BMW M3 Touring: The Ultimate Family Road Trip Car

BMW M3 Touring

In the domestic automotive market, vehicles labeled as touring or wagon often find themselves sidelined. This is largely due to the dominance of SUVs and crossovers, as well as the lack of a culture that embraces long-distance travel in comfortable sedans or spacious touring models like GTs, similar to what we see in Europe.

I found it quite puzzling why BMW Korea would introduce the M3 Touring model in a market often dubbed the “wagon graveyard.” However, a model from the past suddenly came to mind.

I recalled the BMW 320d Touring that I test drove ten years ago.

That F-body 3 Series Touring model enjoyed immense popularity, making it one of the most notable models in the history of the domestic wagon market. Perhaps BMW Korea is reminiscing about that era by introducing the M3 Touring.

In terms of performance, the M3 Touring leaves no room for doubt. Having previously experienced the spaciousness and comfort of the new M340i Touring, I can confidently say that its practicality has already been validated.

However, I had concerns about ride comfort. Can a car born from the M lineage truly be comfortable? The Touring model, with its ample cargo space, must provide enough comfort for long-distance travel, as that is the very definition of a touring car.

Thus, this test drive focused on whether the BMW M3 Touring model is suitable for long-distance travel. I had planned a two-day golf trip to the Golden Bay CC in Taean, followed by a visit to my parents' house for Parents' Day.

Combining highway and city driving, my route from my home in Pangyo to Taean and then Cheongju, and back to Pangyo spanned approximately 500 kilometers (about 310 miles). The total travel time was around 6 hours.

Despite being a high-performance model with 510 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds, the ability to utilize space generously is a remarkable advantage. I refuse to compromise on performance, but if you often carry a lot of gear and prefer not to drive a bulky SUV or a tall vehicle, the BMW M3 Touring offers a unique solution.

The second-row space offers slightly more legroom and headroom compared to the standard 3 Series and M3. However, since it is based on the M3, it still feels a bit cramped for four adults on a long journey.

Nonetheless, the second-row doors come with sunshades, and there are separate air vents along with C-type USB ports available.

If utilized as a family car, the M3 Touring suits a family of three with one child perfectly. Personally, I would recommend it for young couples who enjoy traveling.

The M3's orange seat color is appealing, but the real carbon trim, red engine start button, and M-specific gear lever add an undeniable flair.

The Touring model shares everything with the standard M3. It features the latest interior design with a floating-type digital instrument cluster and infotainment monitor, along with easily accessible buttons for various M modes around the gear shifter.

The M3's dynamic driving performance is customizable via the red M1 and M2 buttons, while the carbon shift paddles behind the steering wheel provide a shifting experience akin to a manual transmission.

Additionally, the standard 4WD xDrive mode ensures stable traction, but you can also switch to 2WD. You can finely tune aspects like engine output, suspension damping, steering sensitivity, and braking performance to suit your style, and this applies to the M3 Touring as well!

Using the paddle shifters in M mode is an enjoyable experience. Is there another model that delivers this sensation more distinctly than the M3?

I'll share a brief 15-second video to convey that feeling.

A fun fact I mentioned during my previous reviews of the BMW M3 and M4 is that the M3 provides the best stability and comfort among all M models at high speeds. Even when driving the more powerful M5 or M6, the firm chassis can surprisingly lead to discomfort, even in comfort mode.

However, the M3 Touring offers a level of comfort in comfort mode that rivals the standard 3 Series, which is worth remembering. This distinction between the basic M3 and the Touring model will be a crucial factor in your decision-making process.

Of course, the M-specific suspension is designed to handle over 500 horsepower, which means the basic chassis settings are firmer compared to the standard 3 Series or 3 Touring models. However, the slightly extended trunk space and the soft grip of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires undoubtedly contribute to improved ride comfort.

In conclusion regarding ride comfort, I would rate it positively. The M3, with over 500 horsepower and a maximum torque of 66.3 kg.m, manages to maintain a comfortable setup while delivering impressive performance, which deserves high praise.

No matter how high-performing a car is, if its exhaust note is thunderous yet the ride is uncomfortable and causes back pain, what does that mean? At least for someone in their mid-40s like myself, that’s a significant consideration. I recall not preferring such cars even in my 30s when I loved speed.

We’ve all experienced that before, right? Riding in a stiff car with no damping performance, feeling like we’re in a bumper car, and enjoying the lack of rolling and cornering prowess while secretly being uncomfortable.

When reviewing various new cars and high-performance vehicles, certain criteria emerge for what makes a good car, and a vehicle with uncomfortable ride quality cannot receive high marks.

A balanced ride quality and a suspension that effectively reads the road contribute to the ability to accelerate confidently. A 0-60 mph time in the 3-second range is merely a number. No matter how good the instantaneous acceleration is, if I feel it’s difficult to control or unstable, that high performance won’t be mine.

In this regard, I consider the BMW M3 to be the best model among high-performance cars in the 500-horsepower range. Regardless of brand or price, there’s no other model that offers such a comfortable and enjoyable experience with high power.

However, one point remains: the polarizing new kidney grille. Honestly, I’m still unsure if it’s attractive. Depending on the angle, it can look decent, and the black finish on this M3 Touring may have obscured some of those details.

It’s interesting that I find the massive grilles of the IX and XM to be quite beautiful, yet the front design of the M3 and M4, starting with the new 4 Series, seems to be polarizing, possibly due to the headlight design rather than the grille itself.

The black color does help it look somewhat better. Interestingly, when I posted a photo of the M3 Touring arriving at the golf course on my personal social media, many women commented on how pretty the front end looked. This reinforces the idea that design preferences are subjective.

I felt confident that the response to the M3 Touring would be positive.

Lastly, let me share a helpful tip regarding BMW’s semi-autonomous driving assistance features. This function is incredibly convenient on the highway, as it excels at lane and vehicle detection. However, the inconvenience lies in having to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times. Interestingly, simply resting my thigh against the wheel prevents the warning to grip the wheel from triggering, though of course, you should remain vigilant about the road ahead.

Thanks to this, my nearly 500-kilometer (about 310 miles) long-distance tour with the BMW M3 Touring was very comfortable. I hope that once Level 3 autonomous driving becomes available, they can upgrade the software to allow for hands-free driving!

This concludes my review.

Test vehicle provided by: BMW Korea

automotive market
BMW M3
consumer preferences
Touring
vehicle design

Go to the list