For me, the best daily drivers need to tick a few key boxes: handling, practicality, technology, and uniqueness. In many cases, the cars that meet these requirements the most tend to be station wagons. I’ve owned several; a VR6 Passat wagon, a Volkswagen Alltrack, and now an F30 BMW 330i Touring.
Before the BMW nerds comment, I realize the wagon is technically the F31. Unfortunately, in the United States, the wagon was only offered as a four-cylinder with all-wheel-drive; available in 328i (pre-facelift), 330i (LCI), or 328d diesel. Other markets where estates are more popular got the option of six-cylinder gas and diesel powertrains, which I would have certainly chosen if I could.
As is the trend with BMW’s naming system these days, the 328i and 330i were both 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines, with the 330i receiving the newer B46/B48 powerplant. In stock form, power and torque are 248 and 258, respectively. However, I installed a Bootmod3 ECU flash tune on mine, bringing those figures up to roughly 315 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. A tested 0-60 in the low-5 second range is impressive for a near-4,000 pound, four-cylinder car.
Also impressive is the handling capability. While noticing the extra heft is unavoidable, the F30 chassis is still one of the best-handling recent “regular” BMWs. All-wheel-drive helps with grip and powering out of corners, and the 8-speed ZF automatic is also one of the best short of a dual-clutch.
The additional weight of the wagon also improves plantedness for highway cruising. Over the year I owned this car, I did roughly 25,000 miles, with a significant portion of that being road trips. Three 1200-mile trips from North Carolina to Ohio, one vacation to the mountains, and more.
I was also continually impressed with the highway fuel economy, achieving near 40 MPG in some instances, with high-30s being the average. Day-to-day I saw mid-20s, which was more reflective of my typical driving style than the car itself.
Both stock and tuned the car required 93-octane premium fuel which was by far the biggest expense of my ownership period. No major mechanical items required service, and maintenance costs were limited to (admittedly expensive) oil changes and other basic services.
Even when towing, the 330xi Touring didn’t put up a fuss. While not officially rated to tow in the US, the F31 is capable of pulling up to 2,500 pounds. I suspect the original owner used the hitch on my car for a bike rack or some other accessory, but I decided it would be a great idea to use it for actual towing. I pulled my 8-foot utility trailer loaded with branches, furniture, and other things, as well as U-Haul trailers packed with mobility scooters. Maxed out, the only noticeable difference was having to stay in 7th gear rather than 8th on the highway, and fuel economy was still decent.
Overall, the F31 ticked all of my major boxes. It was comfortable and practical on a daily basis, decently quick, fun around corners, and certainly unique and rare. It didn’t maximally excel in any area, but combined them well. My biggest gripes were only the lack of Apple CarPlay and blind spot monitoring, a pin in the exhaust valve that constantly rattled on startup, and the various iDrive/Bluetooth-related electronic glitches.
Ultimately, the 330i xDrive wagon is a jack of all trades, but a master of none. And somehow, still the only car I truly regret selling.
| Vehicle Tested | 2017 BMW 330i xDrive Sports Wagon |
| Color | Mineral White Metallic / Black Dakota Leather |
| Drivetrain | 2.0L turbocharged I4 / 8-spd automatic / All wheel drive |
| HP / Torque | 248 horsepower / 258 lb-ft (stock) 315 horsepower / 370 lb-ft (tuned) |
| Curb Weight | 3,780 lbs (est.) |
| 0-60 mph | 5.7 seconds (stock) 5.1 seconds (tuned) |
| EPA Fuel Econ | 23 city / 33 highway / 26 combined |
| MSRP | $53,890 |
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