The new 3 Series Touring combines practicality with speed, stability and sportiness without compromise.
Thanks to its precise six-cylinder engine, the BMW 3 Series Touring has always been one of the best automotive wagons. Fast, spacious, practical and fun to drive, they are also excellent value for money, which is why I bought my own high-mileage E46 330i Touring for just £140 (no, that's not a typo!).
The Touring's impressive resume was also the reason we chose the E46 330d as a platform to turn into a track car whose mission was to lap the E92 M3. The result is a family estate with 300 hp, 500 lb-ft of torque and a time slightly quicker than the V8 coupe. Again... six-cylinder Touring rules.
But I'm not here to review the old BMW station wagon, as there is a new sixth generation model that I was invited to test drive in Germany last week.
The Touring in question is the 330d xDrive (with a choice of six gasoline and diesel engines with four or six cylinders). Like the RWD 330d, the car is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine with 265 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. In xDrive, that translates to 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds, with rear-wheel drive the 330d takes slightly longer at 5.6 seconds.
Now, before I get into the details of how the 330d xDrive feels to drive, let me first tell you what's really new about this car.
For starters, the Touring is 76mm longer, 16mm wider and 8mm taller than the car it replaces. Streamlined taillights and a 20mm wider rear window give the new car a more muscular look, and roof rails are now standard equipment.
Dynamic body rigidity has been increased by 25% and the front and rear tracks are 43mm and 21mm wider respectively to improve stability.
At the rear, you'll probably be pleased to hear - as will BMW - about a new Touring equipment item called "anti-slip rails". Basically, these are rubber strips that detect body weight and automatically elevate a few millimeters to prevent objects from shifting. I think it's a cool feature, but keep in mind that it's part of an £890 package that includes a heated steering wheel and expanded storage space.
In more exciting news, the new 3 Series now comes with "BMW Operating System 7.0 and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant" where you can ask questions or change the radio station, a bit like a humbled Alexa. I won't spend a lot of time talking about it, let's just say that on the day, it responded very slowly, didn't recognize 95 percent of what I asked, and when it did, it answered something unrelated to the topic.
On returning to the UK after the launch of the Touring, I had the new 330i for a week of testing and I can confirm that the personal assistant worked well, so the problems I had in Germany were either one-offs or due to a lack of signal.
Anyway, it's time to hit the road in the new 330d xDrive to find out how good it is...
And the first impression does not disappoint. The 3.0-liter straight-six engine kicks in with a nice, muscular diesel sound, a treat that is increasingly rare these days.
Driving out of the BMW center on the way to our lunch stop, the next thing that catches the eye is the heavy steering wheel, thick-rimmed steering wheel and attractive digital display. But in the back of my mind, all I could think was that I really wanted to press the accelerator to feel how powerful the xDrive 330d is and the 428 lb-ft of torque capable of launching 1,745 kg (3,847 lb) of German muscle towards the horizon.
Fortunately, I didn't have to wait too long. After negotiating the Munich traffic, the road opens up and sport mode kicks in.
The eight-speed Steptronic gearbox downshifts three speeds, the big six roars clearly and before I know it, the speed limit has been reached and disappears in a gentle wave of smooth torque and seamless gear changes; as with the E46 330d, this mighty diesel engine never fails to impress.
Another feature of the 330d xDrive that deserves high praise is its handling. Sure, you feel the Touring's weight in corners (as do the Pirelli tires, which squeal even when pressed just enough), but overall the ride is neutral and relaxed, while the balanced handling inspires you to press the accelerator harder into the carpet.
