| Road Test BMW 320d SE Touring |
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Best Of The Early Models
The details of this new estate range were covered by Alan Douglas in his launch report, but here's a quick rundown. While the 3-Series Touring may be marginally lighter than the model it replaces (though with a 25% stiffer bodyshell), it is also significantly larger. This has allowed BMW to increase the amount of room available both for rear passengers - a point of criticism with the previous Touring - and for luggage. Cargo volume is now 460 litres with the 60/40 split rear seats in place, 1385 litres with them down.
If you do the latter, and have pulled the retractable luggage cover into place, the cover springs out of the way ("using technology carried over from Ronnie Barker's cash till in Open All Hours", as BMW explains in a rare piece of whimsy). If you open the whole tailgate, it doesn't, so you can load the compartment from behind rather than above unless you want to remove the cover manually. All very neat and useful. Fastening straps, lashing points, a 12v power socket, a range of storage nets and a reversible floor (carpet on one side, washable plastic on the other) are also supplied as part of the basic package. A Luggage Compartment package, which includes a variable-partition system in the spare wheel well, is a £160 option. |
In addition, the Touring has a lot of standard equipment designed to make it function more effectively as an estate car. Following the example of rival manufacturers, BMW has arranged for the tailgate to open in two ways; you can lift the whole assembly, or just the window section.
