The 335d needs no further introduction, I’ve been saying for months that if I had a choice a few years back, the diesel would have taken over the 335 gasoline, but that’s just another story. With their latest performance diesels, BMW hit the jackpot when it comes to combining luxury, performance and efficiency and the multiple awards they’ve won, confirm that.

So, let’s see what PM has to say about the only 3er diesel in the U.S.

“In the future, the word ”luxury” might describe automotive qualities quite different from what we imagine today. When sedate and sensible fuel sippers dominate the automotive landscape, luxury could define the ability to produce sports car acceleration with exemplary fuel economy. The BMW 335d is ahead of that curve.

Under the hood is a twinturbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel, with a mammoth 425 lb-ft of torque that can return solid mileage. In fact, on a recent 390-mile PM test, we saw 33.6 mpg. It takes only one brief prod of the right pedal to know the BMW has an incredible motor. The rush of torque is not unlike an old-school big-block V8’s. Reeling in lesser cars is not only effortless, it’s tantalizingly fun. And this diesel model fits right in with the rest of BMW’s 3 Series lineup, offering fluid, organic steering and a chassis that encourages you to press on just as hard as the road and your bravado will allow. Yet this BMW rides comfortably and absorbs potholes with a muted “thump.”

Luxury cars don’t have to be one-dimensional. The 335d blends luxury, performance, fuel economy and fun into one very rewarding package.”

Click here for the list of complete awards

The 335d boasts a best in class EPA fuel economy of 23/36 MPG (city/hwy). This makes it the most fuel efficient BMW ever sold in the US, and also gives it the highest ever EPA MPG rating of any 6 cylinder vehicle ever offered in the US (gas or diesel). BMW X5 xDrive35d achieves an EPA rating of 19/26 MPG (city/hwy) and accelerates from 0-60 in 6.9 seconds, making it the fastest, most efficient Diesel SUV available in the US.

To “sweeten” the deal even more, BMW announced that the 335d and X5d will quality for a tax credit. The 3 Series Diesel tax credit is up to $900 while the X5d up to $1,800.

We reviewed the 335d back at the L.A. Auto Show and it left a positive impression on us. In the upcoming weeks, we will have the new X5d for a few days and we’ll be able to test both during short rides, but most important, over a long drive across the country(more details on that next week).

But in the mean time, our close friend Kamil at CarGuyDad shares with us his experience with the new diesels and plenty of technical details.

Here is a preview of that:

Engine:
Like on most new cars today, open the hood and you’ll see nothing. The engine is a three-liter, aluminum (yes, aluminum), DOHC, 24-valve, common-rail direct-injected, in-line six with a 16.5:1 compression ratio. The engine features variable intake manifold and double-VANOS valve control. All of that is supplemented by a pair sequential, differently sized turbos. Big air-to-air intercooler is located within the front bumper cover of both cars. The engine produces 265hp at 4200rpm, but more importantly 425lb-ft at a low 1750rpm. Unlike a traditional diesel there are no glow plugs, as the direct injection system has the ability to start a dead cold engine all by itself.

What the engine does have, as does just about every other new diesel, is urea injection. Here is how urea injection works: most of the diesel soot gets trapped in the particulate filter located just behind the exhaust manifold, where it eventually burns up. The stuff that gets through and/or the burned remnants (NO/NO₂), get trapped in a secondary catalytic converter known as the SCR catalyst (selective catalytic reaction). When the urea is injected into the SCR, a chemical reaction occurs which generates ammonia (NH₃). The ammonia in turn reacts with NO/NO₂, converting it into nitrogen (N₂) and water vapor (H₂O). Got it? Chemistry lesson is over, class dismissed.

Did we get your attention? Then feel free to read further at CarGuyDad.

As a disclaimer posted by R&R as well, the 335d was equipped with Sports Suspensions while A4 Quattro was running with stock suspension settings.

Before we go further, how many of you really think this is an insane comparison and how many of you will bet on the Audi? Well, I have to admit, I did…… Was I wrong? Let’s find out next.

Okay, we can agree diesels are much improved. But that doesn’t mean we want one providing the motive force in a BMW 3 Series, right? After all, it’s hard to envision true back-road thrills with an engine that tops out at 4600 rpm. How does it respond when driven hard? Is it slow and heavy? More importantly, how does the BMW 335d compare to a state-of-the-art direct-injected gasoline-powered sports sedan, in this case Audi’s excellent A4 3.2 Quattro?

While that makes our test an apples-to-oranges comparison, we’re much more concerned about the engines involved here anyway — their power, performance, driveability, fuel consumption…and fun.

Unfortunately, even in outright acceleration, the Audi gets smoked by the BMW diesel. With 265 bhp and “only” 243 lb.-ft. of torque from a direct-injected 3.2-liter V-6 — and despite the launching traction of Quattro all-wheel drive and a curb weight almost identical to the BMW’s — the A4 can’t overcome the BMW’s monstrous 425 lb.-ft. of torque. Although we bettered the acceleration times over the previous A4 3.2 we tested, the Audi’s 0–60-mph time of 5.9 seconds lags significantly behind the BMW’s 5.3.

BMW 335d vs. Audi A4 3.2 Quattro Continued

“The 2009 BMW 335d sets a new standard for performance-oriented sedans, by delivering a remarkable combination of fuel economy, acceleration, handling, and electronics.

The 2009 BMW 335d is like nothing else on the road in America today. While it looks, for all intents and purposes, like typical 3-series BMW, the 335d’s game-changing clean diesel engine transforms the car into a tour de force to be reckoned with.

Click here to view the embedded video.

We put over 750 miles on our Alpine White 335d review unit, and vanquished the official estimates, scoring an average of 43.9 MPG on the Interstate highway, with 35.1 MPG combined. Test period temperatures ranged from the forties through the sixties, with freeway speeds between 60 and 72 miles per hour (MPH).

The 335d presents a paradox. It isn’t just fuel efficient. It’s downright fast, with a stated 0-60 MPH time of six seconds flat.”

Full Review at MPG-o-Matic