2009 BMW 335d

Four hundred twenty-five. That's how many pound-feet of torque the BMW 335d produces. In BMW's North American lineup, only the twin-turbo V-8 in the flagship 7 Series and X6 xDrive 50i makes more (450 pound-feet).

Even more impressive is that BMW chose to stuff such a monstrously powerful diesel into its relatively lightweight 3 Series. A standard X6 50i tips the scales at 5200 pounds, and a 750Li checks in at roughly 4700. Our 335d weighs under 3800 pounds. So what's it like to drive a sport sedan with the stump-pulling grunt of a John Deere? We decided to find out.

With a base price of $44,725, our 335d costs $2600 more than a standard 335i sedan. We ordered our oil-burner in sharp Montego Blue metallic paint (a $550 option) and black Dakota leather ($1450). Since a six-speed automatic is the only transmission available, we livened things up by checking the Sport Package box. This bolts on 18-inch wheels with summer tires, stiffer suspension, sport seats, and darker, "shadowline" interior trim-all for a cool $2150. Fork over another $100 for paddle shifters on the steering wheel. BMW's Comfort access system (aka keyless entry and push-button starting) tacks on yet another $500.

The latest version of iDrive came as part of our deal and, for once, it's a welcome enhancement. The update includes buttons and a revised interface, which makes the system far more intuitive. But getting the most out of iDrive requires a substantial hit to the wallet-satellite radio costs an extra $595, while navigation sets you back another $2100 (roughly the cost of 10 entry Garmin nav systems). For full iPod integration and USB connectivity, you'll need to shell out $400-exactly one dollar more than the most expensive 32 GB iPod Touch. Even more shocking, after all this dough, our car still lacks Bluetooth hands-free telephone functionality (another $750, which includes BMW assist).

But, hey, luxury cars are expensive. The question we're trying to answer is whether it's all worth it. Early ballots say yes.

"A few miles down the road instantly reminds me of all the reasons these cars are so damned good," logs associate Web editor Rory Jurnecka, "The steering is weighty and full of feel, the brakes feel as if they've been plucked from a road racer-firm, easily modulated, and surprisingly strong."

Stay tuned for more of our year-long evaluation of the 335d.