BMW 3 Series Touring 330d M Sport 5dr Reader reviews

My car

I swapped to the 330d M Sport Touring in 2009, from a VW R32. I wanted a car which offered more practicality, lower running costs, and most importantly, it had to be at least as fast as the golf.

I had never considered a BMW before, as I was not keen on the image. However, the quality of the interior and the smoothness of the ride has impressed me hugely. A friend with a 2 year old 3 series is amazed at how much the ride quality has been improved in the latest version. The engine boasts nearly 400lb ft of torque, 245bhp and 48mpg; I do more short trips, but still achieve 40-43mpg, and on longer runs, can achieve over 50mpg, whilst still being able to out accelerate a Porsche boxster if I wanted to!

I have taken my last three new cars to the Nurburgring for the weekend. First time was in a Subaru Impreza, secondly in the R32, and in April 2010 I took the 330d. The 330d has been by far the best around there of the three cars. The combination of amazing grip and body control, as well as massive mid-range torque meant that the car was fantastic to drive under an extreme test.

It feels a bit small inside the 3 series. I wish the whole car could be 10% bigger. The boot space is good, and is the same footprint as the saloon, so it is really a 3 series hatchback. The boot floor is big, but narrows rapidly at the top, which can cause problems with tall or bulky items.

Overall this is a practical and very fast car, which is a pleasure to drive.