From the driver’s seat only the reflection in the rear-view mirror reminds you that this is an estate car. Despite the removal of the rear bulkhead, the Touring retains the saloon’s excellent road manners, in particular the suspension’s ability to cocoon the cabin and its occupants from a twisting, tumbling road surface.
Refinement, especially noise isolation, is such that the Touring disguises speed almost too well – frequent checks on the speedo are vital. However, around town and over broken surfaces the ride is less impressive, the run-flat tyres producing a gentle but constant fidget.
Nevertheless, the Touring remains the choice compact estate for keen drivers. BMW’s trademark equal weight distribution provides neutral handling, push harder and the soft springs allow more body roll before the safety net of understeer sets in. Disengage the traction control and the cornering line can be adjusted with the throttle.
Perhaps we’ve become spoilt by the immediate urge of modern turbo-diesels, but for all its free-revving smoothness the 215bhp petrol unit is a touch tardy below 3500rpm. Theres a gradual swell of pace before it finds its voice and revs with increasing urgency to the 7100rpm limiter.
Much like the chassis, the six-cylinder magnesium-alloy powerplant can conspire against the driver to disguise speed. Once the engine is on song, acceleration is so linear you sometimes don’t notice your pace: 60mph comes up in 7.3sec and third gear will dispatch each 20mph increment between 20 and 80mph in around five seconds.
The brakes are typical BMW: strong, progressive and capable of repeatedly stopping the car from high speed without complaint.
