Introduction
While Audi has made estate car variants of its RS4 and Mercedes has done the same with its C63, BMW has been remarkably reluctant to create a wagon version of its fantastic M3. It’s something performance car fans have been asking for for a long time.
But decades later BMW has finally given in, and now there’s this – the new, and first-ever M3 Touring. Blending the best bits of the M3 and regular 3 Series Touring in one package, it aims to offer the perfect blend of performance and practicality.
That’s why you’ve got a mighty 3.0-litre petrol engine under the bonnet, as well as a useful 500-litre boot, extendable to 1,510 litres with the rear seats folded. But does this car live up to the expectation placed on it? Let’s find out.
Performance
Under the bonnet of the Touring you’ll find the same 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, as what you find in the standard M3 saloon. However, unlike that car, this estate model is supplied only with four-wheel-drive, rather than the usual rear-wheel-drive configuration which is available as an option on the saloon.
Putting out 503bhp and 650Nm of torque, the M3 is able to accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds before heading on to a top speed of 174mph. Running costs likely aren’t so important, but just in case, BMW claims up to 28mpg, with CO2 emissions of 231g/km.
Ride and handling
It’s an especially high compliment to say that this Touring drives almost identically to the regular M3, and by that we mean it’s sensational. It might be around 85kg heavier than the saloon, but it feels no less capable or enjoyable to drive. The extra traction of the xDrive system is most certainly welcome and means you can unlock all that performance with no notice required.
But when you’re not ‘on it’, the M3 Touring settles down in a remarkable fashion. It’s very refined and smooth on the motorway, and though the low-speed ride is a touch fidgety, and not ideal around town, the problem is quickly ironed out as you gain speed.
Interior
BMW interiors are some of the most impressive around, and the M3 Touring is most certainly no exception to that rule. It adopts BMW’s latest ‘Curved Display’ interior layout, including a large main touchscreen and digital display, and it really helps to lift the cabin.
Throughout, the quality and fit and finish is superb, though as you would hope for a car pushing £80,000 even without options. But where the M3 Touring really impresses is its spaciousness. Having an M3 with this much room on offer feels like a real novelty, and the ability to use this performance car as a family car, or for carrying a dog around, is a real delight.
Equipment
Unsurprisingly for a top-end BMW, the M3 Touring is most certainly not lacking on the equipment front. There are staggered alloy wheels, measuring 19 inches at the front and 20 at the rear, as well as leather-trimmed sports seats and electric boot.
Other highlights include the aforementioned Curved Display, as well as a head-up display, adaptive M suspension and wireless smartphone charging.
Despite the generous specification, there are still plenty of optional extras that can be configured. Boxes you might want to consider include the M Carbon bucket seats and BMW’s Laser headlights.
Cost
Prices for the BMW M3 Touring kick off from £86,365, around £5,000 more than a standard saloon model. The price is quite punchy compared to Audi’s RS4 Avant, which is available for under £70,000, but is expected to cost similar to Mercedes’ upcoming hybrid C63.
As we’ve mentioned, it’s worth being quite careful when it comes to options, as it’s very easy for the price of the M3 Touring to start jumping upwards and get very close to £100,000.
Verdict
Living up to expectations is always a difficult thing, but BMW has managed just that with its M3 Touring. It’s every bit as good as we hoped, with its blend of practicality and performance and able to open up this BMW M model to a wider audience.
The level of engagement offered, combined with everyday usability, is nothing short of incredible. Add that to its fierce performance and stunning interior and this is easily one of the best performance cars to come so far in 2023.
Enquire on a new BMW M3 Touring