CLASS WARFARE
Auto Express|March 01, 2023
The BMW M3 Touring offers a new take on the fast family wagon. But is a Jaguar F-Pace SVR actually a better bet?
CLASS WARFARE

IT'S the one that performance car fans have been waiting for decades for: after 37 years and six generations, a BMW M3 Touring has finally joined the production line-up. It has all of the performance of the staggering G80-edition saloon, but is wrapped up in an estate-car body.

The new M3 Touring promises to be the defining fast family car of a generation. But does it deliver the goods? The newcomer doesn't need to go toe to toe just with some seriously quick wagons, but there are a few hot SUVs that can hold their own at this level, too.

One of our favourites is the Jaguar F-Pace SVR. The standard F-Pace already has the handling ability to keep up with an executive estate, but the SVR takes the family SUV and bolsters its appeal by adding a thumping supercharged V8 engine.

These two have the potential to be the best high-performance all-rounders that money can buy. So we've put them through the in-depth Auto Express real-world road test to find out which is the best.

BMW M3 Touring vs Jaguar F-Pace SVR

BMW M3 Touring

MODEL TESTED: M3 Competition xDrive
PRICE: £86,365 POWERTRAIN: 3.0-litre 6cyl twin-turbo petrol, 503bhp

PRICES for the M3 Touring start from £86,365, which is £5,315 more expensive than the equivalent saloon. The optional extras fitted to this car include the £11,250 Ultimate Pack, the £7,995 Pro Pack (which features carbon-ceramic brakes) and £2,985 for Frozen Pure Grey metallic paint. These extras lift the total to £105,910.

Tech highlights 

This story is from the March 01, 2023 edition of Auto Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 01, 2023 edition of Auto Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUTO EXPRESSView All
Faster Golf R unleashed packing 329bhp
Auto Express

Faster Golf R unleashed packing 329bhp

THE covers have been pulled off the updated Volkswagen Golf R hatchback and Estate, months after the standard Golf was revealed to the public.

time-read
1 min  |
June 26, 2024
New RS Q8 adds Performance model
Auto Express

New RS Q8 adds Performance model

THE Audi RS Q8 has been given a mid-life refresh to keep pace with the biggest, and most powerful, SUVS money can buy.

time-read
1 min  |
June 26, 2024
Volvo estate car duo returns to showrooms
Auto Express

Volvo estate car duo returns to showrooms

THE faithful Volvo estate car is making a comeback after the Swedish firm decided to put the V60 (right) and V90 back on sale in the UK after it removed the pair from showrooms last year.

time-read
1 min  |
June 26, 2024
Honda CR-V
Auto Express

Honda CR-V

SECOND REPORT Our high-class SUV is supremely practical transport

time-read
3 mins  |
June 26, 2024
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
Auto Express

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

Cars such as the Corsa and Fabia give you supermini strengths without the sacrifices you once had to make. But which is best?

time-read
4 mins  |
June 26, 2024
Skoda Kodiaq
Auto Express

Skoda Kodiaq

FIRST UK DRIVE Top-spec seven-seat SUV put through its paces

time-read
3 mins  |
June 26, 2024
Cupra Formentor
Auto Express

Cupra Formentor

FIRST DRIVE Sporty crossover gains company's new family face

time-read
3 mins  |
June 26, 2024
Ford Explorer
Auto Express

Ford Explorer

FIRST DRIVE SUV has been reinvented as an all-electric model does it give the Blue Oval a front runner in the EV class?

time-read
5 mins  |
June 26, 2024
Nip and tuck for Continental GT as V8 hybrid power is fired up
Auto Express

Nip and tuck for Continental GT as V8 hybrid power is fired up

AE IT hasn't taken long for Bentley to get used to life after consigning its iconic W12 engine to the history books.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 26, 2024
Electrifying BMW M5 hybrid turns up the power Competition, yet due to the
Auto Express

Electrifying BMW M5 hybrid turns up the power Competition, yet due to the

AE THIS is BMW's long-awaited new M5 super-saloon, complete with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, bespoke body and an aggressive new look.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 26, 2024