Despite looking much like the old BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, the new 6 GT is a far more accomplished car. Supposedly mixing the space and tech of a 7 Series with the dynamic grace of a 5 Series, the 6 GT should be the perfect compromise, but in reality it’s not as appealing. It feels suitably luxurious, and space in the back is very impressive, but it still feels a little lardy on the road. Its heavy-handed styling and bulky rear-end means it’s not ideally suited to European tastes, and will remain a bit of a niche offering here.
BMW has acknowledged that the main criticism of the old 5 Series Gran Turismo was its blocky, upright shape and mishmash of angles. Considerable effort has been made to address this in the 6 Series Gran Turismo, with the new car being considerably longer, lower and more coupe-like than before.
It’s certainly an improvement, but we still feel it’s distinctive rather than pretty, with some angles making it look heavy handed and bulbous. Still, looks are in the eye of the beholder, and there’s a case to argue that its design and relative rarity make it look more exclusive than a 5 Series.
It’s much less divisive inside, of course. Anyone familiar with the interiors of the latest 5 and 7 Series will feel right a home in the 6 GT. Quality has taken a marked step up over previous efforts, with top notch materials and almost faultless fit-and-finish. You sit quite high up compared to the 5 Series, which BMW claims makes the 6 GT more relaxing over long distances.
The wrap-around dashboard balances a driver focus with a user-friendly layout very well, with the switchgear and latest generation of iDrive infotainment system being intuitive to operate, even on the move. A slick-looking TFT display replaces the conventional dials, but that’s the start of what is a veritable tech-fest in the 6 Series GT.
Amongs the vast array of driver assistance systems is BMW’s optional Driving Assistant Plus pack, which upgrades the adaptive cruise control to allow the car to accelerate, steer and brake for itself on A-Roads and motorways. It operates at speeds of up to 130mph, and can even change lanes by itself if the driver activates the indicator.
Other optional kit includes remote parking system, which allows the driver to park the car into a bay or garage standing outside it from their smartphone. A head-up display and even night vision with pedestrian detection is available.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
A decade ago, BMW’s iDrive infotainment system was often criticised for being too fiddly to operate. As it’s been developed through the generations, though, it’s now become one of the easiest systems to use of its type.
It’s still controlled mainly via a rotary dial, but like the new 5 Series the 6 Series GT benefits from a larger screen, increased functionality and a rather gimmicky gesture control system. It allows you the change radio station by swiping your hand let or right, for example, or turn the volume down by twirling your finger. It doesn’t always respond first time, however, meaning it’s easier and safer to just use the wheel controls.
BMW is the first manufacturer to integrate wirelessly connected Apple CarPlay, although this costs £235, while the Connected app allows integration with Android smartphones. This will also send images from the car’s 3D view cameras to your mobile device if fitted. BMW Connected can even link with Amazon’s Alexa service for those using this tech. Online services are standard, while wireless smartphone charging is also available for £425.
Other interesting features include Proactive Driving Assistant, which is linked to the sat-nav, allowing the car to select the right gear for the upcoming road layout.
All versions of the 5 Series get BMW’s ConnectedDrive Services, which adds a host of online features. Emergency Call will contact help in the event of an accident, while the Online Services give you access to various apps and information. Also included in this package is the Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI), which uses up-to-the-minute data to display traffic flow.
Wireless charging of a smartphone can be added for £425, plus there are three separate hi-fi upgrades – £395 BMW Advanced, an £895 Harman Kardon and a rather pricey £3,750 Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround sound system.
Don’t be fooled by the 6 Series name – the GT is not a coupe with any sort of sporting intent. For starters, the 7 Series platform means that it’s notably heavier then a 5 Series, despite the 6 GT being, on average, 115kg lighter than the model it replaces.
It’s targeted at buyers who are more interested in having a comfortable cruiser than something that’s razor sharp in the bends, which is why BMW expects a high proportion of sales to come from the high-end private hire and limousine industry. However, this is still an ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ (so the adverts say) and as a result expectations of a decent driving experience are higher.
Base cars use the same double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension as the 5 and 7 Series, but the 6 Series GT also features air suspension as standard on the rear axle. So far we’ve only tried models fitted with the adaptive full air suspension system, which give a cossetting ride in Comfort or Auto mode and are hardly uncomfortable even in Sport mode. Noise levels are commendably low in all models, too, and the car isn’t far off the 7 Series in terms of outright comfort. The only thing to watch is that the larger wheels on M-Sport models can upset the 6GT’s ability to deal with sharp potholes.
The adaptive suspension also helps keep the body relatively flat and level in the bends, although a 5 Series still has the edge in this regard. BMW can only do so much to disguise the car’s kerbweight (every variant is over 1.8 tonnes), but it’s certainly more agile and composed than a similarly-sized SUV. The steering is quite remote, however, meaning this isn’t the driver’s choice in BMW’s range.
Engines
There’s only three engine options offered with the 6 Series Gran Turismo from launch; two petrols and one diesel. The base 630i is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol producing 258bhp and 400Nm of torque. That’s enough to get it from 0-62mph in an impressive 6.3 seconds, helping in no small part by the smooth and fast changes of the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox.
It’s performance will be perfectly adequate for most, but when pushed it become a bit coarse and it needs revs to extract the best from offet. The 640i is anything but coarse thanks to its melodious turbocharged six-cylinder engine. It manages 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds thanks to 340bhp and 450Nm of torque, while the engine is smooth and responsive. It’s also available with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.
Overall, though, it’s the diesel that offers the best compromise between performance and efficiency. With 265bhp and a whopping 650Nm of torque it’s capable of 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds (six seconds dead with the xDrive all-wheel drive system, yet is capable of well over 40mpg a cruise. It’s also pleasingly hushed and refined, with only a smooth six-cylinder tone noticeable under hard acceleration.
