Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 328i Touring

Is the 2.0-litre turbo petrol the right engine choice for new BMW 3 Series estate? We find out...

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£5,448 off RRP*
Find your BMW 3 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The BMW 328i’s turbocharged petrol engine offers impressive speed and decent economy, while the Touring’s handling is just as composed as the saloon’s. A 1,500-litre boot (with the seats down) should swallow anything a family can throw at it, plus the car looks great in M Sport spec. The problem is that the refined and torquey diesels make more sense.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The current BMW 3 Series saloon has already proved to be a class leader, but does the new Touring estate retain the same driver appeal with its increased dimensions?

It’s noticeably bigger than the car it replaces, which translates to more cabin space and a 495-litre boot – that’s 35 litres bigger than its predecessor’s. The rear window opens separately to the electric bootlid – a useful feature if your hands are full of shopping, and standard on all Tourings.

Here, we’ve driven the 328i M Sport Touring, with a 242bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine – the only petrol available from launch. With a slick six-speed manual gearbox fitted, it’ll do 0-62mph in only six seconds and carry on to a limited top speed of 155mph. It’ll also return a respectable 43.5mpg and emits only 152g/km of CO2.

When it comes to straight-line speed, it shows the Audi A4 2.0 TFSI and Mercedes C250 CGI a clean pair of heels – and thanks to its rear-wheel-drive set-up, it handles beautifully, too. Even in Comfort mode, the 328i excels through corners, feeling tight and composed on the very roughest of backroads.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

3 Series

2022 BMW

3 Series

55,429 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £20,100
View 3 Series
3 Series

2022 BMW

3 Series

52,884 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £21,500
View 3 Series
3 Series

2020 BMW

3 Series

64,489 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £15,673
View 3 Series
3 Series

2020 BMW

3 Series

58,034 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £18,600
View 3 Series

The four-cylinder petrol engine has plenty of low-down power, but it feeds in gradually and you never feel pinned to your seat like the 0-62mph time would suggest. Plus, the noise from the exhausts is pretty restrained and not nearly as characterful as the six-cylinder 335i’s exciting engine note.

The M Sport additions include lowered suspension and 18-inch alloys. As with all M Sport BMWs, this 328i benefits from a unique body kit and high-gloss window trim, while inside there are all the usual M details and badges.

Equipment is generous but not lavish: you get leather, two-zone climate control and Bluetooth as standard, but have to pay extra for adaptive suspension, sat-nav and a reversing camera. And the cost of these options soon adds up – our test car featured more than £8,000 worth of extras on top of its £33,400 list price.

As a standalone product, the 328i Touring is fast and efficient family transport. The problem comes when you compare it to the highly efficient 320d or rapid 330d diesels. We’ve yet to drive the entry-level diesel in a Touring, but it works well in the saloon, offering a great blend of speed and efficiency for about £1,000 less than the turbocharged petrol.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

New & used car deals

BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series

RRP £31,915Avg. savings £5,448 off RRP*Used from £12,395
Mercedes C Class
Audi A4

Audi A4

RRP £32,725Used from £11,668
BMW 4 Series

BMW 4 Series

RRP £45,285Avg. savings £4,830 off RRP*Used from £16,532
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3…
News
16 Jul 2025
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025