BMW 320d : BMW'S 3D VISION

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The 320d remains one of the strongest models in BMW's revised 3 Series line-up. Andy Enright reports

It's always rather entertaining to scan back through old editions of car magazines and chuckle at what they deemed was `close to perfection' or thereabouts. Baggy, inefficient, ill-equipped and, by today's standards, manifestly unsafe cars have all attracted this tag by overexcited motoring scribes and although the temptation to label BMW's latest 320d with this tag seems strong, I'll temper the enthusiasm for the time being at least.

After all, judged by today's standards, there's precious little that's wrong with the revised 320d. It's quick, safe, well engineered, economical, desirable and will retain a huge chunk of its value when the time comes to sell. Given BMW's recent track record, it even looks acceptably uncontroversial. Family buyers may carp at the fact that luggage space is a little tight and that upfront prices aren't the most accessible, but this is a compact executive car and family duties aren't the key priority. This is a car for young thrusters who've one eye on the stock market rather than parents with one eye on the shenanigans happening in the seat behind them. Statistically, the bald figures speak for themselves. Roll back the clock not too many years and the 320d's performance figures would have been a credit to a two litre petrol sportster. It'll get to 60mph in 7.9 seconds and run onto a top speed of 143mph. That's comfortably quicker than a 320i from the mid nineties and the ability to eke 58.9 miles from a gallon of derv would leave engineers from ten years ago slack jawed in wonderment. Come to that, it'll leave many engineers today similarly bamboozled. The 320d's outstanding economy and emissions figures come courtesy of BMW's EfficientDynamics technology programme. Features including Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, high precision direct injection, active aero dynamics and optimum gear shift indicators go into EfficentDynamics and the results put BMW products near the top of the tree when it comes to environmental and running costs considerations.

"The 3-Series defines the compact executive class and the 320d is BMW's best effort yet"

Prices start at just over £25,000 for the entry level saloon, in `value edition' ES form. If you like all the bells and whistles, the SE variant will doubtless appeal and there's always the M Sport version for buyers harbouring M3 fantasies. Whichever trim level you opt for, you're getting the same fundamentals. The 177bhp engine is one of the most powerful in its sub-class and is refined and civilised to boot. Like all E90 3 Series models, the starting process is slightly convoluted, and involves slotting the plastic key unit into the dashboard and then pressing a starter button to fire up the diesel unit. After the first couple of times you do it, the process seems a bit of an unnecessary work up, but the rewards are well worth it. The engine's torque comes in long, smooth streams and the engine disguises its turbocharged roots very well, feeling like a bigger normally aspirated unit to drive. The thing that really impresses is how much work has gone into making the car feel suitably premium. The balance of weighting between the steering and the slick six-speed gearchange, together with the effort required to depress the various pedals is all beautifully judged. The spacing between those pedals, the driving position and the sightlines out of the cabin all lend the belief that the 320d was screwed together by a manufacturer who deeply appreciates the finer aspects of building a car. Drive other rivals and you'll see how quickly they drop the ball in these apparently fundamental regards. Unusually for a 3 Series, it could be that what's on the bonnet gains as much attention as what's under it where this revised model is concerned. The styling of today's car has been updated in a number of small ways but the raised lines that fall down the middle of the bonnet are most noticeable. Elsewhere, the BMW trademark ringed side lights are standard and the grille has been tweaked while the entire rear light clusters are now entirely ruby red in colour and the side skirts have a more pronounced crease line. The interior looks largely similar to the previous model but BMW has again updated its iDrive control interface with scrolling menu displays designed to enhance usability. There's 8 gigabytes of music storage capacity in the system too, enough for 100 albums, while the quality of the trim materials around the cabin has also been enhanced. These days, the 3-Series has to redefine its place in BMW's range, being no longer the entry level model, and the range must be planned so that 1-Series buyers can easily migrate to a Three on the way to bigger BMWs. At least that's what the suits in Munich are hoping. Run out of superlatives too early and it's easy to inadvertently play the `virtual perfection' card. In few cases is it justified, but in the interests of denying future journalists the opportunity to crack a smile, I won't play it here. The BMW 320d is such a well rounded car, so brilliant in its engineering execution that it marches instantly to the top of the pile. Virtual perfection? Well, let's just say that some cars are more virtual than others.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: BMW 320d range
PRICES: £25,390-£29,860 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 128g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 143mph / 0-60mph 7.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 49.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, twin front side airbags, twin ITS side window airbags / ABS /DSC / runflat tyres
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [4dr] Length/Width/Height 4520/1817/1424mm