Insurance Group: 29
MPG: 52.3
CO2: 142
0-62 Mph: 7.9 secs
BHP: 184 BHP
Range: 702 miles
Overall, this is one of the best options available in the price range – the handling and control of the 3 Series Touring is fantastic and it will make a great company car due to the low running costs and CO2 emissions.
PROS: Impressive performance, smooth handling, superb fuel efficiency.
CONS: Lack of standard equipment.
The handling in the 3 Series estate is fantastic, offering control and stability. The chassis is well balanced and the rear wheel drive of the car gives it good traction and grip on the road. The suspension is too firm though.
The engine also delivers a good burst of power with 184 bhp and 280 lb-ft of torque delivered. This gives the car a top speed of 144 mph and acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 7.9 seconds. Noise disturbance is limited thanks to the refinement of the engine and the insulation of the cabin but wind noise can infiltrate at motorway speeds.
The 3 Series Touring is a very good looking car, more exclusive than its saloon-bodied brother.
The ES estate comes with power steering, air conditioning, stability control, alloy wheels, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard, with optional extras such as leather seats for £1,265, climate control for £545, cruise control for £195, rear parking sensors for £365, Bluetooth for £250, satellite navigation for £1,995.
The 320d ES offers plenty of safety kit including six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control inclusive of ABS, corning brake control, dynamic break control and dynamic traction control. An optional extra is the Active Security Package (with lane changes and lane departure-warning systems), with an alarm as standard. It was awarded the top 5 star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests, too.
The Touring has loads of room in the front and back, with plenty of leg room. The boot is a good size with 460 litres of capacity available with the seats upright and the option to take down the split-folding rear seats.
Reliability should not be an issue as BMWs are always superbly built.
The 320d ES model costs £29,285 which is fairly reasonable for a BMW and has a combined economy of 52.3 mpg and CO2 emissions of 142g/km which keep running costs manageable.
The 320d offers fantastic value for money, with great fuel economy, low CO2 emissions, good performance and a reasonable price tag. It can work as a company car or a family vehicle. The 318d does offer slightly better fuel economy but overall the 320d has the best combination of economy and performance. The ES trim is the most basic in the 3 Series, but still comes with all the essentials and a decent amount of kit, with plenty of optional extras on offer.
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