Compare the2024 BMW 3 Series SedanVS 2022 Toyota Avalon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The 3 Series Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Avalon doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 3 Series Sedan offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 3 Series Sedan’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the Avalon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	3 Series Sedan	Avalon
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	145	162
Neck Injury Risk	23%	35%
Neck Stress	207 lbs.	220 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/230 lbs.	499/567 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	252	302
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	170 lbs.	180 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	200/338 lbs.	447/453 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	3 Series Sedan	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	107	163
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	252 lbs.	318 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	532 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	544 lbs.	719 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the 3 Series Sedan, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.3% less likely to roll over than the Avalon, which received a four-star rating.

Warranty

The 3 Series Sedan comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Avalon’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 3 Series Sedan’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Avalon’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Avalon (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 3 Series Sedan has a standard 720-amp battery. The Avalon’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the 3 Series Sedan is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 3 Series Sedan’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Avalon’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 3 Series Sedan’s reliability 13 points higher than the Avalon.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Toyota.

Engine

The 330i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 81 more horsepower (382 vs. 301) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW 3 Series Sedan is faster than the Toyota Avalon:

	330i	M340i	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	3.7 sec	6.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.8 sec	9.5 sec	15.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.5 sec	4.5 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	12.2 sec	14.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100 MPH	112 MPH	98 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	150 MPH	132 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 3 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the Avalon:

			MPG
3 Series Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
Avalon
	FWD	XLE 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Avalon doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 3 Series Sedan’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 3 Series Sedan has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The 3 Series Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Avalon doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 3 Series Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon:

	330i	M340i	Avalon
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	11 inches

The 3 Series Sedan’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Avalon are solid, not vented.

The 3 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the Avalon:

	3 Series Sedan	Avalon
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 3 Series Sedan has larger standard tires than the Avalon (225/45R18 vs. 215/55R17).

The 3 Series Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon XLE’s standard 55 series tires. The 3 Series Sedan’s optional 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Touring’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 3 Series Sedan has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Avalon XLE.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 3 Series Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Avalon doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 3 Series Sedan has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Avalon’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 330i handles at .99 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M340i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Avalon Touring (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

Chassis

The 3 Series Sedan is 10 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the 3 Series Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the 3 Series Sedan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Avalon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 3 Series Sedan has 1.3 inches more front headroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Avalon.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 3 Series Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Avalon doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 3 Series offers cargo security. The Avalon’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the 3 Series Sedan. The Avalon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 3 Series Sedan offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Avalon doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the 3 Series Sedan is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The 3 Series Sedan offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Avalon doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 3 Series Sedan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The 3 Series Sedan’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Avalon’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Avalon Limited/Touring’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 3 Series Sedan’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 3 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Avalon.

The 3 Series Sedan’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the 3 Series Sedan owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 3 Series Sedan with a number “3” insurance rate while the Avalon is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 3 Series Sedan is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because typical repairs cost much less on the 3 Series Sedan than the Avalon, including $199 less for a fuel pump and $339 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 3 Series Sedan and the Toyota Avalon, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Toyota Avalon by over two to one during 2022.

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