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