BMW has released its second 3 Series wagon in the E91 323i Touring, but the handsome German carry-all may cop it on two fronts – the engine is a detuned version of the excellent 2.5-litre straight six found in the 325i sedan (which seems a curious step – you would think BMW would add power to a heavier variant) and it lacks the brilliant diesel option just introduced in the 320d sedan. Nevertheless, if it is a proper premium station wagon you want, the 323i Touring obliges better than the on-paper outputs suggest.

BMW E46 320i Touring
Released: June 2002
Ended: June 2006
Family Tree: 3 SeriesIt seems amazing that Australians had to wait through two entire generations of 3 Series wagons (1980s E30 and 1990s E36) before we finally received the E46 Touring years after Europe did, during 2002. The result was the stylish but expensive 320i Touring, powered by a 125kW/210Nm 2.2-litre in-line six-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox. Sales were small, but the bijou BMW wagon did carve a large-enough niche for the Bavarians to return with an E91 edition.
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