Review of the new BMW 316d

In cars, could fuel economy really be the new performance? It's certainly gained a dramatically higher billing that it had just a few years ago. The boundaries of how fast our cars can travel are still being teased outwards but, particularly in markets where costs are a major consideration, we're also seeing massive efforts being made to achieve the best possible fuel consumption and emissions. A car like BMW's 316d might have slipped under most peoples' radar a few years back. Today there's real interest in one of the most efficient models yet launched.

Small signs are sometimes the best indicators of big change. Three youngish and smartly suited men are in the queue to pay, having topped up their cars at a filling station. They're talking about their company cars. In the past, the expected direction of such a conversation would be performance. Whose car is more powerful? Which has the best 0-60mph acceleration and the sharpest handling? It might even branch off into kit. Whose has leather, the best stereo or some newfangled gadget? These guys, however, are talking about economy. That's right; fuel consumption, emissions, running costs. For employees still lucky enough to get the benefit of a company car, the goalposts have moved. 'Mines faster than yours' has become 'mine's cleaner' or more efficient. In the modern era, it's cars like BMW's 316d that hold the aces.

Once again, there's a need to explain the BMW model designation system. The 316d is the entry-level diesel 3-Series but it has the same basic engine as the 318d and the 320d - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel. The difference is that in the 316d, BMW has turned down the wick to the extent that only 116bhp is being produced. That isn't a whole lot of power for a compact executive saloon. The situation is saved to an extend by 260Nm of torque that's produced but it still doesn't make the 316d a ball of fire over the traditional 0-60mph increment where 10.9s is required. It's an unremarkable engine on this evidence, especially by BMW standards, but it's on the fuel economy front where the 316d shines.

"The 316d is about as affordable as executive cars get"

The 3-Series remains untouchable from a driver's perspective in its compact executive battleground. That's despite its Mercedes C-Class arch enemy running it close in recent years. It corners flat and grips hard with superbly weighted steering and tactile controls. The ride is firm and this may not be to everyone's tastes but the car is still a capable long distance cruiser. Little tends to change with the smaller engines installed except that there's obviously less power to make the most of that sparkling chassis.

Unusually for a 3 Series, it could be that what's on the bonnet gains as much attention as what's under it where this revised model is concerned. The styling of today's car has been updated in a number of small ways but the raised lines that fall down the middle of the bonnet are most noticeable. Elsewhere, the BMW trademark ringed side lights are standard and the grille has been tweaked while the entire rear light clusters are now entirely ruby red in colour and the side skirts have a more pronounced crease line. The interior looks largely similar to the pre-facelifted version of this model but BMW has again updated its iDrive control interface with scrolling menu displays designed to enhance usability. There's 8 gigabytes of music storage capacity in the system too, enough for 100 albums, while the quality of the trim materials around the cabin has also been enhanced.

The 3 Series does a good job of accommodating adult passengers in its rear seats. There will be plenty of leg room even for six-footers but the headroom may be an issue. The boot is also of a decent size with 460-litres available. Build quality in general is very solid in the 3 but, particularly in the base models, the cabin lacks much of the fine detailing and upmarket materials you get in some rival products.

The 316d is offered only in ES saloon trim and targeted squarely at the fleet customers that account for such a large part of the compact executive sector. The equipment list includes air-conditioning, alloy wheels, a CD stereo with MP3 player connector, a multi-function leather steering wheel and front fog lights. All models come with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The 3 Series has six airbags as standard, along with ISOFIX child seat mounts in the front and rear. It also includes a highly advanced stability control system and active head restraints. These head restraints work to protect occupants in the event of a rear-end collision buy moving forward 60mm when the crash is detected to lessen the likelihood of whiplash injuries.

Break out the calculators because BMW is confident that its 316d will prove a massively cost-effective ownership proposition, more so than many far less salubrious models from classes below. The car features the full suite of EfficientDynamics technologies designed to maximise economy without impacting on performance or handling. The result is an outstanding 62.8mpg showing on the combined cycle and 118g/km emissions. These are the sort of returns you might previously have expected from a 1.4-litre diesel supermini but BMW has dragged them out of its compact executive saloon.

It all spells major cost savings for the target market of fleets and company car user choosers. The low emissions bring major tax benefits and the economy means that the car has a theoretical range of 800 miles. The 318d, the next most efficient 3-Series which costs £1,000 more, returns 60mpg with 123g/km emissions.

You wouldn't necessarily have had BMW down as a future leader in economical and low emissions vehicles but that is the way things have panned out. The marque's EfficientDynamics programme has achieved major economy and emissions gains without damaging its established strengths on the driving dynamics side. The 316d won't look that appealing to buyers attracted to the 3-Series solely for its performance but buyers like that are increasingly in the minority, with economy and emissions growing increasingly key at the lower end of the compact executive market. The 316d is about as affordable as executive cars get.

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