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High on look and performance
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Manish Sarser gets a feel of the new BMW 320d Highline’s smooth drive and upgraded features
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It has been less than a year since the 3-series was launched, but BMW has already upgraded the line-up. The old 320d was the best balance between luxury and sport. It was a hoot to drive, the cabin quality was the best in its segment and the diesel e
ngine was fast and frugal. The only things that weren’t spot on were the slightly stiff ride and the motor needed a smidgen more refinement.
On the new model, BMW has addressed both these issues, and provided the car with a substantial feature upgrade. All cars now have sunroofs, xenon lamps, rear parking sensors and side window blinds as standard and the 320d also gets a new diesel motor.
On the outside, not much has changed, with the alloys being the only giveaway. Chris Bangle’s lines have grown on us and most of us have started admiring the snub-nosed bullet the 3-Series represents.
Robust feel
Step in and the interiors are upgraded, done up in a tasteful combination of soft-feel leather and wood trim. The 320d Highline variant which we drove has the iDrive system as standard. The addition of the menu button in the recent past has improved the user-friendliness of the system substantially. Some detail features are difficult to get to, but five minutes with the manual should sort this out. Buttons are neatly laid out and everything has a feel of robustness to it.
MEANINGFUL MAKEOVER On the outside, not much has changed, with the alloys being the only giveaway. But you can feel a big difference in the interiors
The instrument cluster is one of the best we’ve seen so far. The simplicity and clarity keeps in line with the design philosophy of no-nonsense performance. The powered seats are a snug fit with good side bolstering and the driving position is fabulous, making you feel one with the car once you’ve got the settings right. Seat height travel however is limited, which could be a problem for shorter drivers, and the mirrors still don’t show you enough of the road. Rear seat comfort is also good, the seats are supportive, legroom is enough and the angle of the seat is just right. You do wish for some more legroom when someone tall is driving, though.
Thumb the starter button and the engine purrs to life. The new motor is so smooth you find it difficult to tell if there really is a diesel under the hood. The new engine features second generation common rail technology and is marginally smoother than the old unit. It employs multiple injections per cycle which help reduce noise. However, this isn’t the only positive feature of the new engine. The power has been upped to 170 bhp, an increase of 14 bhp over the old car. Torque has gone up only marginally to 34.0kgm, which is available from as low as 1750rpm. The engine, unlike most diesels, doesn’t run out of breath and power keeps on coming strong all the way to the redline.
Pulls harder
With an almost 15 per cent increase in power, the new 320d pulls much harder, displaying even more eagerness than the old car. Even the kick down from the steptronic six-speed transmission feels more urgent than before. However, the car doesn’t consume more fuel than the old one.
Complementing the engine is the exceptional chassis. The 320d had always been fun to drive, but the brilliant handling came at a price. The ride quality was stiff, with most shocks being transmitted to the cabin. BMW has been listening to feedback from customers and the new 320d now runs on a slightly softer setup. The setup is still stiff by most standards, but the sharp ridges feel more rounded and you can tell there is a considerable difference from the earlier, harder ride.
Despite the softer setup, there is no compromise on the handling of this rear wheel drive car. Powering out of a corner with the tail stepping out while the DSC fights to keep things from getting out of control, you can’t help but smile. Steering feel is still terrific, the front end has good grip. The feedback that you get from the front wheels is simply shattering. However, the softer rear suspension of the car has compromised stability at high speeds. Though not many of you will reach speeds of 180kph and above on our roads, this is a chink in the armour of the 3- Series’ otherwise perfect handling. And that heavy steering at low speeds remains, but wouldn’t want to sacrifice that for the connected feel it offers.
This upgrade has made the 320d more desirable. Its biggest drawback – the stiff ride – has been sorted and owners are sure to appreciate this. The new 320d gives owners the best of both luxury and performance.
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Metro Plus
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Chennai
Hyderabad
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