BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
Is exec hatch a better bet than outgoing 5 Series GT?
HOW do you solve a problem like the old BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo? Pigeonholed as a more practical 5 Series with a hatchback bootlid and raised seating position, it struggled to find favour with British buyers – and many people cited its ungainly looks as the prime reason.
Not one to give up, BMW has gone away and revised the formula for the nextgeneration model. As before, it borrows its platform architecture from the latest 5 and 7 Series, and it’s nearly the same length as the latter. But the car is also lower and wider than before, with a sloping roofline and steeply raked rear window aimed at giving it a more coupé-like appearance, while also greatly improving its aerodynamics.
The biggest change, however, is the name. The new 6 Series Gran Turismo moniker not only distances the model from its predecessor, but also helps it fit in with the brand’s push to offer a greater range of high-end models. We reckon the newcomer is a far more resolved design than the 5 Series GT, even if the chunky rear overhang won’t be to all tastes. Anyway, if it’s a styleorientated 6 Series you’re after, the Gran Coupé exists for just that purpose. Meanwhile, the sheer size of the GT ensures it’s one of BMW’S most practical models, with similar rear legroom to the 7 Series, plenty of headroom and a well shaped 610-litre boot.
If it’s a more practical 5 Series you want, though, then why wouldn’t you just buy the Touring estate? With around 1,500 GTS expected to leave UK dealers each year, BMW admits it’s a niche choice. However, a substantial number of the old car’s buyers were chauffeurs, whose customers traditionally wouldn’t want to be seen in an estate car. In keeping with this, and to complement the GT’S generous legroom, our car’s £2,995 Rear Seat Comfort Package – which brings electric reclining and heated back chairs, electric sunblinds and a pair of seat-mounted infotainment screens – means no VIP is going to feel short-changed when they’re guided into the back. They’ll get 7 Series levels of space, too.
Up front, the dash is lifted wholesale from the new 5 Series, so you’ll find a familiar suite of features, semi-autonomous driving functions and impeccable quality. However, the driving position is higher, meaning greater visibility and, according to BMW, better long-distance comfort.
We’ve no reason to doubt that statement, because it’s clear from the off that this is a cosseting cruiser. Although our M-sport
“6 Series Gran Turismo name helps it fit in with BMW’S push to offer greater range of high-end cars”
test car’s 19-inch wheels could thump into the very worst potholes, for the most part the ride is serene and composed – much like the 5 Series’. Wind and road noise isolation is superb, too, and the 3.0-litre diesel creates merely a pleasing hum on part-throttle.
It’s not sluggish, either. Despite an abundance of extra gadgets the 6 GT is, on average, 115kg lighter than the old 5 GT. That means this 630d is capable of 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds, while even the four-cylinder 630i petrol is only slightly slower. It’s the rolling performance that impresses most in the diesel, though – it gains speed effortlessly, thanks in part to the almost unnoticeable shifts from the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
With a claimed 53.2mpg it’s only fractionally behind the 5 Series, too. Whatever your views are on diesels, from an objective point of view the 630d is the best all-round choice in the new range.
Lighter than its predecessor it may be, but the 6 Series GT is still a heavier car than the 5 Series Touring – and that’s evident when you push hard into bends. There’s a less crisp steering response and more body lean, even with our car’s optional variable dampers and standard rear air suspension. If you want your GT to stay flat and level, you can specify four-way air suspension with active roll stabilisation, but we’d argue that if you’re so keen on sharp handling you’ll always be better off with a 5 Series anyway.
And that remains this car’s biggest issue. The 6 Series GT’S distinctive looks and rarity value will ensure a few examples find homes in the UK, but it’s clearly a model aimed at Far Eastern markets where back-seat comfort is one of the most important buying factors. In the UK, BMW’S own 5 Series Touring is more versatile, better to drive, cheaper to buy and likely to have stronger residuals.