2009 BMW 3-Series 335d

A Consumer Guide test of BMW's 2009 335d yielded 32.9 mpg.

For the first time in this country, a diesel is joining BMW’s 3-Series lineup. The rear-drive-only 335d sedan gets power from a 256-horsepower 3.0-liter 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine; the EPA estimates 23/33 city/highway miles per gallon. Consumer Guide’s 335d road test garnered a notable average of 32.9 mpg in a mix of city and highway traffic conditions. Conversely, a test 335i sedan with the 300-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine averaged just 16.3 mpg in mostly city driving (this included gas-eating performance tests).

Our editors count strong low-end torque, minimal turbo lag, and a smooth transmission among 335d’s strengths. Though the engine emits a bit of diesel clatter at idle and around-town speeds, it morphs into a sporty, aggressive-sounding exhaust note in fast acceleration and then recedes nicely during cruising. The d blends fuel efficiency and performance unlike any hybrid on sale today, but again, this kind of fuel-frugal fun won’t come cheap.

With a starting price of $43,900, the diesel version is among the more expensive models in the 3-Series lineup and is about $3,600 more than its gasoline counterpart, the 335i sedan. Unlike Q7, the 335d doesn’t come loaded with extra standards, rather it adds only a few features: A 6-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel shift paddles, a memory system for the driver’s seat and side mirrors, steering-linked adaptive xenon headlights, and run-flat tires.

Click here for our full review of the 2009 BMW 335d.