BMW 330d 2010 Review

As an example of a cutting-edge diesel, the BMW oil-burner beneath the 330d's snout is right up there.

Engine and transmission

The new 3-Series is an accomplished machine and the addition of the three-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder did nothing to deteriorate the small German's abilities.  Granted, the 3-Series sibling 335i twin-turbo petrol has 45 extra kiloWatts of power and is a thumper of an engine, but there's a 120Nm torque deficit and a much bigger thirst there as well.

If you are thinking frugal with a fearsome push in the back that even an AFL umpire couldn't miss, then the straight-six has plenty to offer.  Teamed with a six-speed auto that has plenty of smarts, the 330d can be driven with a relaxed demeanor, slipping along on the 500-plus Newton metres of torque without fuss.

You still know it's a diesel but the Beemer isn't a real rattler, with good engine bay insulation suppressing the already-quiet powerplant.  But given that - if you drive it to its strengths - it doesn't need full revs, the 330d is a smooth and relaxed cruiser.

Economy

BMW claimed a lean 6.8 litres per 100km for the car we drove - we got 8.5 with more city driving than that ADR cycle replicates - but since then BMW has upgraded the 330d's drivetrain to drop the ADR figure to 6.2 litres per 100km.

Fit-out and equipment

Inside, it's typically well laid-out, with the updated iDrive system proving better to use than its predecessors - the screen is bigger and it's easy to see.  Centre console storage between the passengers isn't massive, but improved door pockets go some way to helping with that.

The features list include ‘Dakota’ leather trim, satellite navigation, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a 10-speaker sound system with auxiliary input and Bluetooth phone link, remote keyless entry and start, power-adjustable front seats, a sports-style leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, cruise control with brake function (very handy) and high beam assist - which automatically dips the high-beam when it detects on-coming traffic.

Driving

Shove it a bit harder and it's easy to see why these machines are so popular in diesel-rebated European markets with high-speed motorways and great driving roads.  The broad spread of torque can eat through straights, having fired the sedan out of a corner with rear tyres under duress.

The automatic's Sport mode is aggressive and clever, making the wheel-mounted shift levers (they're not really paddles) obsolete.  The traction and stability control can easily be awoken by throttle over-indulgence, with 180kW also playing havoc with traction, so anti-social tyre-frying isn't beyond the realms.

It sits on 17in alloys and wider tyres than the bulk of the range - the run-flats make a bit of noise on coarse-chip bitumen and they still thump a bit.  The bigger rims'n'rubber cover upgraded brakes, which are certainly welcome given the diesel's considerable ability to quickly gather pace.

The pleasant chassis and steering rewards smoother right-foot efforts and the driver can marvel at the balance and cross-country abilities of the little Beemer.

Verdict

There's much to like about the turbodiesel Beemer sedan, which offers the torque of a big V8 without the thirst, features a-plenty and the badge that has prestige and longevity in terms of re-sale.  There's no shortage of options for diesel buyers in this segment though, with Mercedes-Benz' impressive C320 CDI and the all-wheel drive turbodiesel A4 stunner from Audi, not to mention the other Europeans offering oil-burners.

BMW 330d

Price: from $87,250.
Engine: three-litre 24-valve common-rail direct-injection particle-filtered variable-turbine turbodiesel six-cylinder.
Transmission: six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive.
Power: 180kW @ 4000rpm.
Torque: 520Nm between 1750 and 3000rpm.
Performance: 0-100km/h 6.2 seconds. Top speed 250km/h (governed).
Fuel consumption: 6.8 litres/100km, on test 8.5 litres/100km, tank 61 litres.
Emissions: 180g/km.
Suspension: Double joint spring-strut front axle (front); Five-link rear suspension (rear).
Brakes: four-wheel ventilated discs, with anti-lock, disc-drying and stability control systems.
Dimensions: length 4531mm, width 1817mm, height 1421mm, wheelbase 2760mm, track fr/rr 1500/1529mm, cargo volume 460 litres, weight 1550kg.
Wheels: 17in alloys.