BMW 3 Series GT (2013 – 2020) Review

The BMW 3 Series GT is another spin-off of the 3 Series saloon, and is designed to compete with other premium hatchback-cum-coupes like the Audi A5 Sportback and the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake.

First introduced in 2013 and sold until 2019, it mixed a longer wheelbase with a hatchback rear to not only offer more boot space than the 3 Series Touring but also increased rear legroom. With the same drivetrains it offers similar performance and handing to its siblings, although whether the looks carry the same appeal is a matter of personal opinion.

The 3 Series Gran Turismo is a stylish hatch version of the 3 Series and sits above the saloon and Touring models in the range. It will appeal to buyers who need more practicality than a standard four-door 3 Series and is a strong alternative to the Audi A5 Sportback. It's an interesting design and while not as svelte as the standard 3 Series, it's certainly better looking than the larger 5 Series GT.

As well as a longer and taller body, the 3 Series GT also has a longer wheelbase than the standard car which means better interior space, particularly for rear seat passengers.

The fact it's a hatchback means a big boost for practicality so although the 520-litre boot is only 25 litres bigger than the Touring, the load space will be easier to access. All models come with an electrically opening tailgate and 40/20/40 split folding rear seats. If you can’t stomach the idea of owning an estate but still want the most amount of space, the GT does at least give you one without the other.

The 3 Series is also the first BMW to come with an active spoiler which raises at 68mph to reduce drag and increase downforce. Other nice details like the electric tailgate and frameless doors help make it feel more special than a standard 3 Series, and while it’s hard to see it as a coupe, it does has a different style that.

At launch there were three petrol engines and two diesel with either a six-speed manual or optional eight-speed automatic gearbox, while later versions added additional high performance engine options. 

The big difference over a 3 Series saloon is the ride. The GT is noticeably softer on the move and offers better long distance comfort thanks to tweaked suspension settings. It certainly lives up to its 'Grand Tourer' name and is very comfortable at motorway speeds with minimal noise.

This does somewhat come at the expense of handling though as the GT doesn't feel as agile as a standard 3 Series, and for many buyers this somewhat goes against one of the key appeals of buying a BMW in the first place.

When new, the GT cost between £1300 and £1,600 more than a 3 Series Touring. That seems odd to us considering the 3 Series Touring is already a great family car. True, the GT does have plenty of style about it but seems expensive for what it is.

The cost of this better ride is with handling, as the longer and taller body becomes a negative. It’s still a good car to drive in this respect, with accurate and responsive steering.

What is more apparent though is that it doesn’t turn as keenly as other 3 Series models, and there is a little bit more body roll because of the extra height in the body. Whether this altered balance of ride and handling matters is largely down to personal preference, although the short of it is that the saloon and Touring are better to drive.

It uses the same chassis albeit with a longer wheelbase and while it's fitted with similar suspension, it has a more forgiving damper set-up. The result is a smoother ride over rough surfaces and a more refined motorway experience.

Typically the 2.0-litre diesel option is the strongest all-rounder in the GT, which comes in two outputs in the 318d and the 320d - the former has 143PS and offers acceptable performance but nothing more, while the 320d has 184PS, is noticeably quicker and offers almost identical fuel consumption too, so there’s not a great deal to be gained by going for the 318d.

The 320i and 328i also both powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre unit with 184PS and 245PS respectively. Both are relatively refined and offer useful performance, but the 320i will be a better compromise for most people, offering enough acceleration without painful fuel consumption.

If you can stretch to it, the 330d and 335d are the most attractive diesel options, with 257PS and 313PS respectively and the choice of xDrive four-wheel-drive too.

At the top of the range the 335i and later 340i models are the fastest, with turbocharged six cylinder engines, but require the biggest budgets to keep them fuelled.

Euro NCAP did not specifically test the 3 Series GT model, but instead applied the same results recorded by the 3 Series saloon to all models under the 3 Series tag. The 3 GT is based on the 3 Series tested by Euro NCAP in 2012, which was awarded the maximum five stars.

It was awarded an exceptional 95 per cent for adult protection, as well as a high 84 per cent for child protection. Pedestrian mitigation was an impressive 78 per cent, while it also recorded a high score of 84 per cent for safety assist.

Also on the options list when new were features like active cruise control and automatic emergency braking, but because they were optional rather than standard you may have to search to find a vehicle with these systems fitted. Broadly speaking, safety options are less popular than luxury features when buyers are choosing their new car, so it may be a challenge to find a car in this spec.

