YOU HAVE TO wonder what Gottlieb Daimler would make of a modern car.

On that day in 1886, when he and business partner Wilhelm Maybach screwed their strange 0.5 horsepower ‘grandfather clock’ single cylinder petrol engine onto the bones of a wooden carriage, can Daimler have imagined what his creation would become?

Would he now recognise it? Could he possibly have envisaged that his technological triumph, the ‘motorised carriage’, would evolve in the space of 120 years to offer the comfort, power, versatility and sheer capability that we take for granted in the modern car.

What then, would he make of the sublime twin-turbo BMW 335i Touring?

Near flawless in every detail, arrow-true on-road dynamics, effortlessly powerful and a technological tour-de-force, it is a brilliant car in any context.

It is not alone of course, there are other brilliant cars. For some, their brilliance lies in their value, what they offer – for the money – in all-round competence and ownership satisfaction.

Every car is a value equation for buyers. In assessing a premium BMW, like the 335i Touring, price has to be the moderating point when making comparisons – after all, these cars sit in rarified air in the showroom.

The question then becomes: does the sheer excellence of the BMW 335i Touring justify the leap of 40 thousand-plus dollars above, say, the excellent and somewhat similar, HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer (that we also have under review at this time)?

It’s the showroom price that makes them exclusive - otherwise everyone would have one in the drive. It also pays for the superior technology. At $112,200 plus on-roads, you’d expect the 335i Touring to be better than damn good.

And, in nearly every way, it is.

Styling

It is difficult to fault the lines of the 335i Touring. Balanced, athletic and purposeful from every angle, it is a super looking car.

Like the 3 Series sedan, the rear of the touring is improved by the new tail-light design. So too, the deep front dam with driving lights, deep ‘arrow’ crease over the bonnet, heavily accented flanks, ‘blistered’ wheel arches and stronger kidney grille give the current model 3 Series real on-road élan.

To these eyes, the 335i Touring, with a rakish roof-line and sitting fat on 225/40 R18 rubber and 18-inch guards-filling alloys, looks even better than the sedan.

That long roof and rising belt line creates surprising space inside and lends a poise and athleticism to the wagon, and exclusivity, that the sedan doesn’t quite capture.

To any eyes, the 335i Touring is a handsome car. That it comes with one of the most desirable badges in the business, is all bonus.

The Interior

Trimmed in rich tan Dakota leather, with brushed metal highlights and superbly designed dash, console and interior lay-out, the ‘work-bench’ of our 335i tester was pure premium accommodation.

Fashionably restrained and tastefully styled: to sit at the wheel of the 335i, to run your eyes over the surfaces and to take in the fit and finish, and the sumptuous feel of the leather, is to know that you’re in a special car.

There is a range of thoughtful features throughout: like ‘puddle’ lights in the footwells, door handles that light-up at night, ambient under-dash lighting, keyless entry (with a proximity key), two-stage indicators and a tail-gate window that can be opened independently of the rear door (a handy design touch for loading groceries and smaller items).

And then there’s the iDrive. The ‘reductionism’ of the iDrive controller - getting rid of all those little console buttons and putting their functions into one simple-to-use, single controller with multiple functions and multiple layers - is a triumph in modern design.

It may once have confounded users, but is now perfect simplicity. I know this because I can use it. (And I am a total luddite… it’s proven.)

Not quite as satisfying for my preferred driving style is the driver ergonomics. While I found the cosseting buckets comfortable (if not at the head of the class), I struggled a little in getting the driver’s seat and wheel set ‘just right’.

I like to drive with the wheel set low. Doing this blocked out the top section of the dials… and, arguably, the most important information (if you value your licence). No biggie, but getting set at the wheel compromised things for me.

Out back, the load area is surprisingly large and well shaped, with a low lip for easy loading and as beautifully trimmed as the rest of the interior. Thanks to the fold-flat 60/40 split rear seats, it can also swallow bulkier items if pressed into duty.