The 3 Series Touring is the only vehicle that the vast majority of us could possibly need or want.
If you are unable to find a 3 Series Touring that meets your specifications, your automobile requirements are somewhat unique. It’s the only kind of car most of us could use or want.
It will make you proud unless you frequently transport tall rear-seat passengers, really big stuff, or travel off-road.
It has equally excellent handling as the 3 Series saloon. Enjoy both cake and ice cream. It will transport lots of cake.
In This Article...
Security and dependability
The 3 Series Touring boasts every element needed for five-star safety, but some of them are only available as part of pricey option packs.
In our 2021 Driver Power satisfaction poll, the 3 Series came in at number 31 out of a list of 75 vehicles, while BMW came in at number 21 out of 29 manufacturers, an improvement over the 2020 performance at number 27, but still inadequate for such a premium brand.
Although the Touring model hasn’t undergone independent testing, the 3 Series saloon on which it is based has received a five-star Euro NCAP certification, which gives the safety situation a considerably better outlook. The Touring boasts a complete complement of airbags, stability control, and tyre pressure warnings as standard, much like the saloon. The practical rear parking sensors are also included.
The extensive options list provides access to a full range of safety-related features. Although lane-keeping assistance and blind spot warnings are not to be scoffed at, you should consider if you actually need them before investing in them because the cost can rise quickly. After all, features like speed limit assistance, lane departure warning, and front collision warning are already standard.
In contrast, the optional head-up display is highly helpful and keeps your eyes on the road because it projects important driver information into the windscreen. Another consideration is whether you want to spend PS1,900 on BMW’s Technology Package.
How does the BMW 3 Series Touring handle and how does it ride?
The steering is nicely weighted and delivers lots of feedback, so you’ll always know how much grip is available. Driving the BMW 3 Series Touring is gratifying.
It is simple to gauge the state of the roads thanks to the sharp steering. Most versions come equipped with rear-wheel drive, however the xDrive pack offers four-wheel drive as an option. Torque is only transferred to the front wheels when traction loss is detected, giving xDrive cars a comparable driving experience to the rear-wheel drive version.
We advise installing the optional restricted slip differential if you want to select one of the strong gasoline or diesel engines with xDrive. It raises grip levels to mind-boggling heights, and the system is able to detect traction loss on certain wheels and modify torque flow to make up for it.
BMW’s variable sports steering, which increases steering sensitivity, is standard on M Sport models. This is helpful for swift handling alterations that need to be exact. It really shines when parking because you just need to make half as many turns to get the 3 Series Touring into a small space.
When traversing a tight turn or roundabout, the car doesn’t pitch or roll awkwardly thanks to the sophisticated suspension’s great body control when cornering. The riding quality is always on the firm side of pleasant because runflat tires are used in the majority of variants. This is enhanced by the available adaptive damping.
Sport models mix performance and comfort the best, with the 17-inch wheels dampening all but the hardest road imperfections. M Sport versions come standard with 18-inch wheels and a lowered, stiffer sports suspension. These hone the handling and stiffen the ride. M Sport ought to be your first option if you want a sporty 3 Series Touring ride.
competitors to the BMW 3-Series Touring
The BMW 3 Series Touring can be the ideal estate car for you if you’re searching for an all-arounder that masterfully blends driving performance with increased utility. It is a highly regarded family vehicle for experienced drivers, and a 2022 redesign will make it even sharper.
It faces very stiff competition from its premium rivals as usual. Therefore, it is likely that the 3 Series Touring will be included alongside vehicles like the Audi A4 Avant, Volvo V60, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate. The Peugeot 508 SW is a striking option, and the Skoda Superb Estate has tons of charm and acres of space. However, there are more mainstream (and worse-selling) competitors that are also well worth looking at.
These days, a family estate car like this is just as likely to be on your shopping list as a number of SUVs, such as the Skoda Kodiaq and even even more practical options like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC. Buyers of cars have a lot of options. What makes the 3 Series Touring the #1 vehicle on your list?
For standard cars, the UK offers Sport or M Sport trim levels or M Performance variants for the most potent engines. Although we frequently prefer our BMWs to be especially sporty, comfort hasn’t been overlooked. The M Sport trim level, which comes standard with lower, stronger sports suspension and unique front and back bumpers, is what the majority of UK buyers—nearly two thirds—order.
There are many different engines available from BMW, including the plug-in hybrid 330e. The 318d produces a minimum of 150 hp, and the M340i xDrive produces a maximum of 374 hp. The popular 320i (184 horsepower) and 320d models (190 hp), as well as the more opulent 330i (258 hp) and 330d, are all found between these two extremes. As usual with BMW, “i” stands for a gasoline engine and “d” for a diesel.
Any version of this car you decide you can afford offers a good balance between performance and fuel economy, so you won’t likely feel shortchanged in either. The 318d and 320d have a six-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment, with the Steptronic available. The majority of the models in the lineup have an eight-speed automatic Steptronic transmission as standard.
