2009 BMW 3 Series

$33,400 – est $46,000
EPA Fuel Economy:
18 mpg city >>> 28 mpg hwy

The best never rest, and for the iconic BMW 3 Series that means freshened sheet metal, upgraded interiors, another stab at iDrive and a new, all-aluminum twin-turbodiesel for 2009. The oil-burning 335d boasts 390 lb.-ft. of torque as low as 1500 rpm from 3.0 liters, plus a peak 265 bhp and 425 lb.-ft. of torque for husky acceleration. The naturally aspirated 328i and lag-free twin-turbo 335i gasoline engines remain unchanged, as do the 6-speed manual, automatic or paddle-shift transmissions. BMW has named the all-wheel-drive models as 328i xDrive Sedans and 328i xDrive Sports Wagons, but the wet-or-dry grip-enhancing mechanicals are unchanged. There is a 335i xDrive sedan, but no wagon, or diesel wagon. A host of detail improvements — heated steering wheel anyone? — fleshes out the upgrades.