Touring class BMWA pretty wagon
Touring versions of BMW’S 3-Series range have arrived – and a special feature is that all-wheel drive options are available for the first time, as Rob Maetzig reports.
Of all the world’s vehicle manufacturers, it is the Europeans that have the best ability to create beautiful wagon versions of their sedans.
And among the most talented is Germany’s BMW.
Last year the company launched its new 3-Series sedan, a car with athletic lines that made it stand out from the luxury crowd. So much so, in fact, that I wouldn’t have thought it possible to create a wagon version that could better it.
But now I’ve laid my eyes on the new 3-Series Touring, and I’m impressed. BMW has succeeded in developing a vehicle that offers most of the practicality that comes via the wagon design, and at the same time has given it a look that is perhaps even more athletic than the sedan.
It achieves this via a gentle roofline taper that runs from the windscreen right down to the rear window. The rear end isn’t really wagon-ish but more touring in being quite swept, which helps give the vehicle a very good look.
A drive through Northland during a recent media event showed up the Touring to be every bit as good as its sedan equivalents when it comes to ability on the road.
Of course the big difference between the two models is that the Touring offers that extra practicality.
Whereas the sedan has 480 litres of boot space – the Touring has 495 litres of luggage room with all seats in use, and it can be increased to 1500 litres when the 40:20:40 split-fold back seats are folded down.
There’s also plenty of minor storage under the floor of the load area.
There is one big question with this car, however – whether in this day of SUVs of all sizes and levels of luxury, there is actually a place on the market for a traditional two-wheel drive wagon.
BMW is answering that question by also introducing an allwheel drive version of the 3-Series Touring. This will be the first time all-wheel drive – called xDrive at BMW – has been available on any Touring variant in New Zealand.
In normal driving conditions the xDrive splits the engine torque 60:40 in favour of the rear wheels so BMW’s trademark rear-wheel drive feeling is retained. But the system is capable of delivering nearly 100 per cent of the car’s power to just one axle if required.
Addition of the xDrive followed considerable feedback from BMW owners throughout the country, said BMW New Zealand managing director Nina Englert.
The new- generation 3- Series Touring is lighter, larger and more spacious than the previous model. As is found with the sedan range, Touring will feature four distinct ‘‘design packages’’ comprising Sport Line, Modern Line, Luxury Line and M Sport.
Class-leading fuel economy is achieved via a range of TwinPower turbocharged diesel and petrol engines, and all models are fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission with automatic stop-start.
The New Zealand BMW Touring models have a fixed 6.5-inch high resolution monitor for the onboard computer and all models boast USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
All Tourings’ rear springs and dampers are slightly firmer than those on the sedans, to cope with the slightly heavier weights as well as the larger loads the car is designed to carry.
However, the Touring feels much like the 3-Series sedan at all speeds. Low-speed ride quality is firm, and out on the open road its rides and handles beautifully. Naturally, during the media event I didn’t get to drive the car with any major load in the back however.
The 3- Series Tourings share similar levels of standard specification with the sedans – and compared to the outgoing Touring model, specification has been enhanced but the prices have been reduced. It’ll be interesting to see how they all sell.
I can see some ongoing demand for the rear-drive versions.
Pricing ranges from $77,800 for the 318d, through to $112,500 for the 335i and 330d xDrive.