If you have read this column with any regularity then you know my affection for wagons is quite limited. Those I have come to embrace, like the Audi or Dodge, win me over doing things wagons 'traditionally' don't do: look good and drive better.
Realistically, I had high hopes after getting my BMW 325xi Sport Wagon tester ($44,340) delivered. Firstly, it is a Bimmer, it had better drive great; secondly, it is a Bimmer, I know it will look great. By looking 'great' I mean sporty, yet exuding elegance and capability. And the 325xi Sport Wagon delivers the goods.
Wagons at this level are not so much about pure cubic foot storage as they are about nimble handling and sporty looks. Gratefully, the 325xi shares its athletic stance and exterior lines with its sibling sedan. That's a good thing. And while the sloping rear roofline chops off some interior storage, the trade off is well worth the aesthetic effects.
My tester had the optional 17-inch alloy rims, which helped boost the already-established sporty attitude. Part of the Sport Package ($1,200), the rims are packaged together with all-season tires, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and front sport seats which had great side bolsters built in. For the price, this package is as good a value as any.
Inside the 325xi you will find BMW quality at every turn. While you know you are in the 3-Series wagon, once inside you feel like you could be in the 5-Series. The quality of materials and attention to detail, while expected from a BMW, are rewarding to driver and passengers alike.
My tester had great placement of gauges and controls, something in the larger BMWs I have been critical of in the past. Maybe it's just the smaller interior, but everything seems to be an easy arms-length away.
Automatic climate control with separate left/right settings creates comfort throughout the cabin. Also adding to the enjoyment factor was a $1,200 upgrade on the standard CD/MP3 audio system. My upgrade included four additional speakers and satellite radio access.
Rear passengers will have comfortable seating with an option of 60/40 split-folding seating to add utility and additional storage convenience.
You can't review a Bimmer and not talk enthusiastically about performance and driveability. Afterall, that's what BMW does; it's what they hang their hat on at night. Understandably, a small sport wagon put in the same perspective as others in its class should stand up - and the sophisticated DOHC, inline 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder engine is capable and fun. Offering up 215 horsepower with BMWs Valvetronic variable valve-timing willingly chiming in, I found the 325xi easily up to snuff.
Remember: You are driving a wagon. The good thing is that you find yourself having to remind yourself of that. Another good thing. Another uptick would be fuel economy. My tester hit the factory guides on the nose: 20/27. Like automatic transmissions? Add another $1,275.
I have been a fan of the 3-Series sedan and it easily sets the bar for handling in this class, whether it be a sport wagon, or not. My tester delivered great balance in any condition. Whether remaining stable rolling out of a cloverleaf ramp onto the highway or just shooting in and out of local traffic, the 325xi is capable and confident no matter what you throw at it.
The "X" factor
The "x" in BMWs nomenclature denotes xDrive, or 4-wheel drive. Like many aspects of BMW products, the technology is sophisticated and downright affective. The xDrive system works by varying power to all wheels. When the sensors detect a need for more or less power the system works with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC-x) program, which includes traction control, and delivers the necessary adjustments.
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