FOR the best part of two decades, the BMW 3 Series Touring has been persuading an ever-growing army of enthusiasts to get behind the German marque's famous blue and white badge.
From the rather staid and tight-in-the-back debutant of 1988, BMW's compact executive estate car progressed steadily to the impressive Mark III model launched in 1999.
Bearing BMW's engineering number E46, the third generation 3-Series Touring offered more engine options than its predecessor, provided increased boot space and, to date, has graced more than 430,000 driveways worldwide.
The Bavarian car maker has now launched Mark IV, setting the stage for the Touring to benefit from the success of the recently well received new 3-Series saloon.
With sales of more than 2,000 anticipated over the rest of 2005, 2006 is expected to post a new record by beating the 8,274 units of 2003.
Two engines are offered - a four-cylinder two-litre 163bhp turbo diesel and six-cylinder 218bhp 2.5-litre petrol power. The range will be extended in October with the addition of a four-cylinder 150bhp two-litre and six-cylinder 258bhp three-litre petrol plus a six-cylinder three-litre 231bhp diesel.
The new BMW 3-Series Touring is available in ES, SE or M Sport trim levels and I have just put the 320d SE through its paces.
In a cabin housing plenty of "toys for the boys", the SE includes air conditioning, single-shot electric windows all round, powered door mirrors, a six-speaker sound system with single CD and steering wheel-mounted controls, on-board computer and cruise control.
In this era of safety conscious motoring, there are six airbags to help protect occupants in all parts of the car and ISOFIX child seat fittings in the rear, while the car also boasts a good security set-up.
Driver safety aids include ABS braking, a dynamic stability control (DSC) system with traction control to help keep drivers stable on winding roads, parking distance sensors at the back and run-flat tyres.
These are capable of running, when deflated, in complete safety for 150 miles at 50mph and are designed to make dangerous and inconvenient roadside tyre changes a thing of the past.
While perhaps not quite as generous in the storage department as some of its rivals, the 3-Series Touring does include a good-sized glovebox and convenient cubbyholes in the armrest between the front seats plus compartments in the front door panels.
The Touring is perhaps more of an extra versatile saloon than outright load lugger - the "kitchen sink" factor not being really applicable with all seats taken.
Despite some wheel arch intrusion in the cargo area it does offer 460-litres of carrying space - more than its saloon stablemate - and the 60/40 split rear seating folds to boost the cargo capacity to 1,385-litres, thanks to the absence of a spare wheel.
There is out-of-sight underfloor stowage available while the rear windscreen opens independently of the tailgate.
Inside there is plenty of room for taller adults in the front but, while shoulder and leg room in the rear is quite generous, the slope of the roofline may inhibit some taller occupants.
This car was fitted with BMW's i-Drive system, a £2,000-plus option which incorporates sound system, air con and satellite navigation control via a single knob and I found the operation of the menus on the dashboard screen excessively complicated and a little distracting.
Fire up the BMW 3-Series 320d Touring via the bladeless keyfob and stop/start button on the dash and its performance is absolutely fabulous.
With a smooth-shifting manual gear change, the Touring turns in a drive which compares well with the saloon.
The car loses nothing in its transition to estate car with 0-62mph coming in well under nine seconds, en route to a top speed of 138mph, while proving capable of just under 50mpg overall.
It's a true automotive athlete, proving supremely stable over all road surfaces with engine, wind and road noise nicely contained to provide a refined ride.
The 3-Series Touring is yet another fine effort from BMW and already it has been endorsed by industry expert Cap Monitor which is predicting that the entry level model will be worth 82 per cent of its original price after 12 months or 20,000 miles.
FAST FACTS
BMW 3-Series Touring 320d SE
Price: £25,905
Mechanical: 163bhp, 1,995cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving rear wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 138mph
0-62mph: 8.6 secs
Combined mpg: 47.9
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 158g/km
BiK rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage; 2yrs paint; 6yrs anti-rust