Whenever we write yet another eulogy to BMW we get accused of bias, with suggestions that maybe there's the odd backhander being passed. It's understandable because it's pretty much unheard of for a BMW to get a slating, and I'm afraid in the case of the 330d it's more of the same.

Being the professional chap I am I approach every car with an open mind, but of course there's always the thought that if everyone else is slating or praising a car there's probably a ring of truth about it. And so it is with the 330d, because even if you decide you're going to buck the trend and write the most vitriolic piece ever, you just can't once you've driven the thing.

The two areas in which BMW's reputation precedes it the most heavily are dynamics and build quality, and in Sport form the 330d doesn't disappoint. The 18-inch wheels that are standard with the Sport trim look fantastic although ride quality does suffer a bit. But after that it's good news all the way, with excellent feel through the steering, great handling and very strong brakes (discs all round, naturally).

The 2926cc engine has always been highly regarded and for 2003 a few tweaks have been made to increase power and torque - there's now a healthy 302lb ft available from just 1500rpm. The adjustments also mean the engine is a bit more frugal - BMW claims a figure of 35mpg on the combined cycle and up to 45mpg on a cruise. But with so much torque on offer you end up revelling in the acceleration available and without trying too hard it's easy to see the figure shrink to closer to 30mpg.

Once you're up to cruising speed you'd be hard-ressed to tell there's a diesel engine under the bonnet and it's only as you accelerate from lowish speeds that the familiar diesel thrum is noticeable. The Steptronic transmission fitted to our test car makes light work of cruising, traffic jams, B-roads and anything else you can throw at it - and although there's a sequential manual option you really don't need it because the transmission always seems to choose the gear you want and is responsive if you need to change ratios in a hurry to get past something.

The cabin looks beautifully crafted and even though our car had a black interior with black inserts, it still didn't look sombre. The seats are supportive, the ventilation and climate control excellent and the driving position is easy to tailor to your exact requirements. The car even looks great from the outside with its subtle bodykit.

Extras fitted to the test car included a multi-media package which cost a stiff £2195 and an upgraded stereo which cost £650. Add another £250 for a six-disc CD autochanger and suddenly you're looking at three grand for the chance to make phone calls and watch TV or listen to decent-quality sounds. But the widescreen TV does work very well...

So not too many words of criticism yet - once again I've failed dismally to change perceptions that just maybe I'm in the pay of BMW, eager to help them take over the world. Well actually I have got one gripe, and that's the cost of the thing. In basic form the 330d Sport Touring is £30,075. Ask for all the extras to be fitted that came with our test car and the price goes up to around £38,000. For a compact estate, even one as good as this, that's just a barmy amount of money.

Richard Dredge

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