BMW has just released its newest model into the Philippine market, the 2023 318i. It’s not a brand new model, and we say “new” because the familiar model just got a few updates both inside and out. That said, let’s have a look at it, shall we?
BMW 318i comes in just one variant
Photo: BMW
Starting off with the exterior, this updated model gets a redesigned front and rear bumper. In the front, you’ll find that the headlight assemblies are new and are now smaller than that of the outgoing model. The slimmer design emphasizes the signature kidney grills and gives off a more aggressive look to the 318i.
Photo: BMW
On the side, it’s quite interesting that a kit that includes side skirts, as well as a few added styling pieces to the front and rear bumpers make its way to the 2023 318i. To top it all off, it also comes with the M Sport alloy wheels. That’s right, it’s not going to be a “plain jane” (if there’s such a thing for BMW) model because we get the better looking and sportily adorned bits from the M Sport catalog.
Photo: BMW
Changes to the rear are minimal at best. You do get a bit of a redesign on the taillight units, though. It’s also from this angle that you see the aforementioned bumper pieces. Compared to a more discreet look, this 318i looks really handsome with the blacked-out accent on the bumper. We’d go so far as to say that this is its best angle from the outside.
Photo: BMW
The biggest changes are those that made their way on the inside, though. Overall, the look carries the more modern design language of BMW with screens aplenty, much like that of the iX. That said, the gauge cluster is now a fully digital 12.3-inch screen that’s neatly incorporated into the just-as-massive 14.9-inch infotainment screen, and its iDrive runs on the latest version of the BMW Operating System 8.
The 2023 318i now also comes with a three-zone air conditioning system as standard. As a nifty feature, it can be controlled via the touch panel and by voice commands as well.
Powering the 318i is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that puts out 156 HP and 250 Nm of pull. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic. The best news is that it’s still rear-wheel drive, so you can still very much enjoy driving this car on straights and even on the twisties. Stay spirited but not reckless, though, yes?
BMW‘s newest release retails for PHP 3,790,000 and comes with a 5-year comprehensive BMW warranty.
