent) which put it ahead of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2625 units) and Audi A4 (863 units).
However, the star of the premium mid-size sedan segment was the Tesla Model 3, of which 17,347 units (up 59.5 per cent) were delivered in the calendar year. The Tesla commanded over 62 per cent market share, meaning it outsold all of its rivals combined.
2024 BMW 3 Series pricing:
- BMW 330i M Sport Sedan: $94,700
- BMW 330i M Sport Touring: $98,900
- BMW M340i xDrive Sedan: $106,200
Prices exclude on-road costs
MORE: Everything BMW 3 Series