Like the 5 and 7 Series, the new 6 Series Gran Turiso has an all-new platform and body structure. Much of the interior is designed from scratch, too, but the engines are transferred over from the old model with minor updates.
That means they’re as tried-and-tested as anything else in the executive car class, with both four and six-cylinder units featuring elsewhere in the range. Long term reliability is still difficult to assess, but given there’s nothing all that ground-breaking under the bonnet we’d be surprised if the 6 Series Gran Turismo was problematic. The air suspension could be an area of concern, however – it’s traditionally hugely expensive to replace should it go wrong.
On the safety front, the BMW is at the top of its game. The 6 Series GT hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP, but the platform-sharing 5 and 7 Series have both received the full five stars for crash protection. As standard, all cars come with autonomous emergency braking, LED lights all-round with an adaptive headlight beam and BMW’s ConnectedDrive services. This includes an emergency call service that will get medical help to you automatically in the event of a serious crash.
There’s also a vast array of optional safety kit. Alongside the semi-autonomous driving function, the £2,200 Driver Assistant Plus pack also includes front and rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist and steering assist. A lesser pack can be specified which only adds tech that wartns of potential hazards, such as a traffic sign recognition system. Rivals from Mercedes and Volvo charge less for their safety kit, however.
Warranty
As with all BMW models, the 6 Series GT is backed by a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. This guarantee also comes with breakdown recovery for the same period. Paintwork on the car is covered for a three-year period, while the corrosion guarantee runs for 12 years. While none of this is exceptional, it is at least up to the industry standard.
Servicing
BMW was one of the pioneers of the pre-paid servicing package, and like most other models in the brand’s range the 6 Series GT is available with a similar scheme.
Called Service Inclusive, it covers the first three scheduled trips to the dealer for just £399. This price covers the basic maintenance items, including oil changes and the air and ventilation filters. Petrol models are also treated to fresh spark plugs, while diesel machines are fitted with a new fuel filter.
As with all BMWs, the servicing schedule is variable based on the car’s use and mileage. However, the brand still recommends an annual check-up.
The new BMW 6 Series GT is much more practical than the 5 GT it replaces. By making a few key changes, the firm has improved the packaging of its niche executive hatchback – improving passenger and luggage space in the process.
Up front, the driving position is higher than you’ll find in a 5 Series, but it’s a very comfortable car to drive long distances. All cars get a lower rear bench for improved headroom, too, while the longer wheelbase means kneeroom is also improved. Finally, bootspace has grown by up to 110 litres, making it much easier to load bulky items.
Size
The BMW 6 GT is over five metres long, 1.9m-wide and 1.54m-high. To put that into context, it’s fractionally shorter than a 7 Series, but just as wide and even taller. It’s a big car, whichever way you look at it, in fact - and it feels that way on the road.
Its bulbous rear end and wide track makes it feel like big beast in tight multi-storey car parks, but the standard-fit rear-view camera makes reversing easier. Over-the-shoulder visibility isn’t great, however.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
There is simply no arguing with the space on offer inside the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo. It really is as spacious as a 7 Series, while the more practical hatchback tailgate means loading large items shouldn’t prove too tricky, either.
Take a seat in the rear, and the 6 GT shames its conventional rivals. It’s much bigger than the outgoing Audi A7 and Mercedes CLS, that’s for sure. It’ll even shame SUV alternatives like its X5 sibling, as well as the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. Only a Range Rover can compete.
By ditching the 5 GT’s theatre-style rear bench, the 6 GT offers more headroom for taller adults. The longer wheelbase, which now matches that of the latest 7 Series, means legroom is improved, too. Optional reclining backrests are available, electronically tilting by up to six degrees for extra comfort.
Boot
A big complaint about the old 5 GT was with regards bootspace. In response to this, BMW has added an extra 110 litres with the seats up, and 100 litres with the seats down. That means the 6 GT offers a total load space of up to 1,800 litres. For comparison, even the Shooting Brake version of the outgoing Mercedes CLS only boasts 1,550 litres, while the space is bigger even than you’ll find in a BMW 5 Series Touring.
It’s best to think of the BMW 6 GT as a hatchback version of the 7 Series, because whichever way you look at it, the big Bimmer is an expensive car to buy and run. The most fuel efficient model is the 630d SE Auto, which emits a respectable 129g/km of CO2. Officially, it’l return 57.6mpg, which is pretty good for such a large car.
However, when you look at list prices, the 6 GT’s starting figure of more than £50,000 means all cars are subject to the government’s tax levy for cars over £40k. That means road tax (or VED) stands at £450 every year for the first five years.
Go for M Sport spec and the emissions rise to 135g/km (thanks to the bigger wheels), and fuel consumption rises to 55.3mpg. This also affects the car’s BiK band for company car drivers – jumping two brackets. What’s more, the Autumn 2017 budget penalises diesel owners even more, and will affect all new 630d models.
The petrol 630i and 640i xDrive models are even more expensive to run, however. The rear-wheel drive 630i SE emits 148g/km and BMW says it’ll return 43.4mpg. The 640i, which is only available with xDrive all-wheel drive, will struggle to return more than 30mpg - with higher emissions, too.
Insurance groups
BMW 6 GT insurance groups are high, ranging from group 41 to group 44. That means every version will command high premiums – though rivals should be similar.
Depreciation
Residual values for the BMW 6 GT are actually quite good, despite the car’s high list prices. All models are expected to retain between 43 and 47 per cent of their value after three years and 60,000 miles, with the 630d M Sport posting the most attractive figures. The outgoing Mercedes CLS doesn’t perform quite a well, though the new model due in 2018 will no doubt improve on this.
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