Merc1
Premium
Diesel Decision: Torque does the talking in a gasoline-versus-diesel sports sedan smackdown.
We've given high praise to the modern diesels we've tested (usually in Europe) over the last several years, as these engines are a world away from the diesels you might unfondly remember. Advancements in turbochargers, fuel injection and urea systems, along with the advent of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, mean today's turbodiesels are far cleaner and quieter than previous oil burners. Yet they still deliver the technology's promise of low fuel consumption and generous torque.
Slideshow >>
Now, clean diesels are becoming available in the U.S., such as the blood-red BMW 335d. It would take a sharp ear to realize there's a diesel engine under its newly-shaped-for-'09 hood if it were to drive past you. Diesel clatter? Virtually nil. Stinky black smoke? None. Slow as molasses in wintertime? With 425 lb.-ft. of torque, not likely.
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?
So many questions, so little time, so many miles of back roads to cover.
Road and Track -2009 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro vs 2009 BMW 335d
M
