2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe Review
Despite now being in its twilight years, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe still offers up a package with lots of appeal. Interior build quality and ergonomics are still on point despite the advances made since the car first went on sale in 2012, and there's plenty of room available for the driver, passengers and their luggage (albeit only if you treat the car as a four-seater). Plus, being a BMW, there are great powertrain choices to choose from, and the 6 Series Gran Coupe's ace to drive too. However, there are areas where the BMW genuinely starts to feel its age – which isn't a trait that does the car justice, considering the horde of more up-to-date rivals the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is now up against.
Interior
Considering the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe was introduced in 2012, the car's interior has aged remarkably well. However, with newer, fresher competition to deal with now, the cabin architecture is starting to show its age now – though there's no denying the build quality, fit-and-finish and control layout still impress. Likewise, the storage cubbies are also pretty satisfactory, and the trunk capacity's on the strong side for this class at 16.2 cubic feet in capacity.
'Well-built, but looking a bit dated now. Don't expect to seat more than three passengers comfortably'
Room for occupants, however, isn't as well resolved: whilst the front seats and two outer rear seats offer decent amounts of head and leg room, the middle seat in the rear row is so narrow that it's barely worth using. Bar the tiny middle cushion, though, all of the seats offer good amounts of support – which will be much appreciated on longer car journeys.
Driving
It may be the biggest 6 Series model on sale, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe still possesses the sporty handling qualities expected from a BMW. Body movement over bumps and when cornering is well controlled, and the light, and the responsive steering helps make this large, luxurious car feel more agile than it has any right to be.
'Strikes a good balance between being fun to drive and comfortable enough for day-to-day driving'
The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe also does the long-distance cruiser job well too, courtesy of the good overall noise insulation levels – though sharper jolts caused by obstacles such as highway expansion joints can upset the car monetarily. Visibility, however, isn't much to write home about: the low seating position means it's hard to see where the front end of the car is in spite of the large windshield, and the combination of a small rear window and thick rear pillars means the view out back isn't much to write home about either.
Performance
For many buyers, the 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine will be plenty for their needs. Outputs of 315-horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque means there's ample accelerative force to call upon, and its smooth characteristics are particularly beneficial at cruising speeds. Plus, with fuel economy figures of up to 20mpg in the city and 29mpg on the highway, the 3.0-liter's ideal for buyers who plan on using the car on a day-to-day basis or on frequent long journeys.
'Plenty of oomph from the entry-level engine – and even more so from the two eight-cylinder options'
More power is available in the 445-horsepower, 4.4-liter eight-cylinder gasoline engine, with the range-topping M6 Gran Coupe producing 560-horsepower from an identically-sized engine. All models are only available with an eight-speed automatic transmission, so it's reassuring to know this smooth, slick-shifting unit is a great all-rounder that suits the car's character perfectly.
Equipment and Safety
'Fairly good value by luxury sedan standards. Be wary of pricier options, however...'
On top of undercutting quite a few of its chief rivals, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is relatively well equipped for a car with a $81,400 base price. All models come with navigation, parking sensors, a built-in WiFi hotspot, adaptive cruise control and heated, power-adjustable front seats.
Like most luxury cars, loads of options are available, though the pricing and selection of the equipment siphoned off as premium add-ons is questionable in places – Apple CarPlay compatibility will cost you an extra $300, with blind spot monitoring and adaptive suspension setting you back $500 and $2,500 respectively.
Official crash test results aren't available at time of writing, though the strong safety record of the previous generation BMW 5 Series (a car the Gran Coupe shares many mechanical components with) should transfer to the pricier BMW 6 Series.
Verdict
On its own, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe does impress, with its broad range of abilities making it a likeable and enjoyable-to-drive luxury sedan. However, as pleasant as it is, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is hard for us to recommend when newer, more comprehensive and opulent-feeling alternatives are available in this segment.
