Car Review: 2015 BMW 328d xDrive - Driving
Take one superior driving sport sedan, fit it with an all-wheel-drive system and you have something that can be driven on any reasonably maintained road 12 months out of the year. As an alternative to the seemingly ubiquitous compact SUVs that are so dominant in my little piece of Greater Toronto suburbia, BMW’s 3 Series with xDrive is a rare and welcomed change-up. But the Subie’s driving dynamics, at least on dry tarmac, are more sedate than sporting — a function of its intent as well as its lower price point. Now, substitute a turbodiesel for the gas-powered turbo four or turbo six-cylinder gas engine that’s the normal motive power for a 3 Series. Not a lot of horses but beaucoup torque, perfect for long drives at cruising speeds — and fabulous fuel economy, especially if you don’t have to fight your way through rush-hour congestion on a day-to-day basis. At 13 cents a litre more than 87 octane (at the time I drove the car), who’s going to pony up the extra cash for a diesel engine only to get mugged at the pumps every time the robust 2. 0-litre turbo four needs a refuel. (Comparing BMWs, the cheapest gas-powered AWD 3 Series — the 320i xDrive — is $39,990 versus the 328d xDrive’s $48,000. The 320i requires at least 89 octane, though). No, it’s not a great time for any automaker to be pushing diesel engines, which is a shame considering their far greater driving range and low-end grunt. And it’s not as though the BMW 3 Series suffers a. Source: driving.ca
