Not for U.S. Sale; BMW Compact.(Brief Article)

No BMW better signifies the marque than the 3 Series, whether sedan, coupe or convertible. But what of the Compact, the unloved and discontinued stepchild that failed here in the States?

No need to assign blame, as the dealers and their sticker-loading, the BMW management that pulled the plug just when the market for hatchbacks showed signs of heating up, and the tepid four-cylinder-powered car itself are all equally deserving. Water under the bridge, as the 1995-1999 318ti is now just another used car. But in the rest of the world, the ti lives on in a completely new package, introduced this past summer. It's no secret that Mercedes' introduction of the C230 Sports Coupe (AW, March 5) has left Bavarian product planners wondering if they were hasty in yanking their hatchback-and remiss in not offering the new Compact here in the United States.

We recently drove a 325ti in Europe, equipped with the same 2.5-liter inline six and smooth-shifting five-speed that we're familiar with from U.S. 3 Series models. This drivetrain makes the ti quick (7.1 seconds 0 to 62 mph, claims BMW), but not awe-inspiring. As the weight (3263 pounds wet) is within 25 pounds of the 3 Series sedan and coupe, the 2.5-liter's 184 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque merely keep its performance equivalent with the lowest-priced BMWs sold in our market.

``Equivalent'' is actually the best word to describe the new ti, as it looks and feels in most every way like the current-generation E46 3 Series coupe, inside and out. Both share the same 107.3-inch wheelbase and are dimensionally within an inch and a half in most measurements, save length. That's where the Compact makes its mark: At 167.8 inches, it's nearly nine inches shorter than the coupe, or about the same size as a Ford Focus. The visual effect is as if someone has taken a Sawzall to the coupe's trunk.

Aesthetically pleasing or not, the rear end of the car is where its key difference lies, in a hatchback that pops fully open with a touch of the key-clicker. Seats fold down easily, allowing 38.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity, with zero squeaks or rattles from either the seats or the hatch.