Most economical 3 Series yet

Hot on the heels of the ultra-frugal 116d hatchback, BMW has announced the introduction of its most efficient 3 Series to date, the new 316d.

Utilising a 2.0-litre turbodiesel mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the 316d saloon returns 62.8mpg on the combined cycle and emits 118g/km of CO₂.

Business users and fleet managers will be particularly interested in the low running costs and taxation. The benefit-in-kind rating is just 13 percent, which means a tax payer in the 40 percent bracket would pay £1,208 per annum - a saving of £524 when compared to running the BMW 318d.

Private buyers will be more interested in the theoretical 800-mile range on a fill-up and low £35 per year Vehicle Excise Duty.

Despite a modest output of just 114bhp, the turbodiesel engine musters 192lb.ft of torque, so 0-62mph is still possible in a reasonable 10.9 seconds.

At launch, the 316d model will only be sold in ES specification. Priced at £23,330, the 316d goes on sale in September.

Shane O' Donoghue