BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine
More space, more comfort and most of the thrills of a 3 Series, is this Gran Limousine too good to be true?
IF YOU WERE TO DRAW A CAR, what shape would you draw? Assistant ed Aatish has some clever captions on his Instagram, and while I may have commented '911', as a toddler I probably would've drawn three boxes. A sedan. Why am I telling you this? Well, while 2020 was filled with SUVs of all shapes and sizes, this BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine is one of our first test cars of 2021 and it is the more blessed twin of one of the most iconic sedans.
'More blessed' because while this 3 Series may look exactly like err... a 3 Series, it isn't an ordinary 3 Series. Go around back, and you'll notice it says 320Ld. While the ‘320' and the ‘d' are carried over from the standard diesel 3 Series, the ‘L' is what makes it special. It signifies long wheelbase. We've seen it before on the 7
Series but this is the first time an LWB 3 Series is coming to India, or anywhere else in the world apart from the LWB-adoring Chinese market. Yes, the 3 Series GT was technically an LWB 3 Series but it had a different body style so it doesn't count. This stretched 3 Series has been christened the 3 Series Gran Limousine and, sorry to spoil the conclusion, I would consider spending the extra cash for it.
However, if you've driven the current-gen 3 Series, or sat in one, you'd score it highly in terms of comfort. So, why should you spend the premium? Because this Gran Limousine isn't a replacement for the standard 3 Series, it sits alongside it or rather half a step above it. It replaces the 3 GT, one of the best-selling BMWs in India thanks to its added practicality and more rebellious styling. But compared to the GT, the Gran Limousine loses out on both the notchback and the extra versatility. It doesn't make you go, ‘Hey, what BMW is that?'. BMW's designers have done a good job of hiding the extra four inches, making it almost imperceptible to a passer-by. That may also be its downfall, though. Part of the reason that the 3 GT was so popular was its swoopier roofline, and the ‘GT' badge carried some extra sales on its shoulder too. This Gran Limousine isn't going to turn any more heads that the G 20 3 Series — a great looking car in its own right — already does. The regular 3 Series is among the nicestlooking BMWs on sale right now, especially in M Sport trim with the more aggressive bumpers. It doesn't have its grille stretched all the way to the road either. So if you liked the standard 3 Series, you'll like this, and vice versa.
In terms of the wheelbase, the Gran Limousine is only 14mm shorter than a 5 Series
Back to why you should spend the extra money for the Gran Limousine. It is 110mm longer than the standard 3 Series, measuring 4819mm, and all 110mm of that has gone between the wheels. This helps make the cabin roomier, more specifically, making the rear seats roomier. And it has worked wonders. With the driver's seat set to my position (I'm 5 feet, 10 inches tall) I had more than enough knee room at the rear, much more than in the standard 3 Series. If you're sitting on the passenger side, with no one at the front, you can ask your chauffeur to set that seat all the way ahead and that frees up enough room for even Bigfoot to take a chill pill. It feels almost as spacious as a 5 Series in the back. But if you look at each of their brochures, you will notice that the Gran Limousine is not as long as a 5 Series, measuring 117mm less. But what actually contributes to cabin space is the wheelbase. Think of a photo frame, if you measure its outer perimeter and print a picture, it wouldn't fit. That's because it's the inner dimensions that truly matter. In a car's case, the outer bit would be the total length, the inner bit would be the wheelbase, and the rest would be the overhangs. And in terms of the wheelbase, the Gran Limousine is only 14mm shorter than a 5 Series. Perhaps the only drawback in terms of rear-seat space is the large tunnel which robs the space required for a third passenger.
There aren't any gizmos at the rear but there is a strip of ambient lighting on the back of the front seats and the Gran Limousine gets a standard panoramic glass roof, both things contribute to livening up the cabin.
Up front, there is a 10.25-inch infotainment display that is as smooth and high-res as a smartphone, supports wireless Apple CarPlay
and for the first time Android Auto as well.
It is flanked by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster which is equally crisp and adds some functionality too. But thankfully these niceties don't come at the cost of driving pleasure.
Because while 110mm is a lot in terms of knee room, it isn't much relative to the size of the car. This allows the Gran Limousine to retain most of the dynamic abilities of the standard 3 Series. There is more body roll but it is manageable and the rock solid ride and torquey engine help it cover distances with ease.
This is the 320Ld Luxury Line and the powertrain is unchanged from the standard car, a 2-litre diesel paired to the smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.
It produces 187bhp and 400Nm of torque, enough to give you a sizeable shove every time you floor it. There's almost no sense of the extra weight and while the low-end torque allows you to cruise just above idle, there is a lot of juice on the meatier side of the rev range too.
But if one of the biggest surprises on the Gran Limousine was space, the other would be its ride quality. The suspension setup is slightly higher and softer than on the standard 3 Series and with the high-profile tyres (225/50 section), it irons out imperfections and undulations. There is a little more wallow, and a touch more floatiness over elevation changes, but nothing that negatively affects your daily driving experience. Unless your commute involves a lap of the Nurburgring.
The Gran Limousine has a lovely duality to it. It can be relaxed when you need it to be, but when you're in the mood and give it the beans, it will put a smile on your face. It takes everything we know and love about the 3 Series and adds a layer of usability and comfort. So for `4.6 lakh more, you get the most well-rounded 3 Series BMW has ever made. ⌧
BMW 3 SERIES GRAN LIMOUSINE
Engine In-line 4-cyl, 1995cc, turbo-diesel
Power: 187bhp @ 4000rpm Torque: 400Nm @ 17502500rpm 0-100kmph: 7.6 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: NA
Price: `52.5 lakh (ex-showroom)
+ Ride quality, space
- Looks ordinary evo rating ★★★★2