A few weeks ago, we reviewed the 2016 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, the last 3 Series model to use the N20 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It’s also a sort of Unicorn in America, as so very few people buy wagons anymore. While wagons are all over European roads, Americans just don’t quite appreciate the charms of the sports wagon. A green Subaru Forester with “Coexist” stickers it? Sure, Americans love those. But actually performance oriented premium wagons? Nope, not a chance.
However, we’d like to argue that sporty wagons like the BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon are definitely worth buying and can be genuinely sporty. BMW seems to think so too, considering the fact that BMW gave our specific test car the M Sport Package and Track Handling Package.
In our latest video review, we talk about the charms of this specific wagon, whose many performance-oriented packages make it a fun-to-drive little wagon. While many enthusiasts complain about the current-gem 3 Series, the post-LCI (refresh in BMW speak) 3 Series is actually pretty good. It gets even better with the Track Handling Package, which adds variable steering, M Sport brakes, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and M Adaptive Suspension.
The Track Handling Package also comes with Orbit Grey wheels which, when paired with the M Sport Package, make the 328i Sports Wagon one of the best looking wagons on the road. Those pretty wheels are also wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires which make a world of a difference. Rather than the standard run-flats the 3 Series normally comes with, the Michelins are not only gripper and better performing, but they’re quieter and more comfortable. The Michelins alone are worth buying the Track Handling Package for.
With all of that combined, the 328i Sports Wagon is actually a fun little car to drive. It isn’t the sportiest car on the road or even the best handling car in its segment. But as an overall package, it’s a great little car, as it’s both fun-to-drive, comfortable and practical. It has tons of cargo space, seating for five and all-wheel drive for the winter. As far as all-around daily drivers go, it’s hard to find a better car than this.
