CAR OF THE WEEK

BMW 320i M Sport Touring: A Modern Classic for Every Journey

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The BMW 3 Series Touring has long embodied the balance between sporty performance, everyday practicality, and refined design — a combination that has kept it at the heart of automotive culture for decades. Far from being just another estate car, the 3 Series Touring has become a versatile statement piece in contemporary life: from weekend escapes and family errands to city commutes and professional travel, it reflects how people live, work, and play today. Its blend of form and function mirrors society’s expectation that high-end vehicles must be both aspirational and adaptable.

The 2024 BMW 3 Series 320i M Sport Touring 5dr Step Auto continues that ethos with a suite of features that elevate the driving experience — while nodding to BMW’s design heritage and future direction.

1. Curved Widescreen Display & iDrive 8.5: The Digital Command Centre

At the centre of this Touring’s cabin is a striking widescreen digital cockpit, combining a 12.3-inch driver display and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen powered by BMW’s Operating System 8.5. Together they form a seamless digital interface that feels closer to the smartphone and tablet experiences drivers use every day — complete with touch control, natural voice interaction and customizable widgets that bring navigation, media, vehicle data and climate functions into a unified, intuitive space. This display setup is part of BMW’s modern Live Cockpit Plus philosophy, marrying connectivity with simplicity.

In a world where constant connectivity has become second nature, the widescreen cockpit acts as both an information hub and an interface that respects motorists’ expectations of digital responsiveness and ease.

2. Practical Touring Versatility: Space Meets Comfort

The Touring body style is a defining feature of this variation of the 3 Series. It offers generous 500 litres of luggage space with rear seats up — easily expanding with the 40:20:40 split folding seats — making it ideal for holidays, urban living, and active lifestyles.

From long hauls with gear in tow to weekly shopping runs, this space and flexibility reflect how modern drivers increasingly value utility without compromising style.

3. M Sport Dynamics: Performance with Everyday Usability

The M Sport specification adds agile character to the 320i’s driving dynamics. With its TwinPower Turbo petrol engine producing around 184 hp and an 8-speed automatic transmission, this Touring blends brisk performance with everyday efficiency and confidence on the road.

Whether navigating fast-paced city streets or cruising country roads, the car’s responsive handling embodies BMW’s longstanding reputation for driving engagement — and shifts that identity into a versatile lifestyle car.

4. Safety & Assistance for Modern Driving Confidence

Modern motoring places high value on safety and convenience. The 320i M Sport Touring includes active driver assistance systems like parking sensors and the parking assistant, as well as three-zone automatic climate control, ensuring comfort and assurance in busy traffic or relaxed journeys alike.

These systems speak directly to the expectations of today’s car buyers: confident mobility with guardrails that help mitigate everyday stress.

5. Style & Everyday Elegance

Externally, M Sport bodywork, dynamic lines, and 19-inch alloy wheels give this Touring a purposeful yet upscale look. Internally, features like heated front sport seats, ergonomic design, and refined trim treatments ensure that everyday use feels premium rather than purely functional.

Thoughtful details like this — combined with practical versatility — underscore how a modern premium vehicle must balance aesthetics with real-world usability.

Cultural & Lifestyle Positioning

The BMW 3 Series has long been more than a car; it’s a cultural touchpoint. It’s featured in films, been celebrated in automotive media, and shown up in countless personal journeys as a symbol of achievement, freedom, and dependable performance. Today’s Touring carries that legacy forward by appealing to drivers who want connected tech, intelligent design, and adaptable utility without losing any driving pleasure.

Behind the Design: A Visionary Team

At the heart of BMW’s design language is Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design, who shapes the brand’s aesthetic direction and leads a global team of designers focused on blending tradition with modern digital sensibilities. His work emphasises the importance of creating vehicles that are both emotionally engaging and technologically forward-looking, an ethos evident in the 3 Series Touring’s evolution.

The 2024 BMW 3 Series 320i M Sport Touring isn’t just a station wagon — it’s a multifaceted tool for contemporary life: a mobile digital hub, a practical everyday companion, and a statement of how premium vehicles fit into the rhythm of 21st-century lifestyles.

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