BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo (2017 – 2019) Review

For the first time in its life, the BMW 6 Series was offered with four doors rather than just two when this car was launched in 2017. While the drive is a bit sharper than the 5 Series GT’s, the cabin of the 6 Gran Turismo is no less opulent or accommodating thanks to plenty of space front and rear and an equipment list that reads like a who’s who of desirable goodies.

The 6 Series badge has always been reserved for sleek coupe models from BMW, but this latest addition to the 6 Series lineage is more of a hatchback than fastback. It replaces the 5 Series Gran Turismo, which proved an acquired taste that most buyers were not interested in obtaining. With the greater exclusivity of the 6 Series range, BMW hopes this model will find a more settled place in it range.

Looking a bit like a cross between a 7 Series and an X6, the 6 Series GT is fractionally lower than the model it replaces, although it's still a big car. Indeed, it's actually slightly longer than before, giving it plenty of legroom and more rear seat space too, and there are three full-size seats in the back.

Like the 7 Series, this BMW is all about luxury. So, it comes with electrically adjustable rear seats as an option where the backrests can be reclined like an airliner’s chair. The boot is bigger and can carry 610-litres of stuff, which is an increase of 110-litres on later versions of the 5 Series GT. As you'd expect on a top end BMW, it gets an electric tailgate as standard.

Standard equipment also includes automatic climate control with an option to scale up to a four-zone system.

Metallic paint is available in 10 colours along with two non-metallic hues, while BMW also offers a wider range of shades if you don’t mind dipping into your savings. You also get 18-inch alloys included, but unsurprisingly you can opt for bigger ones all the way up to 21-inches.

There are two trims are available, made up of SE and M Sport. The M Sport gets 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery with exclusive stitching plus illuminated door sill strips. A panoramic glass roof is standard on M Sport models and is an option available on the SE versions. A reversing assist camera is standard across both trim levels.

The engines begin with an entry-level 630i, powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol with 258PS while the 640i xDrive has a 3.0-litre six-cylinder motor and will cover 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds.

The 630d is the most popular 6 Series GT and there's also an xDrive version with four-wheel drive on offer. Powered by a 3.0-litre diesel with 265PS, claimed economy is up to 43.5mpg for the SE version and 38.7mpg for the M Sport xDrive.

There is also a 620d model in two- or four-wheel drive forms that makes a sound choice for business drivers thanks to its fuel economy of up to 46.3mpg and carbon dioxide emission as low as 159g/km. This model is not as brisk as the others, but it’s a quiet, comfortable and capable cruiser, which is very much what the 6 Series Gran Turismo is all about.

This is a BMW after all and every version the Gran Turismo offers plenty of grip, albeit with a little more lean while cornering than we’d like.

The all-wheel drive xDrive models offer even more traction during cornering, but this system is more aimed towards dealing with slithery surfaces than outright handling prowess.

In town, the M Sport model’s firmer set-up can pick up on smaller ridges whereas the SE will cover this sort of ground in a smoother, less fussy manner. Whichever version you choose, you will always be aware of the 6 GT’s size in town, though all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera help enormously when slotting into a bay.

On the open road, the Comfort setting is the best choice in the Drive Performance Control set-up for M Sport models as this counters the model’s 19-inch alloy wheels and runflat tyres’ tendency to patter over small jiggles in the road. At motorway speeds, the Gran Turismo is in its ideal element.

The entry point price-wise is the 620d with its 190PS 2.0-litre turbodiesel motor. It’s quiet, smooth and surprisingly well suited to the 6 GT despite its size and weight.

However, the 630d diesel is the better bet thanks to its meatier 265PS that gives the 6 GT a more muscular turn of speed.

For petrol fans, the 258PS 630i four-cylinder turbo motor is the less expensive way into 6 Series GT ownership. It’s no slouch, but we’d take the 640i with twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder motor and 340PS that’s enough to deal with 0-62mph in just 5.2 seconds.

The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo includes twin front, side and curtain airbags, as well as one for the driver’s knees, and there are Isofix child seat mounts on the two outer rear pews.

BMW also provides autonomous emergency braking, Icon Adaptive LED headlights with High-beam Assistant, and all-round parking sensors with a reversing camera.

However, some safety kit such as Lane Departure warning is optional, which seems mean, and is part of the Driving Assistant pack that also includes Cross-traffic Warning, Lane Change Warning, Approach Control Warning, and Speed limit indicator.

