First drive: Diesel-powered 2014 BMW 328d xDrive

Prestige brands are continuing to roll out new entries that strive to balance energy efficiency with an upscale driving experience. Our recently purchased diesel-powered 3 Series is a fine example, with BMW striving to fit one model with ride, handling, power, frugality, and AWD. After testing the prior 3 Series diesel back in 2009, we have been anxious to see how this new iteration measures up.

First impressions? It delivers a nice mix of sport, luxury, and an indicated average of 32 mpg. Not bad at all. But there is a kink.

This diesel engine sounds rather rumbly, especially when cold. Those familiar the company’s sweet revving six-cylinder engines may frown, but few will complain about the healthy pickup at low revs or the 40 mpg I saw on highway cruises.

This car blends myriad BMW attributes, and this confusion can be seen right in the name badge. BMW nomenclature hasn’t matched up with engine displacement for quite a while, but in this case the "28" in "328" just happens to conform to the torque number, rated at 280 lb.-ft.—decent tugging power for a rather compact midsized sedan. The actual displacement is 2.0-liters and horsepower is comes in at 180—same as the entry-level 320i. Happily, our diesel four-cylinder is mated to BMW’s excellent eight-speed automatic.

With all-wheel drive, the typical Premium and Cold Weather packages, navigation, auto high-beams, and other goodies, our car stickered at $50,475 before some end-of-the-year discounts to the tune of about $4,000.