BMW 3 Series Touring 330d xDrive 2019 UK first drive

The G20-generation BMW 3 Series Touring’s arrival in the UK coincides with our collective love for estate cars taking something of a dive, while demand for high-riding SUVs continues to skyrocket. Yet BMW expects it to quickly account for one in every four 3 Series models sold.

That should come as little surprise; the Touring remains the de facto choice for those who demand driver engagement as well as extended boot space. It does, after all, share its chassis with our current favourite compact saloon.

Mechanical differences largely boil down to stiffer anti-roll bars and a softened front suspension setup to account for heavier loads over the rear axle, while the 3.0-litre diesel engine found in this 330d xDrive variant is now the entry-level six-cylinder unit, with the petrol-powered 330i having made the switch to a four-pot.

This top-spec M Sport Plus Edition car rides on 19in alloy wheels, rather than the 18in set fitted to the standard M Sport model we tested on the continent earlier this year. It also gets adaptive suspension, upgraded brakes, variable sport steering and an active differential, making it the most advanced trim level going - at least until the arrival later this year of the M340i, which is as close to an M3 Touring as we'll get.

The 3 Series Touring offers a largely familiar driving experience to the 3 Series saloon, with only slight differences in handling that are noticed most prominently in the corners.

While the Touring grips and steers very well, it still lacks a little of the precision and directness that we know its platform to be capable of. Even so, it can still claim to be one of the most dynamic estate cars around, having made the smallest of compromises to accommodate a larger load space.

Longer, taller and wider than its predecessor, it has made small gains in seats-raised stowage. A capacity of 500 litres means the Volvo V60 will swallow slightly more, but with the rear seats folded, 1510 litres is bettered only by the Skoda Superb Estate. A wider tailgate and a low lip make for easier loading, the rear bench can be folded electrically for added convenience and the two-part opening makes a return. A tiny button hidden under the rear wiper pops the tailgate window for quicker access, but it's so well hidden that you might forget the feature exists at all.

Rear passengers are well catered for, too, with ample head and leg room for a pair of six-footers regardless of whether the optional sunroof is installed or not.