A giant test drive for the great BMW 3 Series Touring

My Test Drive took in three countries, Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the final destination, Samnaun high amidst the mountains in Switzerland and unique in being the only tax free oasis in this beautiful country.

What a pleasure it was to drive on roads, smooth as billiard tables, a far cry from the dreadful road surfaces we now have to put up with here in Northern Ireland.

On the way to Samnaun, a couple of stops with the first near Berchtesgaden and then to Seefeld in Austria and on the way the rains chucked down, but the surefooted BMW delivered safely.

Yet again, the BMW 3 Series is the pacemaker in boasting new technologies and is once again extending its leadership over the competition in terms of efficiency.

The BMW 320d now has extra muscle and superb traction and a further important highlight is that all model variants of the BMW 3 Series now fulfil the EU5 emissions standard.

With optional BMW BluePerformance technology, not only the BMW 330d Saloon, but also the BMW 320d Saloon and the BMW 320d Touring are now becoming the first four-cylinder models to fulfil the EU6 emission standard not even coming into force until 2014.

For the 2010 model year both the Saloon and Touring models are available with a choice of no less than five petrol and six diesel engines, the range of power extending all the way from 115bhp to 306bhp.

My test car not only proved economical, but with 184bhp on tap, performance aplenty and for those of you who have never driven on a German autobahn, it is not a place for Sunday cruising.

The 320d Touring can reach a top speed of 144mph and rest to 62mph comes up in a whisker under eight seconds.

BMW has chosen a sensible approach to lowering emissions and delivering good fuel economy and a perfect example is their Auto Stop/Start system.

The manual gearbox four-cylinder models in the BMW 3 Series come with this Auto Start Stop function helping to avoid any additional consumption of fuel when the engine is idling.

All models with manual gearbox are furthermore equipped with a gearshift point indicator telling the driver the right time to shift gears in the interest of minimum fuel consumption.

The 320d Touring delivers sheer driving pleasure and yet it is a practical vehicle; fair enough it does not offer the load carrying capacity of a traditional estate, but it has style, sorry but in my book most estates are boring and dull.

I must comment on the excellent Sat Nav system. On each and every occasion it delivered to the very front door of each hotel.

This is best system I have ever used.

I arrived in Samnaun amidst a snow shower, which even had the locals puzzled.

From a smuggler’s paradise, Samnaun has developed itself over the years into a paradise for winter enthusiasts, hikers and shoppers. There are a number of top class hotels where Switzerland, Austria and Italy meet.

Set between the Arlberg and Silvretta Mountains snow is guaranteed in the ski season and there are 41 modern lift facilities.

I did experience one of the ski lifts, which afforded superb views.

However Samnaun is a year round quality resort; there are a number of hotels with wellness facilities and there is the Alpenquell Erlebnibad, an Alpine spring adventure pool.

In fact it is the highest swimming complex in Switzerland.

My hotel choice was the Hotel Chasa Montana, one of the finest hotels I have ever stayed in. The facilities were five star, great cuisine, a terrific pool and spa and above all a very friendly staff. The owners Eliane and Hubert Zegg were so welcoming. They really know how to look after their guests.

Shopping is a big thing in Samnaun, due to its geographical location it enjoys duty free shopping status. The Zegg family operate a number of shops and you can purchase the top brand watches and jewellery at prices you dreamed of. When I topped up the 320d Touring, another pleasant surprise, diesel fuel was two pounds a gallon cheaper than back home. This is one place I want to return to, apart from Samnaun itself, the road that winds up the mountain is some 12 miles in length and is more akin to a stage on the Monte Carlo Rally, for drivers yet another bonus. I took the scenic route to reach Samnaun, it is a mere 180 miles from Munich Airport and given the quality of the roads it is an easy drive.