BMW 323i: gloriously shaped beast

Like many girls, I'm technologically challenged in some ways. Don't put me in the cockpit of a spaceship and expect me to fly it after a quick squizz at the gauges and gizmos.

It took me long enough to master computers after years on a portable typewriter, for goodness sake, so my heart sank when I slid into the beautifully comfortable and elegant leather seats of the BMW 323i and saw the array of knobs and dials.

The car itself, a gloriously shaped beast with a refined profile and classy finish, like all BMWs, is wonderful.

It's powered by a 2.5-litre, straight-six engine that's more than adequate for those wanting an affordable Beemer that's larger than the 1 Series but has all of the comfort and class of a bigger model.

Obviously it's not as powerful as larger siblings but there's enough grunt here to keep most girls happy. Quiet, solid, spacious, with a smooth six-speed Steptronic gearbox, it has everything you could want from a car.

I didn't, however, like the wood detail used in the interior - I thought it looked cheap and nasty. I'd have paid the difference and had metal or some other finish here.

I thought it an odd touch for a machine that, in a world first for volume production, has an engine made of a combination of aluminium and magnesium and high-tech, classy accoutrements and detail elsewhere.

The BMW 523i, surprisingly, also has a very reasonable fuel consumption, due partly to its weight: the front end, like the side panels and bonnet, is made of aluminium, as is the rear axle.

Most impressive, and the aspect I grappled with the most, was the iDrive system. If you look next to the driver's seat, on a panel where the handbrake is, you'll see a big, fat silver knob and a small switch with menu written on it.

You change a setting by tapping the controller (almost like a computer mouse) and the information appears on a screen. The menu allows you to plot your navigation system, key in addresses and areas, and plan your route to within seven metres of your destination.

The entertainment system and air-con are also linked to the iDrive. Despite a comprehensive lesson from the dealer I still battled to work the system but he kindly told me "you can't expect to learn it in a hurry - you need to play around with it".

I loved being able to open the boot automatically with the key fob and the car's cabin space, I loved the quiet, smooth handling of the car, its oh-so-firm grip on the road and its absolute luxury. BMWs really are sheer driving pleasure.

And it comes in a range of stunning colours

R358 000.