There is more than enough leg, shoulder and head room for even the tallest driver. M Sport models come with a panoramic glass sunroof as standard and even this does not impinge on space for the driver’s head.

The 6 Series GT adds to this feeling with an airy cabin thanks to the large glass area, which is bigger than the likes the of the Mercedes CLS. So, the BMW feels more open and accommodating, and it’s also easier to see out in all directions when parking or changing lane. You also get all-round parking sensors and reversing camera to help out, but you need to add the optional Driving Assistant pack to get Lane Departure warning.

The 6 GT has a standard rear hatch that opens to reveal a 610-litre boot that can be extended up to 1800-litres.

BMW nails the build quality of its cars, especially with cars like the 6 Series Gran Turismo that potentially appeal to former 7 Series owners. Every stitch, joint and panel gap is carefully crafted and gives the GT cabin a real sense of strength and depth of construction.

This is a feeling reinforced by the choice of materials used in the 6 Series GT, such as the soft leather, piano black inserts and subtle chrome and metal trim finishes. It combines to lift the cabin above the humdrum of acres of black leather and aluminium trim of many of the BMW’s rivals.

BMW uses a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen in the 6 Series Gran Turismo. It can be operated using the iDrive controller, steering wheel buttons, touchscreen or optional Gesture Control. We’re not fans of the Gesture Control as it’s too imprecise and vague, especially when the other controls are so easy to use.

All of this is backed up with a 20GB hard disc, along with standard Bluetooth connection, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and various other online services as part of the Connected Professional Package that is included with the 6 GT.

It's exclusivity is not quite as pricey as you might think as prices begin at around £5000 above an entry-point 5 Series saloon.

Most buyers will use some form of finance to drive off in a 6 GT and BMW offers its usual Select personal contract purchase, contract hire and hire purchase choices. Which you choose will depend on how much of a deposit you want to pay up front and the size of monthly payments you feel comfortable with. BMW does not offer its Divide option with the 6 GT, which is reserved for the 7 and 8 Series and M and i8 models.

A three-year old BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo can be had from £26,500 with approximately 25,000 miles on the clock. This will get a pick of 630i and 630d models in both SE and M Sport trims. If you’d rather have a 620d, you’ll need to up the budget to around £30,000 due to this model’s popularity.

For a nearly new or pre-registered 6 GT, you can save around £5500 by going down this avenue with a franchised dealer. This sort of saving is possible on all engine variants and trims, and it represents a substantial saving over paying the list price.

The 620d SE is the most economical 6 Series Gran Turismo with an official combined consumption of up to 46.3mpg, which drops to a worst of 40.4mpg in the M Sport xDrive model. A look at Real MPG figures shows the two-wheel drive SE is able to deliver 52.0mpg, while the xDrive gives 43.1mpg. The 630i manages a best of 34.9mpg and the 640i offers 31.4mpg.

The cheapest BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo to get insured is the 620d as all versions sit in group 40. Opt for the 630i and it’s one group higher in the 41 banding. There’s a jump to group 43 for the 630d SE, while the M Sport versions reside in group 44. The 640i in both SE and M Sport trims is in group 50.

The 630i and 620d with rear-wheel drive attract a first-year road tax payment of £870, which compares very favourably to the £1305 for the 640i and 620d in xDrive M Sport trim. However, the 630d xDrive in M Sport will set you back a whopping £1850.

Every 6 GT will cost £475 per annum in road tax in subsequent years as they attract the £375 additional levy for cars with an original list price of more than £40,000.

The SE is the starting point for the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo and it comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, metallic paint, adaptive LED headlights, cruise control, all-round parking sensors and reversing camera, and a powered tailgate.

You also get climate control, ambient lighting, 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with 20GB hard drive memory, and Bluetooth. The 6 GT also comes with the Connected Professional pack of online systems, and Drive Performance Control with selectable driving modes. The SE also enjoyed leather upholstery, heated front seats with electric adjustment, and rain-sensing wipers.

Choose the M Sport model and the 6 GT gains 19-inch alloys, M Sport body kit, and a panoramic glass sunroof. There’s firmer M Sport suspension and sports front seats, as well as unique pedals, steering wheel and braking system. Also, the M Sport has its instrument panel trimmed in Sensatec man-made leather.