2015 BMW 3 SERIES

Last year's introduction of the new BMW 3 Series was a very big deal. In Germany, we imagine parades being held in its honor with blue-and-white checkered flags flapping from windows as men in lederhosen clang steins of Franziskaner together in a foamy exclamation of celebratory revelry. In America, the new 3 Series represents the reinvention of not only the best-selling luxury car in this country but also the most heralded sport sedan of all time. No Bavarian parade, perhaps, but still very much noteworthy.

However, last year's redesign only applied to the 328i and 335i sedan. For the 2013 BMW 3 Series, the coupe and convertible are still unchanged, while the wagon is on hiatus. The biggest change on the new-generation sedan was the arrival of a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces more horsepower and achieves 5 mpg more on the EPA combined driving cycle than the traditional, naturally aspirated inline-6 engine in the coupe and convertible. That's what you call a win-win. This year, BMW has redoubled its efforts to get the base price down on the 3 Series: The automaker has introduced an entry-level 320i sedan with a 180-horsepower version of the turbo four-cylinder. It isn't any more fuel-efficient than the 328i sedan, but it costs four grand less.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 335i's model turbocharged inline-6 is the same regardless of body style or generation, and it's one of the most powerful and invigorating engines in the luxury segment, yet it doesn't consume that much more fuel than the four-cylinder.

Less impressive is the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid3 sedan that also debuts for 2013. As the name suggests, it features a gasoline-electric powertrain to improve both fuel economy and performance. However, based on current fuel costs, it would take about 62 years to pay back the ActiveHybrid's price premium over a similarly equipped 328i. Plus, the hybrid is only a half-second quicker from zero to 60 mph than its turbo-4 sibling, which is hardly what we'd call bang for your buck.