Compare the2024 Volkswagen GTIVS 2024 BMW 3 Series Sedan

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen GTI have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen GTI are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The GTI’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The GTI has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the 3 Series Sedan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GTI has standard Rear Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 3 Series Sedan.

Both the GTI and the 3 Series Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the GTI the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 174 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 3 Series Sedan has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 81 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GTI’s warranty.

The Volkswagen GTI’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the 3 Series Sedan’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen GTI is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the GTI’s fuel efficiency. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen GTI uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The 3 Series Sedan requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The GTI offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The GTI offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer an SMG.

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

The GTI stops much shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

For better traction, the GTI Autobahn/380’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (235/35R19 vs. 225/40R19).

The GTI’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 3 Series Sedan’s standard 45 series tires. The GTI Autobahn/380’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the 3 Series Sedan’s optional 40 series front tires.

The GTI Autobahn handles at .98 G’s, while the 330i xDrive pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GTI executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the 330i xDrive (25 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GTI’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Volkswagen GTI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 750 pounds less than the BMW 3 Series Sedan.

The GTI is 1 foot, 5.1 inches shorter than the 3 Series Sedan, making the GTI easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front step up height for the GTI is 1.5 inches lower than the 3 Series Sedan (15” vs. 16.5”). The GTI’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the 3 Series Sedan’s (15” vs. 16.3”).

The GTI (except S)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GTI’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The 3 Series Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the GTI to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GTI has a standard rear wiper. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Consumer Reports rated the GTI’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the 3 Series Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Optional air-conditioned seats in the GTI (except S) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The GTI has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

Motor Trend selected the GTI as their 2015 Car of the Year. The 3 Series Sedan has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Golf as the 2015 North American Car of the Year. The 3 Series Sedan has never been chosen.