BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i vs BMW 520i — full comparison

BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i

Sedan · Gasoline · FWD

vs

BMW 520i

Sedan · Gasoline · FWD

BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i

Car A

BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i

The BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i blends brisk 5.8 s 0–100 km/h performance with five-seat practicality and a 480 L trunk. Strong reliability and safety ranking signals and 6.3 L/100 km combined consumption make it a solid fit for growing families and road trips.

5 seatsSedanGasoline5-star safety258 hp

BMW 520i

Car B

BMW 520i

The BMW 520i is an efficient five-seat saloon that suits road trips and growing families. Its balanced performance and 530 L boot make it good value in its segment.

5 seatsSedanGasoline5-star safety6 L/100km

Why compared same body typesame brandsame powertrainsame seats

Usage fit

Family 63 / 63

City 50 / 37

Budget / value 61 / 54

Road trip 52 / 64

Performance 33 / 33

Cargo 26 / 29

Practical 46 / 46

Premium 49 / 57

Winter 26 / 30

Scores out of 100. Blue = BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i · Orange = BMW 520i

Specs side-by-side

Spec BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i BMW 520i

Values are representative — confirm for your market and trim.

Pros & cons

BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i

Quick 0–100 km/h in 5.8 s with 258 hp and 400 Nm for confident passing
Efficient for its class at 6.3 L/100 km for commuting and long drives
Five seats and a 480 L trunk suit growing families and road trips
Strong reliability and safety ranking signals
Sedan trunk and opening limit flexibility for bulky cargo; not ideal for cargo-heavy use
Front-wheel drive may not suit drivers seeking rear-drive dynamics
Winter driving is a weak signal; those in harsh climates may want more traction-focused setups
Around 44,000 may stretch tighter budgets despite good value in its segment

BMW 520i

Efficient for its class at 6 L/100 km, ideal for long-distance driving
530 L trunk handles family luggage for holidays and weekends
Adequate pace for highways (184 hp, 0–100 km/h in 7.9 s, 235 km/h top speed)
At about 55,000, it represents good value in its segment
Saloon body limits loading flexibility for bulky items despite the volume
Front-wheel drive may not suit buyers seeking AWD confidence for harsh winters
Moderate acceleration; not for those prioritizing punchy performance
Price may exceed tighter family-sedan budgets

Verdict

Pick BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i if…

Lower entry price

BMW 3 Series Sedan 330i starts lower, making it the stronger value pick if budget is a priority.

Pick BMW 520i if…

Performance & capability

BMW 520i is the choice if you want more power, speed, or all-weather capability.

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