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BMW M3 Touring and Audi RS 4 Avant both pack performance, fun, and practicality into one drop-dead gorgeous package.
We feel that station wagons are the coolest form factor on a vehicle. It is practical, spacious, looks damn good, and if needed, can even pack enough punch to shame sports cars and even some supercars. But the thing here is we tend to be blinded by the craze hovering around crossovers and SUVs currently, that we seldom see these wonder machines take flight.
As compared to Europe, we get a handful of station wagons that includes the humble likes of the Subaru Outback to the plush likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain. And if you look at the performance-packed wagons, the options are very limited within the Porsche Panamera Cross and the wicked Audi RS 6 Avant.
Now, BMW has hurt us by dropping a bomb with the 2023 BMW M3 Touring. It is everything that we wanted from a performance wagon, but we won't get it! So, while basking in the pain, we thought of being a bit more hurtful by comparing it to another forbidden fruit - the Audi RS 4 Avant. These are two performance vehicles that make us drool all day long, and sadly someone in Germany decided to play the bad Santa!
BMW M3 Touring and Audi RS 4 Avant are two of the most desirable station wagons out there that can put performance, fun, and practicality into one drop-dead gorgeous package.
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Both these super wagons have six-cylinder packed in them, but at different angles (literally). The 2023 BMW M3 Touring packs a twin-turbocharged 3.0-Liter inline-6 that churns out 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This is the same setup as seen in the M3 Competition.
The M3 wagon is offered with AWD only and power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic gearbox. The M3 Touring does 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155 mph. Opting for the M Driver's package can bump it to 174 mph.
The Audi RS 4 Avant is a bit mellowed down when it comes to performance. It packs a twin-turbocharged 2.9-Liter V6 motor that churns out 450 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Audi's legendary Quattro AWD system sends power via an eight-speed automatic.
This Audi takes 4.1 seconds (3.9 seconds with the Competition Plus Pack) to do 0-62 mph and has an electronically limited-stop speed of 155 mph. If you opt for the Competition Plus Pack, the top speed gets bumped to 180 mph. So, performance-wise, these two are tight!
Both these German hot wagons have gotten a lot of work done under the skin to put a wide grin on your face, be it on the road or racetrack. BMW has stiffened up the chassis, provided with enduring new suspension tweaks, and put its clever AWD system to "adaptive" use to even make this bad boy drift-worthy! An almost 50:50 body weight distribution gives in impressive agility too. And all of these gets dialed up when opting for the M Driver's package.
The Audi RS 4 Avant also portrays a similar dynamic layout. And just like the Bimmer, the Audi also relies notably on aerodynamic efficiency which is evident from the sharp front and rear fascia designs. The newly introduced Competition Plus Pack makes things a lot more aggressive. It helps the RS 4 Avant lose about 16 pounds, recalibrates the steering wheel for a more precise feel, and adds a sporty rear differential to elevate its handling potential.
The best aspect of both these super wagons is the fact that performance, comfort, and practicality are married beautifully. In the standard form, both these wagons pack a heightened degree of luxury features but the Bimmer takes it a bit too aggressive with carbon-fiber sport seats when opting in for the M Driver's Package. Audi stays a bit cozier at all times. But we incline the cleaner and more screen-oriented layout of the BMW M3 Touring.
The RS 4 Avant's looks a bit outdated in front of that. As for the technology features, BMW has a slight edge over the Audi. In terms of practicality too, the Bimmer has a more flexible angle with a split tailgate. With both rows up, BMW has marginally better cargo space at 17.8 cu-ft but with the rear bench seat down, the Audi has marginally better space at 53.3 cu-ft.
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Both these stations' wagons look drop-dead-gorgeous and even have the aura to put supercars to shame. The Audi has a sharper design language with a lot of cuts and creases. And it goes on well with Audi's design philosophy.
BMW has a more muscular vibe with the 2023 M3 Touring. While the beaver face is still there, it looks good with the wagon form factor. BMW manages to put forth a lot more drama than the Audi, the contrasting roof and wheels are a major highlight of its visual aura.
In this case, we are the ones that lose, because these are two wickedly fast yet practical station wagons that are not coming to the US. They are neck-on-neck in all aspects, and the only dividing factor would be their looks, which we will let you be the judge of. But if you are someone residing in the lucky parts of the world where these bad boys are available, do give these super wagons a test run. We bet you won't regret it!
Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, gamer, and an avid content creator. He is a grease-monkey who loves tinkering with automobiles every now and then, when not busy penning down his passion for them. He has always had a soft spot for JDM and is keen on diving deep in for anything that involves wheels and engines.