Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £21,525 to £38,060
Quick, economical, excellent engines; a great drive; all the usual 3-Series attributes.
Has a smaller boot than many rivals, and limited rear-seat space for passengers; no stop-start for six-cylinder models; expensive for a small family car.
The Touring's not exactly a load-lugger, but it's more versatile than the saloon.
The rear-wheel-drive BMW 3-Series continues to head off its opposition with its handling - and you don't need an M3, or the new 330d, to make the most of this chassis. The 318i's 143bhp engine is perfectly adequate: while the 130mph top speed and 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds (9.9 with the auto gearbox) aren't exceptional, out-and-out acceleration isn't the whole story, as this engine is strong mid-range, and quiet and smooth at high speeds.
Top performer is the stunningly quick 335d (155mph and 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds), but only just. The new 330d runs it close and is equally as accomplished: it'll do 0-62 in 6.2 seconds, plus it's considerably more economical. But don't rule out the excellent 320d (177bhp); figures for this are 142mph and 0-62 in a perfectly respectable 8.1 seconds, and in normal everyday driving, it's still an absolute pleasure. Though the 335i petrol model can do 0-62 in 5.7 seconds (and the 330i matches the 330d's acceleration) its lesser torque means the diesel will be quicker point-to-point in real-life driving.
Unlike some performance-oriented sports saloons and estates, the 3-Series has an easy clutch action, and its stop-start system (in four-cylinder models) cuts the engine and restarts it again almost imperceptibly. It's no hassle to drive in urban traffic, or when making slow progress in motorway tailbacks.
