BMW 320i Touring Sportline

After a significant swing by the car buying public away from station wagons to more high riding SUVs, the sedan based wagon seems to be on the road to a comeback.
Those wanting the load carrying space without sacrificing a "car like" feel to the vehicle, have a multitude of choices from almost all manufacturers, across most segments.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the 320i,Touring(Sportline) was how low slung it is.
Even though it's a wagon, the car has a truly sporting stance, with wheel arches hugging the large  225/45/18 inch wheels and tyres. (The standard fitment is 17s.)
And while the Touring is a utilitarian vehicle, its styling is supremely elegant.
It feels very solid on the road, and as you'd expect from BMW's meticulous build quality, wind and road noise are kept to a minimum.
When BMW began fitting its cars with stiff sidewalled "run flat" tyres across its range a few years ago, it raised the ire of many owners, who complained the tyres gave their car a harsh ride, (even on the 7 series.)
Happily the new generation of those tyres feels much more compliant, so much so you'd swear they were "regular "rubber. There is no spare tyre.
Helping to alleviate any lingering comfort concerns the 320i has electronically adjustable suspension. Sport stiffens everything up. and changes the engine mapping, ready for spirited driving. Select comfort, and that's just what you get.. a controlled, absorbing ride..
The eight speed transmission is a beaut. Shifts go by smoothly and unnoticed. The selector doesn't move much through its range, the lever returning to a central position each time drive/reverse is selected.
Push it sideways to the left, and you have sport automatic or manual shift.. the choice is yours, with steering wheel paddles as yet another shift option.
When stationary, Park is selected by pushing a button atop the shift lever. The handbrake is a traditional manual lever, not (as is becoming more common,) an electric park device.  
The i Drive selector system for car information, navigation and audio, is much more user friendly than when first introduced. The clarity of the sound system is well above average.
The steering is very direct, but not nervously so, the leather wrapped wheel has a good heft and feel about it, and the rim is just the right thickness for good control.
BMWs hallmark rear wheel drive, can be much appreciated when having fun on a winding road. The Touring handles enthusiastically, and sticks to corners with remarkable grip.
Feedback through the steering and chassis is exceptional.
BMW is renowned for its superb engines and this one is yet another example.
The Touring's marvellous 2 litre four cylinder turbo produces 135 Kw and a very acceptable 270 Nm of torque, more powerful than previous models.
The Touring is also fitted with fuel saving idle stop technology, turning the engine off when the car is stopped and restarting it automatically when the brake is released.
BMW has somehow magically given this engine (to my critical ear,)the exhaust note of a six cylinder! A nice mellow purr under acceleration, that adds to the car's overall sophistication. 
The Touring is no slouch off the line , reaching 100 from a standstill in seven and a half seconds.. more than acceptable for this type of vehicle. Fuel consumption around town, 9 litres per 100k.. the city/ highway average is said to be 6.2 litres.
At night the BMW is an illuminated showstopper.
There are downlights on each door handle and dazzlingly bright puddle lights beaming from every lower door  sill.
Inside, the display continues with footwell lights front and rear, and numerous overhead lamps.
While I have said in the past that I am not fond of red instrument lighting, the night time dials on this car were much clearer and easy to read than some. 
The leather clad seats are firm, but not uncomfortably so, and they hold you  in place well during tight cornering.
There's plenty of room in the rear cargo area, and more cubby holes for items beneath the rear floor. The Touring also has a flexible cargo barrier that emerges from the security blind roller, secured to hard points in the roof.
The car on test had the optional glass sun roof, which covers two thirds of the turret.
The front part opens, the rear is fixed.
That said, it does intrude into head space for taller occupants, especially in the rear.
The Touring has an electronically operated power tailgate, but there is no below the  bumper remote sensor activation. (like the Ford Kuga, and Volvo V40 for example. ) 
Unlike many other vehicles across all price ranges which now have remote entry and locking via touch sensors on the door handles, on this car the key fob buttons need to be pressed to open and lock the car. But the ignition is push button.
 While the market is for now skewed towards SUVs, there is still a place for a refined sedan based wagon like the BMW Touring.
This is one you should try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, and at around 63K is great prestige value as well. 
Peter Sellen