With a range of powertrains and the option of four-wheel-drive, the 3 Series GT can make an excellent towing car. The 320i has the lowest towing capacity at 695kg unbraked (750kg with xDrive) and up to 1600kg braked, while the rest of the range offers either 745kg or 750kg unbraked and anything between 1600kg and 1800kg braked.

The biggest difference between the 3 GT and its siblings is for rear passengers, who get more legroom with an extra 75mm and a generally more roomy feeling.

While the rear of a 3 Series saloon can feel a little cramped, especially if you're over six feet tall, the GT has a more limousine feel akin to a 5 Series and helped by the very comfortable seats. Whether in the front or back, you sit higher than in a 3 Series saloon which means a better view out. It's also easier to get in and out of.

All GT models come with an electric tailgate as standard and the tailgate opens to reveal a very practical and useful boot space. It can carry 520 litres of luggage which is 40 litres more than an Audi A5 Sportback and impressively more than a 3 Series Touring. There's a 12v socket in the boot (handy if you have a powered coolbox) and a multifunction storage tray under the load compartment floor.

The switches and controls feel solidly built too, although there are a few areas where some evidence of penny-pinching can be found - the smaller buttons on the dashboard feel a little flimsy, but overall it’s a good cabin, if a fraction behind what you’ll get from the equivalent Audi.

There are lots of soft-touch surfaces dotted around the cabin and the steering wheel and arm rests are thickly padded. Higher-specification versions also offer wood trim, although this might not suit all types of buyers.

As standard the 3 GT gets a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, controlled via the i-Drive system, with some functions repeated on the dashboard and steering wheel.

The system also includes Bluetooth, USB input and a radio. DAB was optional at launch but was included as standard from 2016 cars onwards while sat nav was optional then standard on the latest models. With most BMWs sharing the same systems you can be confident that the 3 GT’s infotainment is easy to use and packed with features - the iDrive system is one of the most intuitive on the market.

It’s important to note that the 3 GT was far less popular than the saloon and Touring 3 Series models, so there are fewer examples on the used market in comparison.

However, there is still six years’ worth of sales to potentially pick from. A quick search of the classified ads turned up a smart 2019 320d xDrive M Sport, with automatic transmission and under 150 miles on the clock for just over £30,000, with plenty of similar examples - the 320d in M Sport trim is one of the most popular specifications.

At the cheap end of the scale the earliest cars are now very affordable. We found an early 2014 318d in SE specification with 65,000 miles for under £10,000, or a petrol 328i Luxury automatic from 2013 with 60,000 miles for £11,000.

It’s not a small car, but it does benefit from typically efficient BMW engines. The 318d isn’t quick but has a claimed official 64mpg combined with the auto gearbox option, while the 320d claims between 57mpg and 63mpg depending on specification and gearbox, so you should get close to 50mpg in the real world.

Unsurprisingly the big 3.0-litre petrols are clearly the thirstiest. A 335i manual claims a best performance of 42mpg, so you can expect around the 30mpg mark regularly and a lot less if you use the performance.

The same logic applies when it comes to insurance costs too, with the lower spec models potentially offering reasonable insurance costs. The 318d in M Sport trim is in group 23, while the 320d is group 24 in SE spec but goes up to 29 for other specifications.

Because the 2.0-litre petrol is available in two power outputs, 320i and 328i GTs also vary considerably. An SE model is group 28 or 35, 28 and 26 for Modern spec and above. 330d and 335d models attract the highest premiums - the later goes into group 42 out of 50.

Standard specification on all 3 GT models is generous. The basic SE model gets 18-inch alloy wheels, two-zone air-conditioning, Bluetooth, USB port, 6.5-inch colour screen with iDrive Controller, Drive Performance Control with ECO PRO mode, two-part parcel shelf, automatic tailgate, active rear spoiler and rear Park Distance Control.

Modern trim adds matt chrome exterior details, 18-inch turbine-style alloy wheels, a light-finished interior with cloth and leather mix trim and pearl-effect chrome interior detailing.

Move up to Luxury trim and it’s mostly visual upgrades, with gloss chrome exterior details, special 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome interior details, high-gloss wood strips and leather seats.

Top-spec M Sport adds an aerodynamic exterior package with high-gloss trim, 18-inch star-spoke alloy wheels, an M Sport leather steering wheel, sports front seats, M Sport suspension and brakes.