BMW has added the 316iES Saloon to its range of highly-specified and competitively priced 3 Series ES variants.

The new model joins 318iES and 320dES Saloon and Touring models, which debuted in January 2003 and 316iES and 320tdE5 Compact derivatives which followed in June 2003.

Priced at £18,495 on the road, the 316iES features standard ES equipment worth £2,390. This includes Sports Suspension, CD player, alloy wheels, M Leather steering wheel, anthracite headlining, colour-coded door handles and storage compartment package.

As well as additional specification, the new 316iES features BMW’s 1.8-litre petrol engine with VALVETRONIC, built at the Hams Hall plant in Warwickshire. Launched in September 2001 in the 318i engine, VALVETRONIC infinitely variable valve timing now delivers lower fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, as well as improved performance and engine smoothness, to models like the range-topping 760Li and forthcoming 645Ci Coupe.

With its standard 5-speed manual gearbox, the 316iES powers from 0-62 in 10.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 128 mph. However it is equally strong on economy, offering 39.8 mpg on the combined fuel consumption cycle thanks to VALVETRONIC. CO2 emissions are just 172 g/km which place the 316iES in the fourth-lowest band for company car tax at just 18 per cent.

Research from Glass’s Market Intelligence Service has confirmed the appeal of BMW’s 320d Saloon, particularly for the corporate market. In a comparison of whole-life costs based on ownership for three years and 60,000 miles, the 320d reported lower costs than all other models surveyed.

Glass’s research took account of a number of factors in calculating whole life costs. This included original purchase price, maintenance and repair costs, road tax, fuel consumption, tyre replacement and interest on capital.

While Glass’s research focused on the benefits of owning an entry-level 320d, the 320dES variant has been making waves since its launch in January.

Priced at just £20,995 on-the-road, it offers a saving of £1,175 on the standard 320d but comes with the additional ES specification package.

Now featuring Euro IV compliant engines in its manual guise, the 320dES has emerged as the best all-rounder in its class thanks to a combination of competitive pricing, strong performance, superb economy and a five-year free service and maintenance package. In group test after group test, it has seen off a host of rivals including the Jaguar X-Type 2.OD, the Volvo 350 D5 5, Audi A4 1.9 TDI and Mercedes C220 CDi. The icing on the cake arrived in the form of November’s What Car? which awarded the 320dES its Diesel Car of the Year 2003 accolade, describing it as “the best diesel car you can buy”.