2012 & 2013 BMW Wagon Reviews & Ratings

German luxury auto manufacturer BMW may be known for its fantastic grand touring and coupe vehicles, but it certainly has some impressive wagons to offer as well. For the 2012 year, two of the most popular BMW sedans have wagon variants- the BMW 3-Series and the BMW 5-Series. These wagons are known for their great off-road abilities, roomy interior, and (as with all BMW vehicles) their sleek style.

The BMW 3 Series is the company's best-selling line in the U.S. It's well built, powerful,... (full review continues below)

German luxury auto manufacturer BMW may be known for its fantastic grand touring and coupe vehicles, but it certainly has some impressive wagons to offer as well. For the 2012 year, two of the most popular BMW sedans have wagon variants- the BMW 3-Series and the BMW 5-Series. These wagons are known for their great off-road abilities, roomy interior, and (as with all BMW vehicles) their sleek style.

The BMW 3 Series is the company's best-selling line in the U.S. It's well built, powerful, and comfortable. And, drivers don't have to compromise on handling like they might with some other wagons. The 3-Series first premiered in 1975 and is now in its fifth generation. It's the successor to the BMW New Class and received a complete redesign in 2006. The wagon actually wasn't available until 2006, when it was offered in two model forms. The current 2012 model is slightly heavier and larger than previous generations. Although it comes in at a slightly higher price than some of its competitors at starting prices, between $37,500-39,500 for the two different trims, BMW 328i Wagon and 328i xDrive Wagon, it also provides better features and more solid construction. The 328i is also available in coupe and convertible styles.

The BMW 3-Series 328i Wagon and xDrive Wagon both come with fuel efficiency ratings of 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway (though the xDrive decreases by a few points on the highway). The based 328i competes with the Audi A4 and the Volvo XC70 and features a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder 230 horsepower engine. BMW describes it as a "sports sedan in disguise." It showcases such features as Vehicle and key memory, a panoramic moonroof, satellite radio, surround sound and HD radio, adaptive headlights, dynamic stability Control, and BMW Ultimate Service.

The BMW 5-Series Wagon is also a powerful vehicle, with a 2.0-liter L6, 300 horsepower engine. This 550i Gran Turismo is really a sedan, SUV, Grand Touring coupe, all wrapped into a neat package. It comes in several models/trims, including: the 535xi Wagon at a base price of $55,950, the 535i Gran Turismo Hatchback at a base price of $56,000, and the 550i Gran Turismo Hatchback at a base price of $63,900. The base 535i Wagon gets 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway and competes with such vehicles as the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The BMW 5-Series was first introduced to the U.S. in 1972 as a midsize sedan. It blends performance, luxury, and comfort in a tidy package that sets the standard for the rest of the industry. The Series was completely redesigned for the 2011 year, and the wagon was taken off of the U.S. market, to be replaced by the 5 Series GT. The Wagon is, however, available in several other countries. This year's wagon is better equipped with comfort and technology features than last year's model, with standard features including xenon headlights, a navigation system, an automatic parallel parking system, and a 12-speaker sound system.