BMW 320d Convertible

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $78,500
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): metallic paint $1840, 19-inch alloy wheels $3800, HiFi loudspeaker system $1220, park distance control $700, music player extended connectivity $220, sports seats $1330, Innovations package $4700
Crash rating: Five-star
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.1
CO2 emissions (g/km): 135
Also consider: Mercedes-Benz E 250 CDI Cabriolet; Audi A5 Cabriolet

Like the cute girl on the debate team or the ruck-rover in chess club, BMW's 320d Convertible is more than just a pretty face, it's the athletic all-rounder, brimming with substance and thinly veiled confidence out to prove it can offer both brawn and beauty.

Offering all the smarts to complement its gorgeous body, the frugal four-cylinder turbodiesel rattling beneath that long bonnet may not be the most discreet way to promote your penchant for eco-friendly twin-top motoring, but is, nonetheless, effective. Delivering 135kW/380Nm in its latest guise, the 320d's powerplant is certainly competent, almost brisk, with overtaking an obvious talent in its surprisingly substantial middle reaches. The 0-100km/h run is knocked over in a none-too-shabby 8.3 seconds.

Around town the story is similar, turbo lag is negligible at worst, and fuel economy impressive, the weekday run to work seeing a return of 6.4L/100km in heavy peak-hour traffic. Stop/Start technology an obvious saving grace to the hip pocket.

ADR testing says the 320d should achieve a combined fuel economy figure of 5.1L/100km, but even after six hours on the open highway, half of it with the roof off, the best we could manage was 6.0-litres. CO2 emissions are just 135g/km.

The 320d, like most diesels, can be easily driven on torque alone, negating the need for a loft of revs. The newly offered six-speed manual gearbox (automatic pictured) provides a positive feel for smooth, decisive shifts, while the clutch ideally complements cog swaps with a smooth and tactile feel – perfect for keeping the lower capacity diesel ‘in the zone'.

Softer suspension, a revision new to the majority of the E93 series (excluding 335i models), and larger optional 19-inch alloy wheels (17-inch standard) made for a few nasty bangs and crashes on sub-par ‘C' roads, but on smoother surfaces promoted the favoured combination of tenacious grip levels and a compliant ride.

Steering accuracy also seems softened by comparison to previous models, perhaps as a result of the suspension changes. On our test vehicle at least the weighting was bordering on heavy and could have done with more assistance at lower speeds.

With the roof down and glass up (the optional diffuser screen sadly absent from the boot), the 3 Series still offered suitably sheltered climes for chilly topless commutes to work, the heated leather seats and smart climate control system compensating beautifully for a sans-ceiling commute. Roof on, you'd swear you were in a Coupe, such is the quality of sound insulation.

Aesthetically, the new front mask from BMW's recent update brings the 3 Series Coupe and Convertible models in line with others in the 3 Series range. New headlamps feature four light rings (or ‘corona' rings) and LED daytime running lamps, while an eyebrow at the top of the lens sharpens the lamp's overall look. 

Completing the remoulded fascia, larger kidney grilles and horizontal chrome bars beside the fog lamps visually lower the front stance in relation to the road. At the rear, softer 'L' design taillights lend an elegant touch of class, diffusing the otherwise harsh LED lamps. An accentuated character line stretches across the rear end aimed again at reducing the overall visual height to wrap up the visual changes.

Inside, most of the gadgetry is unchanged from earlier E93 variants, but USB and auxiliary music player input join the entertainment package, the console-mounted socket conveniently located away from prying eyes. Like all BMW's, the dashboard layout is simple and intuitive, functionally logical and user friendly (we didn't once need to refer to the owner's manual).

Our longer trip into the country also proved how comfortable and supportive the 320d's seating was, the driving position noticeably relaxed for extended touring.

At night, the new headlamps were both powerful and clear in illuminating the darkened road ahead, on a couple of occasions our only saviour from kamikaze wombats. High-beam assist (an option but fitted to the test car) is a novel gimmick but not terribly accurate, apparently confused by crests and easily triggered by reflective road signs.

Featuring active headrests, the full complement of electronic driver aids, roll-over bars, six airbags and BMW's safety body shell, a five-star ANCAP rating is a given. Additionally, the 320d's braking system adds antilock, corner brake control, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution watching over its meaty four-wheel discs. Run-flat tyres come standard and include a pressure indicator.

At a whisker under 80-grand, the BMW 320d Convertible is an honest value for money proposition for those unwilling to sacrifice substance for a little bit of badge kudos – a competent all-rounder indeed. But a word to the wise – watch the options: our tester was well into the mid-$90s as delivered...

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