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whatcar.comfeBx1aux1cx1ay2012COMpACTExECuTIvESBMW320dSEautoListprice29605Thx1e3x19x1erix1esiskx1etoBMx1bx19ssccx1esssothx1erx1ex19smorx1eridingonthisnx1ewmodx1elthanx1evx1er.Initialimprx1essionshavx1ebx1ex1enpositivx1ebtthisisthx1etx1estthatconts.Mercedes-BenzC220CDISEautoListprice29870Thx1edix1esx1elCx13Classisanx1establishx1edavoritx1ewithcompancardrivx1ersthankstoitsprx1emimimagx1egrx1eatbildqalitandrx1elaxx1edmotorwamannx1ers.ThecontendersNEWTx1dEBMW3SEx15IEShasbeenthecompactexecforyearssothisnewcarfacestheunenviabletaskofbeatingnotonlyitsrivalsbutalsoitsve-starpredecessor.BiggerandmorespaciousthanitsforebearthenewThreeoffersbetterperformanceandismorefuel-efcientandlesspollutingatthesametime.Toseehowthenewcarstacksupagainstitscompetitionherewex19recomparingitwiththeMercedes-BenzC-Class.Withtheirlow-emissionenginesbothareperfectexamplesofthemoderncompactexecutivecarcapableofmileaftermileoflow-taxbusiness-classtravelintheweekyetdoublingasfamilycarsattheweekend.WhataretheyliketodriveBMW3Seriesx0MercedesCx1bClassx0OUx15320DCAMEwithBMWx19spotent181bhp2.0-litredieselengineandthelatesteight-speedautomaticgearboxsowehadhighexpectations.Thoseexpectationsweremetinjust7.6secondsx13thetimeittookthe3Seriestopass60mph.Thein3uenceofBMWx19snewautogearboxonthecarx19spowerdeliverycannotbeoverstated.LeaveitincomfortmodeanditwillslipthroughtheratiosimperceptiblyselectSportandtheshiftscomehardandfastandyettheyremainshudder-free.AlthoughMercedesx19C220usesa2.1-litreengineitproducesarelativelymodest168bhp.x1doweverthatx19spartiallyoffsetbythe295lbftoftorquex13thatx19s15lbftmorethanthe320dproduces.AnythoughtsthattheMercedeswillgivetheBMWarunforitsmoneyareshort-livedhoweverbecausetheC-Classprovedweakerandless3exibleinallofourperformancetests.Asifthatisnx19tenoughtheMercx19sengineisnoisierandvibratesmorethantheBMWx19sanditsseven-speedautomaticgearboxfeelsutterlyslow-wittedaftertheBMWx19s.TheC-Classmasksroadandwindnoisemoreeffectivelywhenitissettledatamotorwaycruisethough.OurBMWtestcarhadtheoptionalswitchablesuspension750thatcanbeadjustedforrmnessviaarockerswitchnexttothegearlever.InComfortmodetheridestillisnx19tasrelaxingasthatofthesoftlysprungMercedesbutonlyroadswithseverelyrippledsurfacescauseuncomfortableclunkstoentertheBMWx19scabin.WestronglysuspectmostownerswilldefaulttoSportmodeanywayandwilldelightinthesharpaccuratesteeringgripandsheerdynamicbalancethatthesettingbrings.NexttothisbrilliancetheC-Classfeelsleaden.Itrollsincornerswhilethenoseisslowtofollowsteeringinputsanddivesmarkedlyunderbraking.WhataretheylikeinsideBMW3Seriesx0MercedesCx1bClassx0Tx1dENEW3SEx15IESislongerandtallerthanthemodelitreplacesanditx19sbiggerthantheC-Class.Itx19snowonderthenthatithasmoreheadroomforfrontandrearoccupantswhilethosesittinginthebackalsoenjoymorelegroom.Bothcarshavevirtuallyidenticalamountsofluggagespace.x1dowevertheBMWx19sbootiswidertowardsthebackofthecarwhichmeansitx19seasiertoslideinasetofgolfclubsorababybuggy.Therex19salsoagenerouschunkofextraspaceundertheboot3oor.TheMercdoesnx19thaveanyunder3oorstoragebutitsmoreregularlyshapedbootisbetterforsuitcases.Youx19llnditeasiertogetcomfortableinthe3Series