BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics

At the annual industry test day at Millbrook in May, I leapt at the chance to drive the BMW 320d; I love the new 3er, and the famous hill route test circuit is a challenging one. The ride proved comfortable, as did the leather seats. The manual gearbox is notchy and precise, the engine rich and torque.  The car does 0-62mph in eight seconds flat; it handles with a superb balance and finesse that leaves rivals from Mercedes and Audi utterly in the dust. When I returned it, they told me it was an eco-special, good for 109g/km CO2 and, in theory, 69mpg.  I was dumbfounded how far this car moves the compact-exec game on. TE