Number crunching

(2001-2008)

AT FIRST GLANCE, the idea of a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid seems as logical as Mr Spock: zero-emissions motoring around town, and the efficiency of, well, a diesel car on longer drives. Why, then,

Could a fully optioned E30 325i be a budget alternative to a period M3? Alan Anderson thinks that it just might be…

WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To see whether a modernised 2005 car can be better than a new one The last time I ran a 2005-model-year long-term test car was, more or less, in 2005. But here we are again. This

PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100km/h), in seconds. ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: Combined WLTP economy in miles pe

Mileage 5702 List price £69,970 Best price £67,220 Price as tested £69,970 Test economy 90.1mpg A COUPLE OF times a year, the Milne family trades a warm, comfortable house for being nibbled by gnats i