Want a BMW 3 series wagon but find the M3 Touring a little too rowdy for your liking? Well, you’d be glad to know that the BMW 330i Touring is also available for sale in Singapore.

It trades the former’s S58 3.0 litre inline-six power plant for a B48 2.0 litre four banger. As such, power is also down from the M3, with the 330i outputting 242 bhp versus its M sibling’s 503 bhp.

But this is a classic case of less being more, as having a lower power output actually works in favour of the G21’s chassis.

No Enlarged Kidney Grilles

There’s also another reason to buy a 330i Touring over an M3 Touring. If you are not a fan of the enlarged kidney grilles fitted to newer BMW models, you’d be glad to know that the Bavarians have not equipped this car with said grilles.

The front end looks more conventional, and is likely to appeal to a wider audience. All of the swage lines work cohesively with one another, and the svelte rear quarters actually fits the rest of the design better than the flared ones on the M3.

All locally delivered 330i Touring models will come fitted with the M Sport kit. And no, you are not able to purchase a 330i in any other bodystyle but as a Touring.

A Well-Sorted Cabin

The 330i Touring has all of your usual BMW mod cons fitted to it. Though that isn’t unexpected, considering this car is almost $400,000 (at the time of publishing). It comes with BMW’s iDrive8, which consists of a 12.3 inch digital display, and a 14.9 inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Both are housed in a singular curved glass housing.

Three different themes can be set on the former depending on the driving mode. The latter comes fully-equipped with all the tools you need for a seamless experience (think wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay). Climate settings are also accessible via the touchscreen only, though hotkeys make it less hassle than it could have been.

On the inside, I found sufficient head and knee room even in the second row. The Sensatec material used to trim the cabin feels supple, and is certainly premium-feeling. Front occupants are treated to a pair of seats that strike a good balance between offering comfort and support. 

The Drive

This is perhaps the performance underdog of the 3 and 4-er lineup. Don’t get me wrong – the M3 Touring is superior on a performance front in every metric. But then you’d expect that, seeing that it comes with the fabled ‘M’ badge.

And the B58-equipped M340i would probably also run rings around the 330i Touring too. But again, with an already-legendary engine under the bonnet, having a degree of potency on the move is to be expected.

So you wouldn’t expect an innocuously badged BMW wagon to be as competent as the 330i is. The four-banger has sufficient power and torque, and you can actually use most of the revs all of the time without fear of going vastly over the posted speed limit.

Without AWD, the 330i Touring feels lighter on its nose too. This also positively affects its steering feel, which is more natural and responsive than in the M3 Touring. Despite it having skinnier tyres than its M3 brethren, it still feels agile and I never once felt like the tyres or the chassis lacked any sort of traction. And whilst it doesn’t have the rowdy burble of its inline-six stablemate, the 2.0 litre engine can hold its own in a sound-off too.

Truly The Wagon for Everyone

It is fast and fun enough to satisfy the desires of the car guy, whilst being economical enough that it wouldn’t put a massive strain on your finances. Space inside is great even for a family of four, and the wagon form factor adds some additional practicality too.

Car enthusiasts will also appreciate the shooting brake aesthetic, and the subtle touches such as the openable glass hatch for even greater levels of accessibility. Looks and feels good, and doesn’t cost you a ridiculous amount of money to keep on the roads – if you are looking for a wagon, this is one car that you should seriously shortlist!

You May Be Interested In: 2023 BMW 216i Active Tourer – A Worthy Bavarian