There is a snobbery surrounding diesel coupes, seemingly based on the assumption that the people who buy them want a coupe first and foremost, and a diesel a distant second. The coupe experience, according to received wisdom, is therefore tarnished by the noisy and sluggish performance of the diesel engine.

But what if it were the other way round? What if you wanted a BMW 320d because it's in a suitable tax bracket, or you were covering 20,000 miles a year so needed decent fuel economy? Would you rather have your car in saloon, estate or coupe form? I'd take the coupe.

The 320Cd is a blissfully elegant car, and good to drive too. For your £24,310 you get a package in which ride, steering and handling are all tuned to entertain. The engine projects an unmistakeable diesel rattle, but this grows more distant as your speed increases; on a motorway cruise mechanical clatter is all but filtered out.

It's quick enough too , and the performance is accessible thanks to the low-down torque: 243lb ft of it arrives at 2,000rpm. The six-speed gearbox has a rather long throw, but this isn't vital since you're hardly going to be sawing through the gears every three seconds.

The diesel coupe snobs, then, are missing out, since the 320Cd is an immensely desirable compromise. Doing 50mpg has rarely felt so good.

Toby Richards-Carpenter

Fact file

Engine: 1,995cc 4-cyl in-line diesel (Euro IV compliant)

Performance: 0-62mph - 8.8 seconds, top speed - 137mph



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