2001 BMW 325i Sport Wagon

Anyone interested in cars and fortunate enough to have traveled in Europe knows all the interesting models you see over there that never make it to U.S. shores. I remember about twelve years ago seeing a nifty little BMW station wagon based on the 3-series and thinking what a great addition it would be to the American lineup. BMW obviously thought otherwise, because here we are, more than a decade later, seeing it arrive. Of course, their automotive analysts have a far better grasp of what America wants than I. Now that the market for small station wagons has doubled here in the last five years, they figured the water was safe for wading. Duh.

But we don’t dare call them station wagons. Oh, no. We call them “Avant” or “Protégé 5” or even “PT Cruiser.” BMW chooses the moniker “sport wagon” for this 3-series. At least the name makes sense.

I recently spent a week with 325i sport wagon. Like the 2001 3-series sedan, the sport wagon benefits from a newly tuned 2.5-liter engine. The wagon also comes in an all-wheel-drive model, the 325xi, which I’ve not yet driven.

The Good News
BMW makes it very clear that sport wagons are not things you buy to haul your remodeling project home from the hardware store. They are things you buy because you want a little more cargo flexibility and, most importantly, a great time behind the wheel. The 325i sport wagon fulfills this job description easily. The new 2.5-liter twin cam 24-valve inline six-cylinder engine increases horsepower to 184 horses over the previous 170. It comes with a capable new five-speed automatic transmission, if you’re willing to part with an extra $1,275.

It also comes standard with larger brakes, ventilated front and rear, and BMW’s myriad other safety features.

The lure of this sport wagon is that it rides, responds and dispenses joy like a 3-series sedan. Although not overly quick (figure 0-60 in a little under 8.0 with automatic), it still feels willing underfoot. Moreover, the handling remains pure BMW.

The driver, even an enthusiastic one, gives up a minimum for a little extra cargo room here. It eats up the back roads with the best of them and shuts out the highway with equal aplomb.

Not even looks get sacrificed. The jet black wagon I tested with sand leather interior was a beauty.

The Bad News
While I appreciate what the BMW sport wagon can do, I’m leery of what it can’t. I still believe people look at wagons – however sporty and small – for some utility. Twenty-six cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seat up is paltry compared to 34 for a Subuaru Outback or 36 for a VW Passat. I put my golden retriever back there and she could hardly turn around.

With rear seat folded completely (it also does a one-third/two-third split), that figure becomes 48 cubic feet, which fares even worse compared to the Outback’s 69 cubic feet and the Audi Avant’s 64.

In BMW’s defense, they did favor back seat legroom over cargo space. Depending on your needs, that might be a good thing.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 19 mpg city/27 highway

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $29,400;
Price as tested, $37,895

Is it worth it?
Running up the price on my sport wagon was leather interior ($1,450) and a $1,500 sport package that added sport suspension, leather steering wheel, alloy wheels, adjustable sport seat and foglights. Then there was a “Premium Package” that included cruise control, moonroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Myrtle wood trim, electric seats, climate control, on-board computer and a few other convenience extras. The AM/FM CD player added another $200, and the automatic, $1,275.

As much as I love the driving experience of this BMW, I’m haunted by this 325i sport wagon’s less practical points. Sure, it would be a blast to drive to the beach, but where would you put all the gear?

Then there is price. The many packages added to my test vehicle tell me that the $29,400 base price doesn’t buy you much, other than a fabulously engineered car. Other small wagons costing less come with more luxuries standard -- and more room.

Americans may be buying more small sporty wagons these days; I’m just not sure what this sport wagon has to offer is the reason why.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville’s daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.