BMW 3 Series Tested October 2008

Rating Quick Summary Highly Recommended. BMW's baby executive saloon gets a sharp new look, but all the best bits remain untouched. It's great fun to drive and high secondhand values are guaranteed.

Full Road Test

We already loved the BMW 3 Series, and the latest facelift (on the saloon and Touring estate models) has done nothing to change our minds. The sharp-edged styling won't be to everyone's taste - although we think it looks better than before - but beneath it lies the most complete compact executive that we've yet seen. The interior shares many design cues with the 5 Series and 7 Series, as well as high-quality materials and clean, modern design. Range-topping versions come with BMW's familiar iDrive controller for various stereo and satnav functions - and it's much improved on this model - but cheaper versions make do with (still easier to understand) buttons. Plenty of adjustment makes for a very comfortable driving position, and there's plenty of room in the back for passengers and luggage, even if the Three falls a little shy of the Audi A4 in both respects.

Driving dynamics are still the Three's greatest asset - on both the saloon and Touring models - and sensibly the company hasn't tinkered with them as part of the facelift. BMW's trademark 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive ensure than even the most basic versions corner and steer with a precision that rivals just can't match. A well-damped ride and excellent noise insulation mean that high-speed motorway cruising is accomplished just as easily, although one of the few complaints is that the ride can occasionally seem a little too firm. Even with run-flat tyres, the refinement levels stay high, though.

The current base 318i actually has a 2.0-litre engine, but it spins smoothly and gives decent performance if you work it hard. Six-cylinder power is still available in the 325i, 330i and 335i, with all providing strong acceleration and effortless high-speed cruising. The 330d gives astonishing performance, but the quiet, responsive and ultra-frugal 320d diesel is where the smart money goes - certainly for anyone covering higher mileages.