Quick look - 2018 BMW 6 Series GT
Sometimes you simply have to face facts and admit that your bottom has gotten a little on the large side. For us mere mortals that probably means going down to the gym. However, for BMW’s old 5 Series GT it literally means a swoop from the designer’s pen. Judging by our picture of the 5 Series GT replacement, the 6 Series GT, you’d have to say that it’s worked a treat!
The 6 Series GT retains the hatchback style but is no longer based on the BMW 5 Series platform but instead is based on the BMW 7 Series luxury saloon platform. This means that it’s now longer than the 5 Series GT has a lower roofline and consequently a less dumpy back-end. Ok, it’s still not as swish looking as an Audi A7 Sportback or Mercedes Benz CLS but at least buyers will feel that they’re driving something more nimble than a frumpy MPV.
Although you can have one of two petrol engines fitted to your 6 Series GT it’s the straight six 3.0 litre diesel that’s set to be the most popular choice amongst car buyers. This variant is brisk, lighter on fuel and much better on CO2 emissions. It pulls well from low revs and has to be one of the quietest and smoothest diesel cars in its class. It is right up there with the Audi A7 3.0 litre V6 and is only beaten by Mercedes’s 2.9 litre diesel. The 630d may be fast but it’s no sports car when it comes to handling. Even though the 6 Series GT has been on a diet it still feels heavy in corners and doesn’t grip the corners as well as a 5 Series or its main rivals for that matter. At least you can opt for an xDrive four-wheel-drive system that makes it feel more sure-footed in tricky conditions. However, allied to steering that doesn’t have as good a feel as we would like, the overall impression is that the A7 Sportback and Mercedes Benz CLS do feel more agile. If comfort is your priority then the 6 Series GT should certainly be on your shortlist. The air suspension comes as standard and it irons out all those lumps and bumps in the road that you come across around town and at motorway speeds. What this does is make this car a great long-distance cruiser.
Although BMW have reduced the height of the 6 Series GT’s rear-end, they’ve managed to keep the height of the seats the same. This means you get great visibility at the front and the sides. The seats are also very soft and comfortable though we think you could do with a little bit more lateral support especially if you drive fairly briskly. For higher mileage users you may want to spec the adjustable lumbar support which is a shame that it doesn’t come as standard. In terms of interior quality there’s lots of soft touch plastics, piano black finishes and brushed aluminium look-alike plastic but the overall feel is really classy. You get a 10.3 inch touchscreen which is connected to BMW’s iDrive system. You can’t really go wrong with this system as it’s one of the best on the market. Unfortunately, you have to pay extra to get Apple Car Play and for some strange reason BMW have decided not to provide Android Auto which is a bit of a disappointment. As for space and practicality, the 6 Series GT really does score top marks. It’s now as long as a 7 Series so there’s oodles of space for drivers and passengers. There’s also lots of storage compartments, large door bins and the glove box can easily hold a large bottle of water with ease.
There’s plenty of room in the back in the 6 Series GT. You can easily fit three adults side-by-side thanks to a decent amount of head and legroom and if you’re a child then it might feel as big as a house in the back! There’s also lots of added practicality because there’s lots of storage, cup holders and large door bins dotted around. The boot is bigger than both the A7 Sportback and the Mercedes CLS but it is quite shallow so the BMW 5 Series Touring is certainly more practical in this area.
Although the 6 Series GT is a big step up in price from a 5 Series Touring or Saloon it’s more affordable to buy than both the A7 Sportback and the Mercedes CLS. In fact, even the cheapest SE trim comes with all the creature comforts that most people will need. These include features such as sat nav, leather seats, climate control and all-round parking sensors. It’s a safe car too as it’s scored the maximum 5 stars in EuroNCAP crash-tests mainly due to the fact that it has automatic emergency braking it has fitted as standard. The only area where it falls a little bit short, compared with its rivals, is lane departure warning and assistance where you have to pay extra to get this fitted in.
We do realised that for a lot of people buying a four-door coupe style is the number one priority. It’s for this reason that the swish Audi A7 Sportback and Mercedes CLS are hard to overlook. If you don’t need to space to carry five passengers in comfort then they are both great cars. However, you need to bear in mind that the 6 Series GT has a great diesel engine, has masses of space and superb build quality both inside and out. This car is well worth considering if you’re in the market for a large luxurious way to transport your family over large distances. If you’re tempted and are looking to buy a BMW 6 Series GT car for sale then take a look at what we have available on the DesperateSeller.co.uk website.
