Independent, The (London): THE VERDICT: BMW 320D SE; You really can have it all

A few weeks ago, in the space of a single day, I drove from Seville, via Madrid, to Montpellier " a distance of some 900 miles " before stopping for dinner at 8pm. The following morning, I crossed Switzerland and eastern France before heading north through Germany at speeds of up to 140mph.

Not long ago, these speeds, distances and timings would have belonged in an epic drive feature of the sort that used to be spread extravagantly over several pages of the glossier motoring mags like Car.

The star of the piece would have been some impossibly exotic, expertly photographed Italian super-car. And that car would have had a co-star " the journalist, whose great driving and writing skills would have been required in order to exploit the car's performance, and then to convey the experience in vivid detail to readers who would never be able to afford it.

My own driving feat " such as it was " was rather different. It was carried out in the new BMW 330i, the sister model of the smallish three-box saloon car that you can see in the photographs on this page. The whole thing passed off without drama.

And that tells you a lot about the new 3 series. It's not particularly flashy " it is less adventurous than BMW's other recent designs " but the better you get to know it, the more you will be impressed by the depth of its abilities. At the heart of these lies its staggering composure. BMW's attachment to rear-wheel drive, its obsessive pursuit of 50/50 front/rear weight distribution and the vast experience accumulated in the development of successive generations of 3 series over 30 years all make themselves felt.

Noise and vibration are suppressed to an impressive extent, and even traditional weak points such as limited rear legroom and mean standard equipment levels have been addressed, although ticking boxes on BMW's options list the night before you order your new car is still an expensive business. Try the roulette tables of Monte Carlo for a cheaper evening's entertainment.

Now, you may be wondering what my long drive in the 330i, with its magnificent ultra-light three-litre, six cylinder petrol engine tells us about the two-litre diesel-engined 320d that our readers sampled for this week's Verdict.

Well, the 330i's sparkling top-end performance comes into its own on the great passes and highways of continental Europe, but under most conditions you wouldn't feel short-changed in the 320d; at 340 Newton-metres, it actually produces more torque than the 330i, while achieving vastly better fuel consumption. I think I'm with Cosmopolitan magazine on this one: who says you can't have it all?

Mark, 34, and Natasha Dean, 30

IT consultants from London

USUAL VEHICLES: GOLF TDI & VESPA PX

Mark: It is a handsome beast " it looks larger than it really is and is a little imposing. Inside, it was roomier than I had expected, but it has a faint whiff of 70s chest hair and aftershave about it. Like any other BMW I have driven, it is capable but without any real character " except for the indicators, which were too clever for their own good.

Natasha: The gear stick seemed too high and was a little awkward to use, and the steering was quite heavy. Though I was impressed with the low noise from the engine " it was much quieter than our Golf on the motorway " I don't think I'd swap it just yet.

Richard Carden, 45

sheltered housing officer from Cheam

USUAL CAR: MERCEDES A140

From the front, the low, wide facade would not have looked out of place in Gotham City. The deep driver's seat felt like that of a sports car crammed into a saloon, so was rather claustrophobic. The diesel engine, which was noisy around town, delivered 'shove in the back' power through the range of six gears, which proved a little difficult to select on occasions. The suspension was a bit on the stiff side for a saloon. The car powered effortlessly to a comfortable cruising speed and it was responsive, safe and smooth, but it's more at home cruising on the autobahn. If BMW were to give their cars names, then I think this should be called The Paradox.

Steve Walker, 38

technical operator from Croydon

USUAL CAR: MAZDA 323

It looked every bit how a BMW should look: sleek styling, smooth lines and the wow factor. Inside the interior was spacious and uncluttered. Only the initial sound of the engine signalled I was about to drive a car that ran on diesel. Once on the move it was smooth and responsive, especially the brakes. It was easy to slip through the gears and there was a definite feeling of power there to be unleashed should it be required. I was disappointed that some of the features that I would have liked to have seen as standard, for a car of this price, have to be purchased as extras. Overall, this car didn't disappoint and I would definitely consider it if money wasn't an issue.

specifications

Price: pounds 24,390

Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel

Performance: 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, 49.6mpg

CO2: 153g/km

Worth considering: Audi A4 2.0 TDI, Mercedes C220 CDi, Jaguar X- type 2.0D

THE

VERDICT

If you would like to take part, e-mail motoring@ indepen dent.co.uk or write to: The Verdict, Features Department, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, giving your address, phone number and details of the car, if any, you drive. For most cars, participants must be over 26 and have a clean licence.