THE world of the luxury estate, or tourer as this style is now frequenlty known, is getting bigger and tapping in on this lucrative market are German premium manufacturers who are going the extra mile to prove that their load luggers are the best in the business.
A case in point is BMW which is riding high on the interest shown in its latest luxury tourer the 530d.
Powered by a super-smooth 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel this model transforms the world of estates into pure indulgence rather than just driving.
The manufacturer has thrown a vast amount of technology into this model which is bigger and most definitely better than its predecessor with luggage capacity up by 60 litres to 560 litres with the rear seats up. Lie the seats flat and this figure increases to 1670 litres.
But the big secret of this car is the driving experience. Its stats are almost contradictory.
You get 155mph top speed with a 0-60mph sprint factor of only 6.2 seconds. Yet it will return a combined fuel economy of 44.8mpg - the sort of thing you expect from a hybrid – and CO2 emissions of 160g/km.
It came to the UK in September 2010 and is the fourth generation of Touring models in the 5 Series range.
The whole 5 Series Touring range offers a choice of two petrol cars, the 523i and 535i, and two diesel models, the 520d and 530d.
All four are packed with innovative technology, one such item on this 530d being a wide-screen sat nav that gives a spectacular satellite view of your route. It is almost like the old cinemascope experience and drives navigation technology into a new era.
The evolution of the luxury tourer started about 10 years ago when most estates were what it said on the tin.
Since then progress has been rapid and the latest raft of models on the market are just as enjoyable to drive as their saloon car stablemates.
BMW has certainly ensured that its model have always been up at the sharp end when style and driving qualities are concerned.
The latest 5 Series Touring has been designed to reflect its almost perfect 50:50 weight distribution with beautifully balanced proportions, short overhangs, a flowing roofline and a long, contoured bonnet. It is at once a sporting, dynamic and attractive car with intelligent versatility built in.
All models feature self-leveling air suspension at the rear to ensure that the Touring is unaffected when carrying heavy loads which is a vital aspect to consider when considering an estate.
Inside, the cabin features many of the sporting but luxurious quality and comfort features found in the BMW 7 Series. Inclined seven degrees towards the driver, the asymmetrically designed centre console ensures that all controls are comfortably within reach.
The multifunctional steering wheel has been simplified, putting all of the function keys in one hand and infotainment in the other.
The turbocharged engine of the 530d gives increased power of 245hp at 4,000rpm and with a peak torque of 540Nm from as low as 1,750rpm which is just what enthusiastic driver crave for.
The 530d is packed with technology such as brake energy regeneration, active aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres, electric power steering and lightweight engineering throughout the vehicle.
The option of BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission brings more of the luxury and refinement of the 7 Series to the new Touring range.
FAST FACTS
BMW 530d Touring
Price: £39,400
Mechanical: 245bhp, 2,993cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 6.4 seconds
Combined mpg: 44.8
Insurance group: 40
CO2 emissions: 169g/km
BIK rating: 24%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited miles