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2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon

Base MSRP: $37,150 to $39,150
Reviewed
August 2011
2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon

Premium station wagon

Pros
  • Unbeatable ride and handling combo
  • Engine is smooth
  • Premium cabin
  • Available all-wheel drive
Cons
  • Few storage compartments
  • Rear-seat headroom compromised
Where to Buy
 
 

All reviews that cover the BMW 3 Series praise it. Edmunds.com editors call it "one of the finest automobiles on the globe," so it should come as no surprise that the 3 Series Sports Wagon is the best premium station wagon available.

The only change in the 2011 3 Series Sports Wagon lineup is an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system. In general, BMWs are pricier than their competition and their options can be costly, but Edmunds says that no car can match the 3 Series' handling and comfort. For a detailed analysis of this model, see our full report on the 2009 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon (*Est. $36,025 to $37,925).

Available with rear- or all-wheel drive, all 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagons are powered by a 3-liter, 230-horsepower, inline six-cylinder mated to either a six-speed manual (standard) or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. In rear-drive trim, a Sports Wagon with the automatic achieves an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined; the manual subtracts one mpg from each figure. All-wheel drive models with the automatic manage an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway/20 mpg combined; the stick shift knocks off one mpg from the highway number.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awards the 2011 BMW 3 Series its best rating of Good for front- and side-impact tests, and an Average rating for roof-strength. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet crash tested the 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon, but it does give both rear- and all-wheel drive models a 4-star rating for rollover resistance.

Two-wheel drive 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagons begin at $37,150; all-wheel drive models at $39,150.
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Our Sources

1. Edmunds.com

The 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon remains almost completely unchanged for this model year, but it does receive an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system. Edmunds.com editors say this is among the best cars available today, period.

Review: 2011 BMW 3 Series Wagon, Editors of Edmunds.com

2. FuelEconomy.gov

This government website details estimated fuel-economy figures for both rear- and all-wheel drive 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon models. Rear-drive models fare as well as 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined and all-wheel drive models achieve 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway/20 mpg combined at their best.

Review: 2011 BMW 328i Sports Wagon, U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency

3. IIHS.org

The BMW 3 Series earns the highest rating of Good in frontal- and side-crash tests, but only an Average rating in roof-strength tests. Note that IIHS tests the sedan, but the results are valuable as the wagon is a variant of that model.

Review: BMW 3 Series, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

4. SaferCar.gov

Here you'll find crash-test scores for the BMW 3 series vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn't yet crash tested the 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon, but it does give both rear- and all-wheel drive models a 4-star rating for rollover resistance.

Review: 2011 BMW 328i SW AWD, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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