The flagship 328i SE Touring model is powered by BMW's super-smooth, straight six, 2.8 litre, 24 valve engine. Performance from this 193 bhp unit is never found lacking, giving a top speed of 147 mph and a time of 7.3 seconds for the sprint to 62 mph.
Still great handling
Despite being a more capacious car than the 3 Series Saloon, the new Touring retains the poise and dynamic competence of its four door cousin. Unlike many competitors, loss of such qualities are simply not acceptable at BMW. The Touring shares all its suspension geometry with the Saloon and Coup� , although the spring and damper settings at the rear have been firmed up to cope with heavier loads.
Like all BMWs, the new Touring has rear wheel drive and almost perfect 50:50 weight balance for the best possible handling. This weight distribution means cornering remains composed and neutral, while rear wheel drive leaves the front wheels free to steer the car with complete accuracy, unpolluted by the need to pull the car forwards.
Active safety is a vital part of the BMW handling philosophy and the Touring models - like all the latest generation 3 Series cars - have Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T) and Cornering Braking Control (CBC) as standard. Together, these electronic driving stability aids help to keep the car safely on the road under extreme driving conditions, which otherwise may result in a driving error. Brakes are all-round discs with ABS as standard on all models.
Inside and out
First impressions are an important part of a car's appeal and the Touring does not disappoint. Unlike some estate cars, which look as if a box has been bolted to the back of the saloon model, the 3 Series' load-carrying section is seamlessly integrated into the design of the car.
For example, a special lip spoiler at the bottom of the rear bumper channels air away cleanly and dramatically reduces the amount of road dirt deposited on the rear screen. The entrance to the load area is 10 cm wider than the previous 3 Series Touring models and the design of the tailgate also allows the rear windscreen to open separately, making access easier and more convenient.
On the inside, the front cabin design is shared with the Saloon, but there are new features in the rear. A particularly neat idea is to integrate the centre rear head restraint into the centre armrest. Thus when the armrest is down, the driver has a clear rear view. The armrest itself has storage pockets and cup holders.
Extending the cavernous load bay is done simply by folding the rear seat backs onto the cushions. There is no need to remove the headrests and the seatbelts have been designed to avoid any tangling during this operation. The resulting load area is flat and wide, allowing a maximum capacity of 1345 litres (47.1 cu ft). There is also a 12 volt power supply point inside the load area, which is ideal for a fridge or car vacuum cleaner.
Safety and security
As well as the active safety features described above (ASC+T, CBC, ABS), the 3 Series Touring also features an array of passive safety systems.
Six airbags are fitted as standard to all models - front, side and head ITS airbags for both the driver and front passenger. Rear side airbags are an option. All five seat belts are three-point inertia type, including the one for the rear centre passenger, and have pyrotechnic belt latch tensioners, belt force limiters and belt retainers.
The crash test performance of the 3 Series Saloon, with which the Touring shares all the same features, is outstanding. German magazine, auto motor & sport conducted crash tests which matched those set by Euro-NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program).
In the frontal impact, both driver and passenger were virtually uninjured. The vital head and neck areas were so well protected by the airbags and belt systems that the magazine concluded: "Never before has auto motor & sport measured such low strain to the neck"...and this regardless of vehicle class.
Side impact results were equally good.
BMW vehicle security has long been a particular strength. The company was awarded What Car? magazine's special security award in February this year for the performance of the 3, 5 and 7 Series models tested. Alarm and immobiliser systems are part of the standard equipment on all the 3 Series Touring models.
A complete list of other standard equipment can be found below.
A market opportunity
In the compact executive car market the importance of estate models has expanded dramatically. In 1991 only 2.7 per cent of this market were estate cars. By 1998 this had risen to 21.7 per cent. The market opportunity is therefore significant and BMW's recognition of this fact is reflected in the decision to launch the Touring model only 14 months after the Saloon and before the Convertible and Compact models.
The importance of diesel models in this market is significant too. Some competitors sell more than 40 per cent of their estate cars in this class as diesels. Offering the 320d and later the 330d will put BMW in a particularly strong position to attack the market opportunity more vigorously.
Priced below the Mercedes Benz C Class and slightly above the Audi A4 Avant, the 3 Series Touring models command a relatively modest premium over the equivalent Saloons (between �845 and �900 depending on model). All models are SE specification.
On the road prices start at �22,095 for the 318i SE Touring, rising to �23,545 for the 320d SE Touring, �27,895 for the 330d SE Touring and �28,995 for the flagship 328i SE Touring. Insurance groups are yet to be announced.
"The 3 Series Touring competes in a market sector where BMW can do considerably better and now we have the car and the engine line-up to take the opposition head on." said Kevin Gaskell, Managing Director of BMW (GB). "The new Touring offers more load space than its predecessor, but without losing one scrap of refinement or driving pleasure. And the new generation diesel models coming early in the new year offer us a major opportunity to take market share from our competitors," he concluded.
