The Los Angeles Times was recently in the mood for the “d”, and it got it three different ways. I’m talking about diesel. What did you think I was talking about? It tested oil-burning sedans from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.
Although the first-place BMW 535d didn’t have a backup camera or parking sensors, even with a sticker price north of $66,000, it did receive high marks for its powertrain. “There’s no rough idle or vibration during acceleration, and the car has more than enough power to validate BMW’s performance credentials.”
The turbocharged 3.0L I6 created 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, figures which soundly trounced those of the four-cylinder in the E250 BlueTec from the three-pointed star. Audi’s A6 TDI had a 15 lb-ft advantage over the Bimmer.
The Benz came with the highest EPA ratings of the trio: 28 in the city and 42 on the highway; however, the trade-off was a lack of engine refinement. BMW’s diesel sedan had 26/38 figures, and was good for 28 in the newspaper’s testing.
It also won praise for its passenger space. “The 2014 refresh tweaked an already plush interior, and this cabin was easily the classiest and most comfortable of the three sedans tested. Highlights included a massive panoramic moonroof, a 10.2-inch navigation screen and updated iDrive controller with a new touch pad built into it.”
Mercedes-Benz’s E250 BlueTec tied for second place with the Audi A6 TDI, which was similar to the BMW, but not quite as well-received.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
