Premium economy - BMW 116d Sport (From Campaign Series)

Premium economy - BMW 116d Sport

1:45pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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WHAT if you want something clean - even if it’s only to satisfy the taxman - and desirable? The two haven’t always gone hand in hand in the world of frugal motoring. BMW, however, is one of only a select few car makers that has worked hard to break through the hemp ceiling.

With its range of Efficient Dynamics technology, the German firm has brought the likes of stop-start and brake energy regeneration to its premium class models. Most company car drivers should be familiar with the BMW way of doing things. The firm’s engineers appear to have struck gold when it comes to making savings. The inclusion of various bits of technology have led to a minor revolution in the office car park.

The 1 Series, and in particular this 116d, continues the trend. Slotting in below the previous eco winner the 118d, this car boasts an impressive 64.2mpg on the combined cycle from its 2.0-litre, 116 horsepower turbo diesel engine. And for those drivers looking to keep the taxman out of their wallets, the 116d’s 118g/km CO2 figure should prove attractive.

Despite the car’s economical slant, there’s no need to fear the driving experience. For many the 116d will be their second home, a mobile office and potentially a taxi for ferrying around clients and colleagues. In that sense it could emit zero CO2, but if the car can’t accommodate passengers or their belongings it would rightly be viewed a failure.

The 116d is not a failure; in five-door form (there is also a three-door model) the car is comparable to most compact hatchbacks. Remember, this could be your first grown-up company car. If you’re hankering after a 5 Series you might have to put in a few more years at the coalface.

Room in the back is decent and boot space is plenty good enough for the weekly shop-ping, business paraphernalia or the soft bag for that overnight conference. At the front you’re faced with all the familiar BMW controls and there’s enough space so that you don’t clash elbows with your passenger.

Out on the road the 116d drives, unsurprisingly, like any other 1 Series. There’s a distant hum from the engine at idle once it’s warmed up, and the driving position is fully adjustable to suit a wide range of people.

Although the car might be packing only a modest amount of power, it deploys it in an efficient manner. There’s enough low down grunt to make the stop-start grind of the daily commute more than bearable, while mid-range acceleration is ample for something that’s not being pitched as an out-and-out sports car.

The 116d, like all 1 Series models, is rear-wheel drive, which makes cross country journeys and your favourite twisty B-road that little bit more interesting if you’re a keen driver. Don’t worry though, there’s enough safety kit onboard to keep you out of mischief if you get carried away, and the electronic aids don’t behave like a heavy-handed nanny if you know what you’re doing.

It’s fair to say that, if you spend a lot of time on the motorway you won’t experience the car’s stop-start feature that often. If, however, you do a lot of town driving, it’s great to have the car shut down at traffic lights and the like. It’s hard to argue with concept of being stationary and not using any fuel.

That clever feature is backed up by an unobtrusive gearshift indicator, which encourages you to be in the right gear for the conditions - further enhancing the car’s frugal nature. Factor in a super-efficient electric power steering system plus an alternator that disengages when the batter is charged yet works hard to recover otherwise wasted energy when you’re braking or coasting and it’s hard to dismiss all this Efficient Dynamics talk as just marketing fluff.

Quick enough to keep up with motorway traffic, flexible enough to not have you stirring the gearbox like a maniac around town, quiet enough to have you feel relaxed after a few hours behind the wheel yet nimble enough to make you smile when on the right road, the 116d is not a car associated with compromise.

All of which makes BMW’s friend of the eco warriors something of a pleasant surprise. Such low power cars are usually little more than veiled attempts to play the numbers game: low CO2 means you pay less tax but pay dearly in the enjoyment department.

Not so BMW’s 116d; this is a compact executive car offering a sound balance of economy, desirability, performance and low running costs.