BMW 3 Series Touring (2019-present): dimensions and boot space

If you are a keen driver but need a little bit of extra luggage space, plus room for the family, the BMW 3 Series Touring will be a very tempting prospect for you, especially as the lure of a desirable badge brings an extra dash of upmarket sparkle to the mix.

This version of the BMW 3 Series Touring - with 'Touring' being the name the brand uses to label its estate cars - was launched in 2019, and sticks to BMW’s established recipe, in that it is a car that effortlessly balances driving fun, everyday flexibility and commuting ability.

It also updates the formula with modern mild hybrid technology and even a plug-in hybrid model, which allows you to travel without using the car’s petrol engine for a distance of around 30 miles from a full charge. It’s the first time that this sort of technology has been available on a 3 Series with an estate car body style.

There’s also high-tech safety equipment, including standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB), optional adaptive cruise control (which can help you accelerate, brake and even steer) and adaptive suspension on some of the highest-spec models, which can provide a sportier or more comfortable feel.

In terms of engines, there’s a broad variety of options, from the petrol-electric plug-in hybrid 330e to the fearsomely fast six-cylinder petrol M340i and the amazingly fuel-efficient 318d and 320d diesel models.

Your choice when it comes to trim levels is a little more limited, with SE, Sport and M Sport being the only options. Even entry-level cars are well-equipped, however, so this isn't an issue.

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BMW 3 Series Touring dimensions

The BMW 3 Series Touring isn’t exactly a small car. In fact, at 4709mm in length, it’s significantly longer than a family hatchback such as a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf (to the tune of around 300mm), despite sometimes being described as a ‘compact executive’ car. In terms of width it’s 1.8m wide and it measures 1.4m tall from the ground to the top of the roof.

Those are basically the same dimensions as its main rivals, making it a relatively large vehicle. However, parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard equipment on even the most basic models, mitigating the effects of the car’s bulk and making manoeuvring in tight parking spaces a simple affair.

There’s also plenty of space inside both front and back - and the 3 Series does in fact have the measure of its rivals in this respect. All in all, for its size it's a decently practical and easy to drive vehicle.

BMW 3 Series Touring boot space

You’ll find 500 litres of boot space in the rear of the BMW 3 Series Touring. That’s only 20 litres more than in the saloon version of the 3 Series, but the estate car body style and the hatchback style tailgate mean the Touring is a much more flexible and practical proposition when it comes to fitting in luggage and ease of access to the boot. Fold the rear seats down and you can squeeze 1,500 litres of stuff in, too.

If you choose the 330e plug-in hybrid version, you’ll lose 80 litres of boot space, but other than that, the 3 Series Touring is comfortably on par with its rivals for boot space.

The Mercedes C-Class Estate is a little less generous with just 490 litres on offer unless you can find the budget for the redesigned 2022 model, and the Audi A4 Avant is identical in boot terms.

Leading the pack is the Volvo V60, which offers 529 litres of space. Step beyond premium brands, though, and you’ll be able to find even more boot space: the Volkswagen Passat Estate can muster 650 litres, and the Skoda Superb Estate will give you 660 litres. Both of these are notably more practical options, with good access to the boot, plenty of load volume and impressive passenger space.

BMW 3 Series Touring towing capacity

The towing capacity of the 3 Series Touring depends on which engine it has. The entry-level petrol 318i, for example, can only tow up to 1,300kg - which isn't much for this type of car - while other, more powerful models can pull loads of up to 1,800kg, which is a pretty strong figure.

In addition, the higher-powered diesel models are also fairly heavy, and this makes them more stable to tow heavy loads with. What’s more, if you opt for one of the four-wheel-drive models - badged xDrive - their extra traction makes them ideal for pulling trailers or caravan off soggy, muddy fields or pitches.

BMW 3 Series Touring weight

When it comes to how heavy a car is, the key measure is its kerb weight. This takes into account a full tank of fuel, the other fluids in the engine (such as gearbox oil and engine oil) and a 75kg extra to account for the approximate weight of a driver.

For the BMW 3 Series Touring, this can vary between 1,645kg and 1,965kg, depending on engine, specification and whether or not it has four-wheel-drive, which adds to the weight. The lower end of the scale is relatively typical for this type of car, while models nearing 2,000kg are pretty weighty compared with most cars of this size.