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Overview
BMW's only wagon for the States comes in the form of the competent, practical, and stylish 3-series Sports Wagon. Act fast, though, as the 3-series wagon will disappear from the U.S. market after the 2019 model year.
Engines, Ride, and Handling
Only one engine is offered—a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 248 horsepower—and all-wheel drive is standard. We tested a 3-series Sports Wagon with this engine back in 2014 when it made just 240 horsepower, and it managed a zippy 5.8-second zero-to-60-mph time. We expect similar acceleration from today's crop of Sports Wagons despite the bump in output. The chassis is well balanced, and the trademark agility of the 3-series is present and accounted for here. Just don't expect to shift gears with a manual transmission; all Sports Wagons feature an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Interior and Technology
Inside you'll find a straightforward and well-built interior that may not live up to the standards of luxury-car buyers. We'll chalk this up to the fact that the 3-series wagon continues on the previous generation 3-series platform, aged interior and all, and doesn't share much with the all-new 3-series sedan. BMW has layered on lots of standard features, though: all 3-series wagons come with a panoramic sunroof, a power rear liftgate, ambient interior lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and front and rear parking sensors. BMW's iDrive infotainment system also comes standard, although it's displayed on a dinky 6.5-inch display unless you pay to upgrade to a larger screen with navigation, which we'd recommend. BMW offers automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning as standard, but more advanced driver-assistance features cost extra.
