BMW 3 Series 320d Highline
Maxabout Review
Best Driver's Car
Monday, February 09, 2009
New BMW 3-Series is a car for those who love to drive. The love it hate it looks of chris bangle designed BMWs created a wave of critics but personally i like the overall styling and on road presence of the new 3 series. Some people don't liked the oddly bulbous trunk lid, while others said the nose of the coupe was more attractive than that of the sedan and wagon. BMW has addressed both complaints this year, smoothing out the trunk lid and bringing the aggressive fascia of the coupe to the sedan
Its driving dynamics are almost unparalleled. It offers a selection of powerful engines including, for 2009, a strong twin-turbo diesel. With near 50/50 weight distribution and a suspension tuned for sportiness, the 3-Series is renowned for its exhilarating handling. All 3 Series engines come with Efficient Dynamics energy-saving measures, so whichever you choose, it's among the class-leaders for fuel economy and emissions.
The suspension has been designed to suit the firmer sidewalls of run-flat tyres (which are fitted as standard) and this allows the driver to feel the surface of the road without jarring the occupants in the car. It is a quiet car and makes a great long-distance cruiser. You can tell which fuel the diesel uses, but engine noise is always well isolated and you barely hear it once you're settled on the motorway. Road and suspension noise are subdued over even the worst road surfaces.
It boasts a passenger cabin that will satisfy even demanding drivers, with luxurious materials, advanced electronics and a level of fit and finish worthy of its class. Everything has a solidly constructed, built-to-last feel, while the cabin materials are top quality. Numerous trim combinations allow buyers to tailor the interior to their own tastes.
New 3 Series is upto the mark in terms of safety, with twin front, side and curtain airbags, run-flat tyres, electronic brakeforce distribution and stability control standard across the range. Run-flat tyres help the driver stay in control of the car if there's a punctures and the 3-Series can run for 150 miles at up to 50mph with a 'flat'.It was also awarded a maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.
BMWs have always earned their reputation in hard cornering. It holds a tight line through high speed corners like nothing else in its class. Its brake performance is also excellent - even including a system that wipes the brake rotors dry when the windshield wipers are activated so that wet-road stopping power is virtually the same as dry-road braking.
New model has a slightly larger boot than its predecessor and it is also available with a luggage compartment package which includes a 20-litre sliding drawer beneath the parcel shelf. It can be used for files, a laptop computer or other items weighing up to 5kg.
New BMW 3 Series is available in 4 models in India:
- 320d Diesel
- 320d Highline Diesel - it comes with additional features like big alloys, special interior trim etc
- 320i Petrol
- 325i Petrol