To learn more about the BMW 3 Series Touring, including its interior, cost of operation, driving characteristics, and whether we recommend buying one, scroll through the pages that follow. Discover our opinions in our long-term test after we’ve driven one for a while.
Cons
The BMW 3 Series Touring estate has been the go-to vehicle for anyone seeking a stylish, fun load lugger ever since it was introduced in 1987. Even though the competition has gotten considerably closer over time, it has consistently outperformed the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class thanks to rear-wheel drive and potent engines.
The newest iteration of the Touring appears barely changed from the previous model from the outside. Despite having a slightly more threatening “kidney grille” style and extremely detailed LED headlamps, it is nevertheless fairly easy to identify as a 3 Series. To make the car’s haunches appear as broad as possible, the rear’s hockey stick-shaped light clusters wrap over the sides of the vehicle. Otherwise, nothing has changed.
The most recent model doesn’t represent a daring new design approach, but given the reputation of BMW and the fact that the 3 Series already accounts for a sizable amount of its annual sales, there isn’t much of a need to break the mold. There is extra space for passengers, a pop-up glass for quick access to the trunk, and a useful anti-slip boot floor. The car’s boot has increased slightly to 500 liters.
With its firm body control and precise steering, the 3 Series Touring upholds its status as the driver’s estate on the road. It is actually cozy when the dampers are adjusted to the softest position. The 3 Series rides nicely on potholed British roads, which suggests that BMW’s chassis engineers are reaping the benefits of their rumored Welsh road testing.
The strength of the engines is also predictable, with every version reaching 62 mph in less than nine seconds, and most do it much faster. The plug-in hybrid BMW 330e is also available with CO2 emissions that will suit company-car drivers, while the BMW 320d Touring can achieve over 55 mpg. The M340i xDrive, which has 375 horsepower and can reach 60 mph from a standing start in 4.5 seconds—the same as a Porsche 718 Cayman—is the most exciting model available until the M3 Touring arrives in 2022.
The BMW 3 Series Touring, especially our favorite model, the 320d in M Sport specification, remains the car to beat in the class when all of this is taken into account, coupled with upgraded technology and a noticeably higher level of quality inside.
Cargo, Comfort, and the Interior
The 3’s interior features a contemporary design with top-notch components and an amazing level of craftsmanship. The 3-series’ controls are conveniently located, and nothing about it feels cheap. The basic sport seats have plenty of flexibility and are well-bolstered and supportive, making it simple to find a comfortable position. A comprehensive head-up display, programmable ambient interior lighting, heated front and rear seats, remote start, and wireless charging are some of the extra-cost features of the automobile. The 3-series sports a sizable trunk with a power-operated deck lid as an option. The gas-powered sedan’s 17 cubic feet of baggage room can accommodate six carry-on suitcases in the back and 17 in total with the back seat folded. For instance, the Alfa Romeo Giulia could fit five and 15, respectively, while the Mercedes-Benz C300 car could only fit one less suitcase in each test. Due to its battery pack, the 330e has less trunk room (13 cubes), and we haven’t tested its carry-on capacity.
BMW 3 Series Touring dependability?
Reliability of the BMW 3 Series Because the sixth-generation BMW 3 Series is largely new, it is hard to predict its reliability until after buyers have put it through its paces over time. In all, 19.2% of BMW owners who responded said they had at least one problem within the first year.
The BMW 3 Series Touring is produced where?
During the new BMW Group #NEXTGen event at BMW Welt in Munich, the new BMW 3 Series Touring will be unveiled to the public for the first time. Customers from Europe, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand will be served by its production at the BMW Plant in Munich.
A BMW touring car is what?
The BMW 3 Series Touring shares the same front styling as the famous sedan but has an expanded roof line that looks a lot like the larger 5 Series Touring.
The end result is a stylish estate car with the best cargo space in the compact executive class, measured by volume. When the back seats are folded, there is storage space for up to 1,500 liters. This represents a significant advancement over earlier generations of Tourings, which were sometimes criticized for not being sufficiently practical. The Touring’s boot space can be beaten by a number of large family vehicles from less prestigious manufacturers, but none of them have the BMW’s upscale goals or its rear-drive architecture.
The Touring debuted in 2019 and is a part of BMW’s seventh generation of the 3 Series. The entry-level 318i, the 320i, the 330i, and the M340i engines are available, while the diesel lineup consists of the 318d, 320d, 330d, and M340d models. Also available with BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive technology is the plug-in hybrid 330e. The 320d, 330d, and M-badged versions can also have this; otherwise, rear-wheel drive is the only option.
What is the maximum mileage for a BMW 3 Series Touring?
While a BMW 3 Series can travel 200,000–250,000 miles, there are numerous instances of 3 Series cars traveling more than 300,000 miles without experiencing any significant mechanical problems.