The 2013 BMW 328i xDrive comes with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower. It’s also got twin-scroll turbocharging combined with enough torque at low and mid-range speeds that it’s both fast off the line and an impressively responsive ride.
It’s also got Driving Dynamics Control which gives three different drive modes in Eco Pro, Comfort or Sport so you can adjust that ride to fit your needs. You can, but you shouldn’t, because driving it in anything other than Sport mode cheats you out of a great driving experience.
You know how Goldilocks had to find the bed that was just right? Drive mode is the same deal, only with cars. You have to find the “just right” setting and the one that fits the bill is definitely Sport.
You’ll automatically be in Comfort mode when you start the engine because it’s the nice, middle of the road setting. Not too peppy, not too conservative. You’ll enjoy the drive in Comfort mode but you can do much better.
If you decide to take it down a notch to Eco Pro, well, I have no idea why you’d buy the BMW 328i and actually use this mode. You’re buying a car that’s fun to drive in part because of its handling and power. Why in the world anyone would castrate it and put it in Eco Pro is beyond me.
Sure, you’ll save a few bucks on gas and your carbon footprint might be smaller, but if that’s the way you’re going to go, then why buy the BMW 328i in the first place? Eco Pro turns an exciting, enjoyable ride into nothing special.
Instead go in the other direction and flip it over to Sport. Now you’re taking full advantage of all that the car has to offer. You can feel the steering tighten and hear the engine get just a bit louder. It’s like letting the tiger out of the cage.
Yes, you can choose to turn your BMW 328i xDrive into a mild-mannered house cat, but there’s a tiger hiding in Sport mode, and isn’t that why you bought a BMW in the first place? Leave it in Sport and let loose the roar.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.