January 28, 2009
A New Look for 2009
The 3 Series received a number of styling changes for 2009. The 335d benefits from the changes, which included a restyled hood, headlights and front bumper that make for a more streamlined appearance.
There are changes to the sedan's rear styling, too, including new taillights that incorporate LEDs, and revised bumper and trunklid styling. Even though the changes may sound minor, they result in a car that's more aesthetically pleasing — and interesting — than before (see a side-by-side comparison with the 335i).
A Handling Champ
Even though BMW put a different type of engine in the 335d, it's retained the high level of driver involvement that made the 3 Series a respected performance car — one that's used as a measuring stick when rating the capabilities of other sport sedans.
Key to the 3 Series' engaging personality is communicative steering that provides the driver with a good deal of feedback, along with a weighty feel to the steering wheel. The 335d's rear-wheel-drive chassis empowers its sporty intentions by offering good front-to-rear weight distribution.
Another important component of the 3 Series' handling abilities is its suspension tuning, which is definitely on the firm side when equipped with the optional Sport package. This package features a sport suspension, sport seats, special exterior trim and 18-inch wheels shod with performance tires.
BMW does a good job tuning the suspension so it offers enough damping to prevent the ride from getting harsh while still allowing drivers to feel the road. If the roads you regularly drive are in good shape, the Sport package should be fine.
The Inside
There's little on the inside of the 335d that separates it from a regular 3 Series. The fuel gauge has "Diesel" script in the middle of it, and the tachometer redlines at a comparatively low 5,000 rpm, but otherwise you'll find BMW's characteristic use of good materials; my test car had real aluminum trim on the dash, doors and center console. Fit and finish are also befitting a car that comes with a luxury price tag.
The 3 Series isn't a big car, and its interior feels smaller than competitors like the Infiniti G37 sedan. I'm 6-foot-1 and could feel the cabin's close confines around me, but I was able to get settled. The backseat, likewise, is on the small side.
The biggest improvement by far in the 3 Series' cabin is the new iDrive multifunction control system, which is included with the optional navigation system. The system's primary interface is still a large knob on the center console, but BMW has significantly revised the menus on the dash-top screen, making it easier to move around various systems, like the stereo, and make selections. It's more intuitive overall.
Cargo
The 335d's cargo area measures 12 cubic feet, which reflects the sedan's compact dimensions. The opening to the trunk is pretty large, which should make it easier to load luggage. A fixed backseat is standard, but a 60/40-split folding backseat with a pass-thru is a $475 option.
Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has designated the 2009 3 Series a Top Safety Pick, as it received Good overall ratings — the highest score possible — in its frontal-offset, side-impact and rear crash tests.
The 335d comes standard with antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, an electronic stability system and active head restraints for the front seats.
Diesels have a bad rap in the U.S. That's something the 335d is going to have to overcome to find success here, even though the car puts to rest the outdated perceptions people have had about diesels.
Diesels aren't the only alternative-fuel powertrains in luxury cars. Lexus, for one, is taking a different route by adding hybrids to its lineup with the likes of the GS 450h sport sedan. Like the 335d, the GS 450h exacts a price premium over a conventional gas model — it's about $3,000 more than the V-8-powered GS 460, which offers similar power — and delivers gas mileage that's 15 percent better. The 335d, meanwhile, gets 38 percent better fuel economy than the 335i, though some of the cost savings are diminished by the higher price of diesel; if you drive 15,000 miles per year you'd save a little over $200 per year in fuel based on current national averages for diesel fuel ($2.39 a gallon) and premium gas ($2.02), the latter of which is what the 335i burns.
The 335d is only offered as a sedan right now, but the 3 Series lineup as a whole is BMW's most wide-ranging — it's offered in sedan, coupe, wagon and convertible forms — as well as its best-selling. The new 335d gives the brand another way to attract customers, but even though I like its performance — both in terms of its efficiency and its power — I'm skeptical that it will attract more than a small following.
No comments:
Post a Comment