Car review: BMW 335d Coupe
BMW has built itself an enviable reputation for producing some of the world’s finest cars - from the compact and quirky 1-Series to the limo-like 7 Series, buyers are guaranteed a vehicle which is both beautifully constructed and hugely fun to drive. The latest 3 Series Coupé does nothing to dilute this winning mix.
This new Coupé is stylish but discreet - and all the better for it. Designers have stuck to the traditional recipe, giving the car a long wheelbase and bonnet, and a shorter cabin with a low roofline which tapers back towards the rear.
The bonnet comes with a muscular bulge and the car hunkers down, low to the road, giving an impression of high performance even before a wheel has been turned. At the rear, horizontal LED lights wrap themselves round onto the rear wing, which BMW claims accentuates the wide track of the new Coupé, while the firm’s traditional kidney-shaped grille and standard-fit Xenon headlights give the car a familiar but nonetheless impressive front end.
As with most new cars dimensions have increased. This latest Coupé is both longer, wider and higher than the car it replaces and inside this means there is genuinely room for two adults to make themselves comfortable in the sculpted rear seats.
But what continues to set BMW apart from other luxury car manufacturers is the sublime level of build quality found on cars exiting its factories.
High quality grained plastic surfaces make the dashboard an object of real affection - it looks sensational and feels even better - while the Coupé’s switchgear is beautifully dampened and there’s a real quality feel to all the major controls.
Doors shut with a reassuring “thunk” as you settle into the electrically adjustable seats and the carpets feel so welcoming under your feet that it’s tempting to throw off your shoes and really get comfy.
But it’s thoughtful touches like the subtle LED lighting along the door panels, which glow gently blue at night, and the the automatic arm in the B-pillar which feeds the seatbelt to the hand of the driver and front seat passenger which win both heart and mind.
The Coupé is genuinely a high quality package and one of the few cars that feels worth every penny of its list price - and that varies, of course, to how deep your pockets are.
The ranges starts with the 218bhp 325i SE at £28,090 but it’s the 3.0 litre diesel engine under the bonnet of the 335d which is one of the real stars. Producing 286bhp and a mighty 580Nm of torque this is the world’s most powerful straight-six oil burner - producing as much grunt as the acclaimed high performance M635CSi of 1985.
Using twin turbos - a smaller one which kicks in at lower engine speeds and a larger turbo which cuts in as the pace picks up - the seamless delivery of power is so complete and so efficiently executed that it can quite literally take your breath away.
The 335d delivers almost supercar-rivalling amounts of mid-range power thanks to its maximum torque arriving at just 1,750rpm, making motorway journeys and overtaking manoeuvres effortless activities.
The benchmark 0-62mph sprint is despatched in just 6.1 seconds, with a 155mph maximum - and with the ability to return up to 37.7mpg over a mixture of roads, the Coupé adds some commendable green credentials to its repertoire - something a similarly powered petrol unit would struggle to match.
With its rear-wheel drive layout the 335d is a real delight on the move. The steering, unhindered by having to deliver power and steer at the same time like many of its rivals, allows the car to really flow from bend to bend, delivering a wealth of information back to the driver behind the wheel.
The 335d comes with BMW’s six-speed automatic gearbox as standard - all other models come with a six-speed manual - and this slick, smooth-shifting transmission really suits the engine’s effortless characteristics.
The unit can either be left in fully auto or switched to a manual mode, where either the gearshift can be pushed up and down to change gears or alternatively paddles behind the steering wheel can be pulled - Formula One style - to achieve the same results.
With its simply wonderful engine, effortless gearbox and big 430-litre boot, the 335d Coupé makes a very convincing case as the ultimate grand tourer. In every day use though it’s an extremely desirable motorcar that manages to deliver performance, quality and, dare I say it at with a list price of £35,475, even good value for money.
BMW’s reputation for producing stunning cars is alive and well and its winning formula - which must be as closely guarded as the recipe to Coca-Cola - will again have its rivals scratching their heads in dismay.
BMW 335d SE Coupe - from £35,475 otr
Engine: 3.0 litre twin-turbo six-cylinder diesel
Max power: 286bhp and 580Nm (427 lbs ft) torque at 1,750rpm
PERFORMANCE:
0-62mph - 6.1 seconds
Max speed - 155mph
ECONOMY: 37.7mpg combined
CO2 emissions/TAX %: 200/30%
INSURANCE GROUP: 18
STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Six airbags; Dynamic Stability Control; rear parking sensors; Xenon headlights; 17-inch alloys wheels; sports suspension; metallic paint
