Pass on the $2,000 navigation system, and you will save yourself the hassle of a fussy iDrive controller in the center console. That’s great news for the 2006 BMW 3 Series, along with added space, improved safety features, and new technologies designed to make driving easier.

Sport models are equipped with multi-adjustable sport seats up front, manual on the 325 and power on the 330. With inflatable side bolsters, thigh bolster extensions, and fine adjustment for rake, angle and height, these seats conform to most body styles. Once they’re set properly, the seats prove comfortable over the long haul.

And though the 2006 3 Series is larger on the inside it still feels like a small car. It’s difficult to get into and out of, due to small front door openings and an intrusive rear wheel well. Once situated inside, however, the cabin is a snug fit; legroom in front is generous and four six-footers should be able to ride in the 2006 3 Series -- provided the driver and front passenger aren’t performing a gangsta dip. With the driver’s seat adjusted for a six-foot-tall person who likes to sit up high with a good view forward, another six-footer can slide into the back and enjoy enough legroom that knees and shins clear the hard front seatbacks. Note that BMW has improved its leather upholstery to the point where it is easy to tell the difference between real cowhides and the standard leatherette, which is stiff and grips clothing, making it hard to adjust your body while in motion. In contrast, the leather is soft, and smooth.

Side curtain airbags protect both rows of seats, and the front seat side-impact airbags are now located in the side bolsters of the front seats rather than the door panels, helping to ensure that they are properly positioned no matter how far forward or rearward the seat is placed in the track. Run-flat tires are standard equipment, allowing 150 miles of range at up to 50 mph. Other safety gear includes a brake drying system for rain, an optional active cruise control system to maintain proper distances on road trips, brake-fade compensation for when you’re driving the 3 Series aggressively, and adaptive front headlights (standard on the 330i and optional on the 325i) which help to illuminate around turns. Stability control is also standard, with three modes of operation – full-on safety suit, let’s play with the tail a little, and you’re on your own.

Ergonomically, it is not readily apparent how or what some controls function based on their markings, and the iDrive setup, while simplified, can still frustrate. For 2006, new features for the 3 Series include Comfort Access for keyless locking and engine starting, compatibility with Bluetooth-enabled personal cell phones so that calls can be made or taken using the voice-command feature that is included with the optional navigation system, and a Harmon Kardon Logic 7 premium audio system wired for Sirius satellite radio and equipped with an input jack for an iPod or MP3 player.