It’s an executive sports sedan with the thirst of a small hatchback
An antidote to brashness, this super-diesel is fast, slick and fuel efficient. Picture: DENIS DROPPA
Without getting nearly as daring as the bucktoothed air intakes on the new 4 Series, the 3 Series grille does get the regulation corporate upsizing. The dual intakes now extend all the way to the headlights, giving the sedan a wider and more pressed-down look than its predecessor. An increased wheelbase and track width have improved both ride comfort and handling stability. Our test car rode with finesse even on its optionally-fitted low-profile 19-inch rubber, while the essential 3 Series driving experience is delivered through the car’s light-footed cornering performance.
Having recently sampled the range-topping all-wheel drive M340i xDrive with its 285kW and 500Nm of petrol power, the rear-wheel drive 330d on test here is the top diesel model in the line-up. It’s powered by a six-cylinder turbo 3.0with 195kW and 580Nm, and while it isn’t quite as fast as the M340i, it packs an impressively hefty punch while being much kinder to the fuel budget.
Eager throttle inputs in tight corners get the rear-wheel drive car playfully wanting to whip out the tail, though safely reigned in by the stability control. A lot of the cool technology costs extra — including semi-autonomous driving features like lane-keeping and active cruise control — and the standard 330d is not overendowed with features for its nearly 900k price tag. This isn’t a BMW-specific phenomenon though, and expensive extras prevail throughout this market segment.
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