I'm suffering a bad case of sport-utility overload. Seems like most of the
new vehicles I test these days are SUVs. The pace of new-model introductions
in this field hasn¹t let up one bit. Maybe the prospect of gasoline at $3 a
gallon will make some impact, but I wouldn¹t bet on it.

When a 2003 BMW 540i Sport Wagon rolled along, I got pretty excited. This is
one vehicle with maximum sport and a lot of utility. Only thing I can see
that it doesn¹t have is a high stance and all-wheel-drive, although many
SUVs lack power to all four wheels.

There's a raft of wagons from all of the usual European luxury manufacturers
such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Saab and Volvo. The luxury wagon is a
safer, saner‹but expensive‹alternative to a SUV. The BMW 5-Series wagons are
available in both eight- and six-cylinder versions. The most attractive
aspect of the BMW six-cylinder wagons is a bottom line that without options
can undercut the $40,000 price line.

The BMW 540i Sport Wagon with the eight-cylinder engine is probably the
fastest production wagon on the road, but it is also very pricey. With a
base price around $54,000, it doesn't take much ingenuity to run the sticker
price north of $60,000. And many people would feel that¹s a lot of money for
the monthly trip to Price Club.

The high-performance V-8 engine in the 540i wagon can take the vehicle to
60 miles per hour from a dead stop in about six seconds. It can also see the
far side of the century mark in the blink of an eye. It delivers its power
in a smooth effortless manner through a seamless five-speed manual
transmission. If you¹ve got cargo that absolutely needs to get someplace in
a hurry, this is the way to go.

As for utility, the Sport Wagon can haul a fair amount of stuff, although
full-size SUVs can carry more. The rear liftgate swings high for easy
loading. 

True to its brand, the BMW wagon is all about sporty driving. It displays
the quick handling reflexes that have come to characterize the BMW 5-Series.
In fact, I'd say it handles almost as well as the regular BMW 5-Series
sedan‹and that's the high praise for anything on four wheels. And of equal
importance, the Sport Wagon offers a superb suspension that delivers real
comfort, regardless of the quality of the road surface.

If there is one word that is most appropriate for the Sport Wagon, that word
is "elegant." BMW has done an exceptional job of extending the basic lines
of the sedan to develop its wagon. And the leather interior looks rich and
inviting. The downside to the refinement of the Sport Wagon package is that
the vehicle seems more at home at an elegant tail gate party than packed
with runny-nosed kids or hauling bags of peat moss from the local nursery.

BMW is one of the manufacturers that has been very active in addressing
occupant safety. The Sport Wagon offers smart air bags as standard
equipment. This technology employs sensors and computer technology to
access the conditions of a vehicle impact. Depending on the situation, the
airbag will be deployed in a softer mode for less severe collisions. 
Another BMW safety innovation provides a switch that shuts off the fuel 
pump in an accident to prevent a vehicle fire.

Five-Series BMWs come equipped with the company's advanced
computer-controlled system that integrates the functions of the vehicle's
antilock brakes and traction control to help eliminate skids during extreme
handling situations. Although most drivers probably haven't a clue about how
these vehicle stability systems work, they maintain vehicle control in some
pretty nasty situations. In fact, these new systems make it very hard to
spin a car under wet and slippery conditions. I know because I have tried to
do so under controlled conditions, including emergency lane changes on wet
pavement.
 

 
Vehicle: BMW 540i Sport Wagon

Price as tested: $60,495

Engine:

         Type: 4.4-liter V-8

         Horsepower: 290 @ 5,400 rpm

         Torque: 324-ft. lbs. @ 3,600 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

         City - 15 mpg

         Highway - 21 mpg

Curb Weight: 4,056