I test-drove the wagon model "320i Touring," based on the BMW 3 Series. It preserved the 3 Series' sharp, precise driving feel, while the wagon's generous cargo space added practicality and a distinctive look.
A wagon is a vehicle with a roof extended horizontally all the way to the trunk. In recent years, it has drawn attention on the back of a leisure boom such as camping and car camping (car + lodging), but it still gets less notice in Korea than sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The test car was the BMW 320i Touring M Sport model.
Its exterior is longer and lower than the 3 Series sedan. Looking only at the front, it is hard to tell whether it is a sedan or a wagon, and you have to move to the side to see it is a different model. In fact, the two models share the same body length (4,715 mm), width (1,825 mm), and height (1,440 mm), with only the roofline extended.
The cabin is roomy, but the low seat position made getting in and out inconvenient. It was not noticeable in the first row, but the rear seats had ample headroom, creating an open feel. The trunk was deep and wide.
The trunk's base capacity is 500 liters (L), and it can be used up to 1,510 L with the second-row seats folded. Bulky items like golf bags, ski gear, and strollers should fit without trouble. The second row can be folded in three parts—left, center, and right. For long items, you can load them through the center seat.
The driving feel carried the 3 Series' signature dynamism, making it agile and sharp. Wagons are often said to feel dull and to let in more noise from the rear, but this vehicle maintained a smooth and quiet ride throughout.
The 320i Touring's 4-cylinder gasoline engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, and 48V mild hybrid (MHEV) system deliver a maximum output of 190 horsepower and peak torque of 31.6 kg·m. It accelerates from a standstill to 100 kph in 7.5 seconds, with a top speed of 230 kph.
However, when pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle sometimes lurched with a creaking sound. Official combined fuel economy is 11.9 km per liter, slightly below the sedan's 12.2 km/L. Over more than 500 km of city, rural, and highway driving, actual fuel economy came in at 14–15 km/L.
The BMW 320i Touring starts at 61.4 million won, pricier than the sedan (59 million won). By trim, the 320i Touring M Sport is 64.1 million won. For diesel rather than gasoline, the 320d Touring is 64.1 million won, and the 320d Touring M Sport starts at 67.9 million won.