German Car Comparison

Sometimes playing favorites can be really tough. Sometimes it verges on being downright impossible. That fact became apparent early on during this spirited fender-to-fender-to-fender face-off between three exceptional midrange European luxury sport sedans. Representing BMW and Mercedes-Benz, respectively, were the new 328i and C280 Sport variants. Carrying Volvo's colors was the 850 R, a direct descendant of the fast and furious T5-R model. Each of these crack corner-carvers possesses its own unique personality. But they share one common trait: the ability to transform even the most mundane behind-the-wheel outing into a bona fide exercise in fun-running, each at an as-tested price of just under $40,000.

These slick four-doors' diversity in temperament also extends to their relative sizes, engine types, and driveline configurations. To wit: The BMW is a subcompact, the Mercedes-Benz a compact, and the Volvo a midsize. The front-drive Swede is powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder engine, while its Teutonic rivals send motive force from their naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines to the pavement via their rear wheels. Although none would be properly categorized as a classic asphalt assassin, all three are impressively quick and nimble in their own rights.

BMW elevated its popular 3-Series to a new plateau for '96 with the introduction of the 328i. As the name implies, displacement on the car's DOHC 24-valve inline-six moves from 2.5 to 2.8 liters, courtesy of a nine-millimeter bump in stroke. This change has only a modest effect on horsepower, which rises from 189 at 5900 rpm to 190 at 5300. The big news comes in the torque department, where peak output jumps by 14.4 percent-from 181 pound-feet at 4200 rpm to 207 pound-feet at 3950. Even better, over 85 percent of that new-found twist is available between 2000-5500 rpm. Slimmed-down, better-balanced valvetrain components, lightweight stainless steel exhaust manifolding, and revised intake plumbing enhance the engine's overall civility. Along with considerably more bottom-end snap, other gains include a decrease in cold-start emissions and quieter low-speed operation.

This BMW was the only vehicle in our select group available with a manual transmission. It's a heavy-duty ZF five-speed box, previously used only on the high-powered M3. Despite having a taller rear gear than the 325i (2.93:1 versus 3.15:1), the 328i's acceleration is markedly better. Our test car's 6.4-second 0-60-mph blast was a mere 0.2 second off the pace set by the last manually shifted M3 we ran. Despite the 328i's superior performance, its EPA fuel economy also tops the 325i's, rising from 20/28 mpg city/highway to 20/29.

Opting for the Sport package, which adds $2625 to the base 328i's $32,900 sticker, brings stiffer springs and shocks, bigger (16-inch versus 15-inch) cast aluminum wheels, and upgraded (225/50ZR16 in place of 205/65HR15) tires. Also included are traction control, eight-way power buckets with deeper contours, leather upholstery, and a trip computer. Heated seats, metallic paint, a split-folding rear seatback, and a premium 320-watt Harmon Kardon AM/FM/cassette sound system rounded out our tester's options list, pushing its final tally to $38,575, including destination fees.

Few visual changes are evident in the 328i passenger compartment. Leather trim definitely adds to the general ambiance, as do the new high-end stereo package and an improved climate-control system. Despite a fixed-rake steering column and an overabundance of control buttons on the dash, the basic ergonomics remain above average. And although the Bimmer is the smallest sedan in our mix, it will comfortably handle four average-size adults.