BMW 3 Series Touring 320d ES 5dr Car Review - February 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £27,845
Tax Band: D
Insurance Group: 29
MPG: 58.9
CO2: 128
0-62 Mph: 7.7 secs
BHP: 184 BHP
Range: 790 miles
CarSite Verdict:  3.75/5
The 3-Series is deemed one of the select range of prestige cars in the junior edition department. Its handling is a pleasure and its styling a delight. It is pricier than its Jaguar and Audi rivals but the BMW’s popularity is assurance than its resale value will be high.

PROS:  BMW’s 3-Series Touring 320 d ES offers a brilliant drive. It has an impressive engine that affords a smooth yet powerful ride. It has a stylish image which is contemporary and practical and definitely not lacking in the luxury department.

CONS:  The 3-Series Touring is several thousand pounds more expensive that its rival brands. Though the cabin is generally spacious, the rear headroom is quite limiting. More-than-average height passengers would not be too happy stooping. Though an option, the iDrive system is not really practical to use.

Behind the Wheel

The 3-Seriess Touring is BMW’s input to the large family car market. The 4-cylinder, 16-valve, 6-gear manual transmission estate car is a top choice amongst car critics. Its mpg is 58.9 which points out that this car is a good choice for driving about town. It’s a fast car for country driving as it reaches 62mph from a standstill in 7.7s and hits a top speed of 145mph.The 1995cc engine produces 184 bhp at 4000 rpm and delivers 280 lb-ft at 1900-2750 torque.

The 3-Series is a sharp drive. Its body control and stubborn grip on corners gives it an edge over rivals. The precise steering makes this car easy to handle. The suspension is a bit firm and this translates to a slightly course ride when in low-speed. Driving around town will not be as smooth when driving on the motorway, but the 3-Series Touring is a great choice for long drives. The refinement when cruising down the motorway is exceptional.

Looks & Equipment

The 3-Series Touring 320d ES is an entry level model. It is a 5-seater rear-wheel drive with an interior that is posh but not on par with the Audi A4. However, the cockpit is well-built and well laid-out as it affords a perfect fit for drivers of all sizes and shapes. The controls and knobs are simply laid out and easy to read. The standard buttons are replaced by the tricky iDrive system when opting for a sat nav.

The entry level ES version is fitted with standards such as air-conditioning, electric windows, CD-player, 16-inch alloy wheels, split-fold seats and other standard safety kits. Cruise control and rear parking sensors are available for upgrades, as are an electric panoramic sunroof and climate control. Upgrades are nice but costly. Opting for leather seats alone is a whopping £1,265. Switching to automatic transmission cost £1,525.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The BMW 3-Series Touring is a 5-door, 5-seater estate car. The front seats are very supportive but not hard and the rear seats have enough legroom for passengers. The new generation 3-Series Touring has definitely improved as the cabin has more room and the noise level, even for a diesel engine, has decreased. Boot space is oddly-shaped and offers less storage space of 460 litres, but could increase to 1,395 litres when all the rear seats are folded. The under-floor storage is supported by the absence of a spare wheel. In case of a puncture, this car has the run-flat-tire system.

Car security is assured as the 3-Series has all the necessary and usual immobilizer and remoter central locking system to hinder thieves. A tracker system is also an option and this feature is desirable. Safety is a prime consideration of BMW. Inclusive safety kits are stability aids, traction of selection, anti-lock brakes and Isofix mounting points for child seats.

The Euro NCAP Occupant rating is a perfect 5; child rating is 4/5 and pedestrian rating is 1/5. Its CO2 emission rating is 128g/Km. Warranty provided is unlimited mileage in 3 years.

Value for Money

The 3-Series Touring 320d ES is quite expensive at £27,760. However with an mpg of 53.3 this car is fuel-efficient and has a lower running cost than its competitors. Its insurance group is 29 and Road Tax Band is D. The 320d Touring variant is best in terms of savings in fuel and running costs.

Typical insurance for the Touring 320d ES is less than £800. A servicing cost of about £820 is expected. Previous 3-Series variants got high scores in reliability surveys. This model will definitely fare just as well, too. The resale value of a diesel 3-Series Touring is quite impressive but not as high as a Mercedes’. Nevertheless, a 320d with BMW’s Efficient Dynamic Scheme is sure to fetch a handsome price.

BMW 3 Series Touring 320d ES 5dr Car Review - by 
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Large Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Large Family cars that you can then compare to the BMW 3 Series. Here are some popular BMW 3 Series alternatives:

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