2013 BMW 320i Touring M Sport Review
2013 BMW 320i TOURING REVIEW
Vehicle Style: Medium prestige wagon
Engine/Trans: 135kW/270Nm 2.0 litre turbo | 8spd automatic
Price: $62,600 (plus on-roads) | $80,390 (as tested)
Fuel Economy claimed: 6.2l/100km | tested: 9.6l/100km
OVERVIEW
The BMW 3 Series is the German company’s most important car, accounting for a huge number of the marque’s sales and profits.
We all know the 3 Series sedan is good - it's smart, dynamic, beautiful on road - so we’ve taken this opportunity to spend some quality time in the new Touring.
We found there is a bit more to this tailgated version than is at first obvious; it's perhaps more a niche lifestyle model than 'just another' conventional wagon.
So, do you compromise on dynamics and style to choose the wagon over the sedan? We put that idea to the test.
INTERIOR | RATING: 4/5
Quality: To these eyes, it's a bit dull inside but there’s no denying that this interior is very well executed. It’s better than the car it succeeds which was no down-market crash-pad.
The leather that comes with the M Sport pack is good quality and the steering wheel in particular looks and feels great.
Comfort: Four people will be very comfortable in the Touring, with a little more headroom in the back over the sedan. A fifth passenger will tolerate short trips, but will need to be smaller to enjoy a longer ride - the transmission tunnel is quite pronounced.
Front seat passengers get the M Sport seats, which are much better at holding you in and more comfortable than the flat-bottomed seats of the standard 320i.
Equipment: Dual-zone climate control, electric tailgate, keyless start, 6.5-inch screen, leather steering wheel with paddle shift, stereo with bluetooth and standard USB, rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, electric front seats with driver’s seat memory.