Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 335d M Sport Touring review - space and pace aplenty in latest diesel estate

Improved ride and handling increase the appeal of BMW's lightly-revised 3-series range

Evo rating
Price
from £41,665
  • Ample real-world performance, improved ride and steering, frugality
  • Can approach M3 money with the most desirable options

What is it?

BMW has enacted a mid-life refresh for the ever-popular 3-series range, not only adding new engines and equipment but helping the car compete with the recent influx of rivals – notably, the new Jaguar XE that BMW sees as the 3-series’ key rival. This 335d M Sport sits atop the range of diesel models.

Engine, transmission and 0-60mph time

Despite much of the 3-series range now comprising four-cylinder engines – and even a three-pot in the new petrol 318i – the range-topping models still feature a sextet of cylinders.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In the 335d’s case, the inline six displaces 3.0-litres and breathes through a pair of turbochargers, to develop 309bhp at 4400rpm and a brutal 465lb ft slug of torque from 1500rpm. Available only with xDrive all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, this diesel estate hits 62mph in 4.8 seconds, while electronics limit it to 155mph. The 335d’s other trump card is 49.6mpg combined economy, and relatively low CO2 emissions of 151g/km.

Technical highlights?

Responding to criticism of the previous version, BMW has worked to liberate extra steering feel, and improved ride and handling characteristics. Thicker suspension top mounts, new springs and dampers for both standard and adaptive suspension setups, and thicker anti-roll bars all contribute.

BMW is quick to point out that while it shares its eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with some rivals – notably Jaguar – the company says that ZF leaves a certain amount of room for development when it comes to software. As such, BMW says the transmission in a 3-series behaves very differently from that of its rivals.

What’s it like to drive?

An improvement, certainly. It’s hard to pinpoint the changes BMW has made in the cabin, but the driving position is as endlessly-adjustable as ever and sets the tone for the rest of the car.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

The revised steering is a notable improvement. There’s still a lack of feel around the straight-ahead but both feedback and accuracy improve with a few degrees of steering input. Weighting is less gloopily resistant than before too, so the steering feels more natural at all speeds (particularly in Sport mode), and there’s satisfying accuracy.

With six cylinders up front the 335d is slightly more keen to push its nose wide than the 320d M Sport we also tried, but in the tight hairpins of the Pyrenees the xDrive’s mighty traction could be overcome just enough to detect a rearward bias.

Lateral grip from the 255-section tyres (on optional 19in alloy wheels) is high though, and even in Sport mode there’s pliancy on rough surfaces that’d have been alien to a 3-series driver of just a generation ago.

The engine is a highlight, though. Response is swift and powerful in any gear from virtually any revs, and the surprisingly tuneful bellow from 2000rpm all the way to the 5000rpm red line – with little drop-off in power – calls time on claims that diesel engines aren’t fun to extend.

Consider that it also averaged 44mpg on a thousand-mile trip back from Spain, and the 335d’s mix of talents looks hugely compelling.

Rivals

Jaguar doesn’t yet build an XE estate, much less one with six diesel-fuelled cylinders. Nor does Mercedes-Benz produce a C-class to the required specification, so it’s left to Audi and its A4 3.0 TDI Avant to hold up six-pot honours.

There’s a new one on the way with up to 268bhp and 64.2mpg – less potent, but more frugal than the BMW. Audi also says it has reduced the A4’s weight and improved its driving dynamics, but it remains to be seen whether it’ll match the BMW on the road.

Price

As tested, the BMW 335d xDrive M Sport Touring comes to £41,665 on the road, though a series of options brought our test car to £53,390.

Of those options, the £850 BMW Icon adaptive LED headlights are well worth the money, both bright and incredibly effective at dipping and adjusting to avoid blinding oncoming vehicles.

The Adaptive M Sport suspension (£515) is effective too, with clear differences between Comfort and Sport modes, while the electric front seats (£945) proved unfailingly comfortable and supportive over a thousand miles of driving. The head-up display too is effective (at £825), with little need to utilise the regular instruments or central screen for speed information and navigation instructions.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on 3 Series Touring

BMW M340i xDrive v Peugeot 508 PSE v VW Arteon R Shooting Brake
Fast estates group test – static
Group tests

BMW M340i xDrive v Peugeot 508 PSE v VW Arteon R Shooting Brake

Prefer a sleek estate to a jacked-up SUV but can’t stretch to an M3 Touring? This trio of alternatives could provide an answer
17 Jun 2023
The new 3-series range has been expanded -
BMW 3-series Touring 2019 - side
News

The new 3-series range has been expanded -

The new 3-series range has been expanded - to be topped by the new 369bhp M340i
12 Jun 2019
New 2019 BMW 3-series Touring spied
BMW 3-Series Touring – front quarter
News

New 2019 BMW 3-series Touring spied

We catch our first glimpse of the new BMW 3-series Touring in testing, having already seen the saloon.
2 Jul 2018
Skip advert
Advertisement
Mercedes-AMG C43 Estate v BMW 340i Touring
Group tests

Mercedes-AMG C43 Estate v BMW 340i Touring

Which of these performance compact estate rivals delivers the fullest package?
29 Dec 2016
BMW 328i Touring review - price, specs and 0-60 time
2012 BMW 328i Touring
Reviews

BMW 328i Touring review - price, specs and 0-60 time

The Touring estate version of BMW's new 328i promises to be a fun to drive family car
2 Mar 2015
BMW 330d xDrive review - price, specs and 0-60 time
BMW 330d xDrive drift
Reviews

BMW 330d xDrive review - price, specs and 0-60 time

Four-wheel drive adds a worthy new dimension to powerful diesel 3-series. Review here
10 Feb 2014
BMW 330d Sport Touring
BMW 330d Sport Touring
Long term tests

BMW 330d Sport Touring

We haven't had much snow but John Barker reckons Winter tyres are a must for his BMW
6 Mar 2012
BMW 330d Sport Touring
BMW 330d Sport Touring
Long term tests

BMW 330d Sport Touring

It's valet time for John's BMW. And his 330d Touring's now looking as perky as the day it was made
6 Feb 2012
BMW 330d Sport Touring
BMW 330d Touring winter tyres
Long term tests

BMW 330d Sport Touring

John's new rear-wheel drive commuting car gains some cold weather tyres to make it more useable this winter
6 Dec 2011
Skip advert
Advertisement
BMW 330d Sport Touring
BMW 330d Sport Touring
Long term tests

BMW 330d Sport Touring

John Barker buys himself a bargain Beemer, a used but tidy 2004 330d Sport Touring. First impressions here
16 Nov 2011