BMW 3 Series Touring here in February from $58,900

BMW Australia has confirmed pricing for its new 3 Series Touring wagon line-up, with a pair of base petrol and diesel variants to go it alone for the first few months.

Both Touring models will hit local showrooms from February, precisely a year after the launch of the sedan version.

The entry 105kW/320Nm 318d diesel will kick off from $58,900 plus on-road costs – $2500 more than the equivalent sedan – while the better-specified 135kW/270Nm 320i petrol version will command a $5000 premium over the equivalent sedan and kick off from $62,600.

By comparison, the Mercedes-Benz C200 petrol Estate costs $60,600, with the diesel-engined C200 CDI an extra $1500.

The BMW’s other major rival – Audi’s recently facelifted A4 wagon – starts at $58,500 for the petrol and $60,900 for the diesel.

But the buck won’t stop there for BMW Down Under, as the company has confirmed at least one more powerful option will be available from mid-2013 – almost certainly featuring the familiar 180kW/350Nm 328i TwinPower turbo-petrol engine from the 3 Series sedan and other models including the larger 5 Series.

The company claims the new-generation 3 Series load-lugger will replicate the sedan’s sharp dynamics and will be more spacious, versatile, feature-packed and fuel efficient than its wagon predecessor.

BMW has historically sold just one 3 Series Touring wagon for every five sedans in Australia, but BMW Australia product communications manager Scott Croaker told GoAuto the company sensed an opportunity to promote the new version as a popular real-world SUV alternative.



“It seems the general public are more attuned to mid-sized or compact SUVs with perhaps the better perceived safety, but you do lose a bit with the driving dynamics and fuel efficiency,” he said.

“So we’re hoping a big focus with the new model is going to turn a little more attention to the wagon, as a real-world alternative, especially with its better fuel consumption.”

Like the sedan, all 3 Series Touring models have five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings, while official combined fuel consumption for the 318d is 4.7 litres per 100km.

The punchier petrol, meanwhile, uses an equally respectable 6.2L/100km on the combined cycle.

This is largely thanks to an array of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies including idle-stop, brake energy re-generation, plus a greener ECO PRO mode – and both come standard with eight-speed automatic transmissions.

Cargo space is claimed to be class-leading at 495 litres with the seats up, expanding to 1500L with the 40:20:40 folding rear bench down.

Standard on both variants will be an electric opening two-part tailgate.

Model for model the 3 Series Touring shares similar standard specifications with the sedan, with the 318d getting dual-zone climate control, cruise control with brake function, power-operated windows and exterior mirrors, automatic lights and rain sensing windscreen wipers, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and MP3/Auxiliary/USB inputs.

The 320i gets extras over and above the 318d including electric seat adjustment with memory, rear-view camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, front parking sensors, sports leather steering wheel and an interior lights package that provides additional reading, vanity and ambience lighting throughout the car.

Both variants are available with Luxury Line, Modern Line and Sport Line packages – all of which cost $3769 on the diesel and $3152 on the petrol – and the 320i is also available with the M Sport cosmetic kit.

, , , 2013 BMW 3 Series Touring pricing*, , , , , , , , , ,

318d	$58,900
320i	$62,600

*Plus on-road costs