Reviews

On the autobahns in Germany, the view ahead is visually quite different from the United States. Apart from the speeds, we notice few SUVs. Instead, there is a large preponderance of station wagons. In a country where handling and high performance are cherished over a high ride-height and (perceived) toughness, this is not surprising — Germans get their utility in station wagons.

SUVs and minivans might have replaced the ubiquitous station wagon in the U.S., but there is something of a revival in their sales on these shores in no small part due to the excellent station wagons from European manufacturers. Volvo, more than any company, led the way in the past decade with station wagons that performed as well or better than their sedan counterparts.

Although BMW has sold a station wagon variant of the 5-Series in the United States for several years, it has not been a serious player in this field compared to Volvo, Audi or Mercedes-Benz. In Europe, BMW has gotten serious about station wagons as it has just announced the newest version of the 3-Series touring, which will appear in the U.S. next spring. It’s the third model in the newest 3-Series lineup and is being introduced ahead of the convertible, showing BMW’s confidence in the growing segment.

When it goes on sale in the U.S., it will be called the 323i sport wagon, rather than touring. BMW believes this name appeals to Americans more than touring. From the B-pillar forward the sport wagon is identical to the 323i sedan and coupe. Although Europeans get a wider variety of engines than U.S. buyers do, the 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine in the 323i is the only one to be offered in the States. The sport wagon will not be available with the 2.8-liter engine in the U.S., although it is in Europe.

Confused? Yes, we were too when we drove the 328i touring in Germany recently. There was no 323i available, as it was too far in advance of the launch of the U.S. version. However, driving the 328i convinced us that the sport wagon version of the 323i should appeal to BMW drivers who need the utility of a station wagon. The newest model offers a small increase in interior space compared to the previous 3-Series wagon, which was not sold in the United States.

Believe it or not, the new wagon is actually slightly lower in height than the regular sedan and its longer roofline gives it a sleek look. The wagon was designed to be stylistically part of the family from the start of designing the new 3-Series, not just some extra sheet metal tacked on top of the sedan version like some station wagons. For example, the rear spoiler and CHMSL are fully integrated into the rear tailgate. The glass portion can be opened separately from the door itself, which is useful for loading small packages and groceries.

BMW took the opportunity to increase rear-seat legroom while designing the wagon so there is actually slightly less cargo space, with the back seat in place, than in the sedan. However, with the back seats folded down, the space grows substantially. Naturally, the rear seat can be split 60/40 to offer a variety of cargo-carrying choices. What’s more, the headrests do not have to be removed, and the seat cushions remain in place when the back is folded down. There is a substantial roll-out cover that hides contents in the cargo area. It can also be removed as a unit when the seats are folded down for maximum cargo-carrying capacity.

The rear suspension has been beefed up to cope with the extra cargo-carrying capacity, and in Europe the car is rated as a good towing vehicle. In the U.S., BMW tends to shy away from advertising the car’s capability as a towing vehicle, but a towing kit is available.

During our test drive, it was impossible to tell that one was driving a station wagon, either at 200 kph on the autobahn or at 100 kph on twisty roads in Bavaria. That, of course, is just what BMW wants to hear. Once again, the Bavarian engineers have proved that it is just a matter of chassis tuning to produce a wagon that goes and handles like a sedan or coupe. Perhaps the new 323i sport wagon should be called the "ultimate driving station wagon"?