23 Years and Counting for 3-Series as Car and Driver Ten Best

Car and Driver is out with their Ten Best Car list for 2014. For the 23rd straight year, the BMW 3-Series (and now 4-Series, the new designation for the coupes) made the cut. You can bet someone in the Communications department is breathing a big sigh of relief – you don’t want to be the person in charge when that string gets broken.

Here’s my story on last year’s list. This kind of run is an amazing accomplishment and is emblematic of why the BMW 3-Series is the measuring stick for sport sedans. BMW probably isn’t crazy about sharing their in depth feature story with the Honda Accord, another 10 Best winner. And Car and Driver does ding the 3/4-Series for being softer than its E90 predecessor, and for its “imperfect” electric steering. However:

But it still bears the burdens of its leadership with understated, everyday excellence. Anchoring to the road with a balletic balance and a satisfying exactness to its controls, the 3 also delivers the premium experience—of powertrain isolation, switch feel, and ride quality—expected of its premium price.

Here’s a link to the Car and Driver video if you’d like background on how the test is conducted.