Essex to Italy on less than a tank

Curious about claims the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon can potentially do 1,000 miles on a single tank, GreenFleet editor Angela Pisanu drives it to Italy – and gets there with fuel to spare

With impressive fuel consumption figures of 68.9mpg on a combined cycle and claims it could potentially do 1,000 miles on a single tank, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon was my car of choice to take me and my fiance across Europe to Italy for our wedding.
    
And the car did not disappoint. Filling up in Loughton, Essex, the car completed the 784 mile trek to Bergamo, near Milan, with 79 miles of fuel to spare.
    
The majority of the journey was on the motorway, but also included the odd higgledy-piggledy village in the Alsace region of France and a wasted hour in the obligatory Milan traffic.
    
We were driving at an average speed of 55.6mph and achieved an average of 64.2mpg. And this was ‘real world’ driving; we were not altering driver behaviour in anyway to get the fuel consumption down – when speed restrictions allowed us to, we put our foot down, and the air con and radio were blasting out for most of the journey. The car was also heavily loaded with boxes, suitcases and outfits needed for the wedding.
    
Indeed there were times when the mpg got to 74mpg which suggest that in the right conditions and with the right driving style, the car could achieve 1,000 miles on a single tank.
    
With the average motorist said to cover 10,000 miles annually, being able to travel over 800 miles on a single tank could mean drivers of the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics having to fill up just 12 times a year, which given today’s crippling fuel prices, is not to be taken lightly.
    
PLANET FRIENDLY
The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics emits just 109g CO2 per km, which is outstanding given the size and performance of the car; it has a 2-litre turbodiesel engine, achieves 163bhp and hits 62mph in eight seconds.
    
Being able to get all the way to Italy with fuel to spare – and keeping CO2 emissions down to 109g/km – shows that there is still enormous potential in the internal combustion engine, at a time when everyone seems to be moving towards hybrids and electrically-powered cars to go green.
    
So what makes the car so efficient? Well, it is packed full of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies, including auto start-stop, brake energy regeneration, optimum gearshift indicator, and electric power steering. More crucially, it has innovative engine construction, a longer transmission ratio, lowered suspension and the use of specially designed aerodynamic alloy wheels with energy saving tyres.

A BOLD PERFORMER
The BMW 320d was powerful, held the road well and felt confident throughout, even at high speeds. It was also very responsive – a major plus when reacting to the often temperamental driving styles of the French and Italians.
    
Inside it was extremely comfortable; the seats were snug and supportive, the cabin was roomy and all the dials and buttons and were within easy reach, making driving as effortless as possible.
    
A feature that deserved particular note was the integrated satnav. The wide, split screen showed a map on one side and a clear diagram of your next manoeuvre on the next. It clearly guided us hundreds of miles across Europe without us once taking a single wrong turn because of an unclear command.
    
The car also comes with the reassurances of a full list of safety features, such as belt tensioners and belt force limiters, dynamic stability control, traction control, corner brake control, anti lock brakes, and numerous airbags.

THE BOTTOM LINE
While we were shy of reaching 1,000 miles on one tank, seeing what the car can do, I have no doubts that it could reach that far with a more economical driving style and the right conditions on the road. But this was a real world test and for us to reach Italy with fuel to spare was remarkable. And the best bit is that it achieves such fuel efficiency without compromising on driving performance, comfort or safety.
    
What’s more, thanks to its sub 110g/km emission value, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon has lower tax implications; there is no VED to pay for the first year of purchase, it has a 13 per cent benefit-in-kind company car tax rating, and benefits from 100 per cent first year writing down allowances.
    
Surprisingly, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon shares exactly the same retail price as the 320d SE Saloon at £26,480 (£27,245 OTR) and has an identical specification. So for those that want a car that can go further for less, has lower tax and low emissions – and still enjoy a premium segment car – it would be hard to find fault in the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Engine: 2.0-litre diesel
MPG: 68.9mpg (combined)
CO2g/km: 109g/km
RFL: B
BIK: 13%
0-62 mph: 8 seconds
Model price range: £27,245