BMW 3 Series Touring 2019: design, price, specs and UK release

BMW’s 3 Series saloon has been a critical and commercial hit since launching earlier this year, so it was only a matter of time before an estate version would follow.

The new car, known as “Touring” by BMW, is based on the popular 3 Series saloon, albeit with a significantly larger boot and a different silhouette to its four-door counterpart.

According to Autocar, the German carmaker has focused on mirroring the “dynamic handling” characteristics of the saloon, giving the Touring a sportier edge over rivals such as the A4 Avant and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate.

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We’ll have to wait until the critics get behind the wheel later this year to see whether the Touring is as sporty as BMW says it is.

For now, though, here’s everything you need to know about the all-new 3 Series Touring:

Price and release

BMW has yet to announce a price list for the new Touring. However, Autocar expects the entry-level model to kick off at “under £30,000”, making the estate about £1,500 more expensive than the equivalent 3 Series saloon.

Sales are on course to begin in September, with deliveries taking place shortly after.

Design

The Touring is essentially a regular 3 Series with a “conventional estate rear end”, and the rest of the vehicle’s design being almost identical to its saloon sibling, notes Auto Express. It also seems that BMW hasn’t followed the industry trend of introducing a “rakish” design, where practicality is compromised in favour of a sleeker silhouette.

In fact, the new Touring should be significantly more practical than its predecessor. The rear window, for instance, is 20mm larger, giving better visibility, while boot space has been increased by five litres to a maximum capacity of 500 litres with the rear seats in place, the motoring magazine says. Dropping them brings that figure up to 1,500 litres.

Step inside and you’ll find the same interior layout as the 3 Series saloon. Buyers get an 8.8in touchscreen infotainment system as standard, which is upgraded to a 12.3in display on M Sport and M Sport Plus Edition cars.

Engines and performance

The motoring world may be falling out of love with diesel engines, but BMW hasn’t given up on the controversial fuel just yet.

Buyers can pick from three diesel engines. Entry-level 318d models are powered by a 148bhp turbocharged four-cylinder motor that has an average fuel economy of 65.7mpg, says CarBuyer. Above that sits the 320d, with a power output of 187bhp and a fuel economy of 64.2mpg in four-wheel-drive xDrive trim.

Range-topping 330d models are powered by a six-cylinder engine and can be specced only in xDrive form, the motoring site says. It boasts the fastest 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds, yet fuel economy drops to 52.3mpg.

There are also three petrol models to choose from. Base-spec 320i cars are powered by a 181bhp four-cylinder motor that offers an average fuel economy of 48.7mpg, notes Auto Express. Mid-range 330i models use the same motor, yet power increases to 254bhp, while the M340i xDrive can do 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds thanks to its turbocharged straight-six engine that produces 369bhp.

The third model in the range, a plug-in hybrid version badged 330e, has a combined power output of 252bhp and a fuel economy of approximately 122.8mpg, the magazine adds. However, BMW won’t be launching the electrified model until next summer.