There’s always something just right about the BMW 3 Series.  Beside the papa bear excess of the 7 Series and the mommy bear conservatism of the 5 Series, the 3 has always balanced the act quite well.  And buyers seem to agree: the 3 Series accounts for more than 50 percent of BMW’s annual sales.  BMW considers the 3 Series so important that it has as much trim choices as the rest of the sedan line-up combined.  Locally, there are at least six—ranging from the poverty spec 318i to the ultra-cool 325i.  With so many choices, which is the best?  Although the obvious is the 325i, the price of ownership stings the wallet a tad too much.  On the other end of the scale, as tempting as the 318i is, it’s just too entry-level.  And then there’s the 320i, but everyone seems to have one of those now.  So, it’s the new 320d then.  Though it may not have that famed inline-6 upfront, it’s offers an excellent mix of style and performance in every sense of the word.

The 3 Series looks striking, modern and dynamic.  It’s a galvanized steel masterpiece with subtle character lines running throughout the car.  A full side-on view reveals the 3 Series’ short overhangs and a body which is almost all wheelbase—making this car look fast even when standing still.  Unlike its rivals, which treats their diesels as mid-level variants, the 320d is actually BMW’s flagship four-cylinder, and as such is treated to an impressive array of toys including 18-inch alloys with 225/40 run-flat tires and active bi-xenon head lamps.  If you’d just want to be critical about the 320d’s styling, there are just two things you can level at it: the odd positioning of the reverse lamp, which looks too tacked on and second, is the bent tail pipe, which looks too diesel.

The dynamism of the exterior is not lost the moment you step inside the cabin.  In true 3 Series fashion, the 320d carries on the fighter cockpit styling (something dating back to the E36), though in here, it’s a bit too cold.  Though the finish of the plastics, leather and wood (replacing the titanium matte trim on the gasoline variants) are top notch, you want some more character.

Adjusting to the BMW’s control layout is easy breezy, and from the get go, rewards the driver with the best driving position in a modern car.  The seats are mighty comfortable.  The buttons are easy to understand and operate with big, clearly marked buttons and large rotary dials.  Even the audio system, which is usually a BMW weak spot is fairly straight-forward.  The fat, three-spoke steering wheel perfectly compliments the 320d’s sporty styling motif, and the multi-function buttons on this car are welcome additions.

As the flagship four-cylinder 3 Series, the 320d sports 18-inch run flats and a power moon roof. It should also HID headlamps, but the test unit didn't have it.

You really can't tell that it's a diesel unless you look at the badge and the 4,500 rpm redline.