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The New, the Fast and the Luxurious... The Motoring Guide! |
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BMW 3 Series Touring Review
 The fourth generation BMW 3 Series Touring went on sale 17th September 2005. BMW’s latest compact executive estate car was developed alongside the new 3 Series Saloon, adding classic and contemporary ‘estate’ car attributes to the Saloon’s unrivalled performance biased chassis.
The result? Better performance, lower emissions, best-in-class cost of ownership and state-of-the-art safety features. Two variants are available at launch, the four-cylinder BMW 320d Touring and the six-cylinder BMW 325i Touring. Compared to competitor models, principally from Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes Benz, both diesel and petrol BMW’s are: Faster from 0 – 62 mph and 50 – 75 mph, More fuel efficient, Less expensive to own and run
BMW has also taken strides to make the car more practical and, on virtually all counts, the new Touring offers greater room for rear passengers and more loading space than the A4, X-Type and C-Class. Ingenious storage, loading and towing solutions simply add to the mix.
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The new ES models feature, as standard, a six-speed manual gearbox, air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels with Run-flat tyres, CD player and six airbags (including curtain head airbag covering entire side window area).
Customers opting for the SE specification receive 17-inch alloy wheels (on six-cylinder cars, an alternative 16-inch alloy wheel design on four-cylinder models), automatic air-conditioning, cruise control (with braking function on six-cylinder models), multi-function steering wheel and rear Park Distance Control.
BMW’s new M Sport model offers exterior styling enhancements, 18-inch alloy wheels (17-inch on four-cylinder models), M Sport suspension and sports seats.
Options cover innovative technology, such as Active Cruise Control and iDrive (including Voice Control), and practical and versatile features, including a reversible boot floor, folding boot box and an ingenious ‘fold-away’ tow-bar. These set the car apart within its segment and ensure that the new BMW 3 Series Touring sits happily on a customer’s wish list alongside an X3, a Jaguar X-Type or a Volvo XC90.
Lightweight engineering, new engines, improved practicality, more room and new safety features all wrapped in BMW’s new design structure all contribute to benchmark status for the new Series 3 Touring. As with the new 3 Series Saloon, BMW would not settle for less as it aims to sell a record number of 3 Series Tourings in its first full year (2006) in the UK. Retail sales are expected to account for an impressive 45 per cent of the anticipated 8,500 plus figure.
Design and Bodyshell: Retaining familiar BMW design cues, the front view of the new 3 Series Touring mirrors the new 3 Series Saloon, with its classic double kidney grilles, twin headlamps, and pronounced power dome of the bonnet.
In profile, BMW’s characteristic long bonnet, short overhangs, traditional ‘Hofmeister kick’ and swept-back glasshouse visually move the mass of the car backwards, emphasising its rear wheel-drive layout. Distinct lines advance BMW’s new design language further, but ensure that the new 3 Series projects its own clear personality, yet remains obviously a member of the BMW range.
From the rear, the practically and versatility of the new Touring is evident. To aid loading, the new Touring features a split-opening rear tailgate, enabling the rear window to be opened independently. For larger items, the height and width of the loading aperture have been maximised by a cut-out in the rear bumper that lowers the loading height. Two-piece rear lamp clusters, split between boot lid and body increase available width. The boot lid also lifts to a height that allows anyone under two-metres tall to stand beneath.
Interior: Inside, the new 3 Series Touring shares all the qualities of its Saloon counterpart. Supremely comfortable seats after a myriad of positions ensuring that both driver and front passenger find their perfect seat settings. Added to this flexibility, top quality materials and ergonomically placed controls meet the needs of the driver and front passenger.
A major UK magazine recently drove four-up, non-stop from Seville to London in a BMW 320d Saloon, stating midway, “I’ve driven non-stop for six hours and 22 minutes. There is no pain in my back or shoulders. I try to think of a car that would have proved as relaxing, manageable and cosseting. I can’t.” The 320d Touring will add the word practical to the endorsement of the car’s interior values.
Another aid to driving and convenience is available to owners opting for the Business or Professional navigation systems. They receive BMW’s innovative iDrive concept that uses a controller located in the centre console. This offers easy access to navigation, entertainment, climate and telephone features and reduces “switch clutter” on the dash.
Like the Saloon, the new 3 Series Touring is larger in every dimension compared with its predecessor. It offers best-in-class levels of internal space, head, shoulder, and elbowroom. Any criticisms of the outgoing E46 Touring’s rear passenger and boot space have been addressed. The new Touring offers market-leading passenger space and practicality. For example, the wheelbase has been increased by 35mm to provide rear seat passengers with more legroom.
The new 3 Series Touring will be available in ES, SE or new M Sport specifications with prices starting from only £23,040 on the road for a 320i ES Touring.
Sandal BMW - telephone 01924 433500.
Published Winter 2005. All information correct at time of print.
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