At full stretch
The BMW 3 GT became popular due to its coupe silhouette and the kind of space it had to offer versus the regular 3 Series. But you know what they say about all good things right? Well, the 3GT is on its way out and in its place comes in the new 3 Series Gran Limousine.
Just to make things clear, this is a new variant more than an all-new car so a lot remains the same. Especially the exterior styling where apart from the new badging including L to denote the long-wheelbase version, the LED headlamps, the big but not obnoxiously so signature kidney grill and even the tail lamps are the same as the regular 3 Series sedan. The difference lies in its length.
Christened Gran Limousine, this extended wheelbase version of the regular 3 Series sedan sees an overall increase in length of 120mm, the wheelbase extends by 110mm and most importantly, there is an increase in rear legroom by 43mm. And this increase
in rear space should make it obvious that the 3 Series Gran Limousine has been designed for those who are looking to spend a considerable amount of time being driven around.
BMW has made the rear seats a bit more comfy with extra padding but apart from that most of the convenience features remain the same. So you do get a couple of fast charging USB ports, dedicated climate control with just two vents, ambient lighting, an armrest with some storage, a couple of cup holders and a panoramic sunroof to make the cabin feel airier. It does miss out on blinds and that would’ve been a thoughtful touch for the 3 GL.
Just in case you decide to swap seats with your chauffeur, you are going to enjoy driving the 3 Series Gran Limousine too. A 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel under the hood that develops 190bhp and 400Nm of torque, makes for a brisk pace as soon as you step on the throttle. The 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission shifts pretty smoothly and for a bit of added oomph, you can always hit the Sport button on the centre console and enjoy a tad more immediacy from the throttle response along with faster shifts.
The steering response is sharp and goes well with the suspension setup that leans towards a stiffer ride although we would’ve expected the ride quality to be a bit more plush given the Gran