If you’re a performance car enthusiast and you think of the BMW 3-Series, chances are your mind intuitively thinks of the range-topping M3 and for good reason. In his latest test however, Chris Harris wanted to try out another 3-Series model, in the form of the 320d, to see how it performs on a road trip to the Nurburgring.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKrXFTL_6pw[/youtube]
Powering the BMW 320d is a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine delivering 181 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque between a low 1750 and 2750 rpm. Consequently, the car can accelerate off the line to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds as well as a 235 km/h top speed.
While those figures certainly aren’t earth-shattering, Harris discovers that the mid-range pull of the 320d is more than adequate when on the highway and that its fuel economy is equally as impressive.
Even though the 320d certainly doesn’t have the panache of the M3, it is certainly more than capable of dealing with daily grind.
