2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo Review
The BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo is an unmistakably unique 4-door coupe that BMW says balances sport and luxury and if you take a close look at one, you'll see that the description is just about perfect. This large BMW comes with the usual quality BMW cabin and fixtures along with a twin-turbocharged 335 hp inline 6-cylinder engine and BMW's intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive system. While the Gran Turismo doesn't quite have a clear place in the BMW lineup, it will no doubt appeal to those who want a family car with that great German quality, and the pricing looks attractive too.
Interior
The great thing with the BMW range is that they all share many of the same parts and use the same quality materials and so only a few differences in overall design let you know what car you're in. The Gran Turismo you get the 16-way power adjustable front seats in a choice of leather finishes, with the rears matching.
On the dash you can have a choice of finishes surrounded by brushed aluminum, and this look carries on in the center console and the door cards and the multifunction steering wheel. A customizable 12.3-inch screen heads up the instrument cluster while a 10.2-inch screen heads up the infotainment system.
The shifter and dial for the iDrive system is a touch of class with a great aesthetic design. Space is at a premium in the 6-Series Gran Turismo, which is one of the car's selling points. The rear can fit three adults comfortably; the sloping rear roof and the large 65 cu-ft. of trunk space won't affect taller ones either.
Driving
The BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo is a mid-size sedan with a hatchback rear that shares underpinnings with the 5-Series, and so that makes the car rather competent when it comes to handling. The suspension is smooth and comfortable and stiffens up well when needed, although the optional dynamic handling package features dynamic damper control that offers a sportier, tighter feel.
Power delivery from the turbocharged engine is brilliant, and the 8-speed automatic transmission is geared optimally for the power and is as smooth in the BMW as all the other premium cars that use it. While the Gran Turismo's main function is to be a safe and fancy people carrier for the well heeled, there's a good amount of power on tap making it pretty fast. With power driving all four wheels when the situation dictates thanks to the xDrive all-wheel drive system; the GT is able to confidently hug the roads.
Performance
There's just one model of the BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo destined for the States, the 640i. This means the Gran Turismo is fitted with a turbocharged TwinPower 3.0-liter engine, the well-used inline 6-cylinder powerplant that supplies 335 hp with 332 lb-ft of torque.
The medium-sized car is able to gallop to the 60 mph mark in as little as 5.1-seconds and tops out at the usual electronically limited BMW figure of 155 mph. Sending power to the xDrive all-wheel drive system is the 8-speed automatic transmission, the fact that you can find the same one in many a luxury car tells you how good it is. Smooth, quiet and fast when needed.
Equipment & Safety
Inside that BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo you'll find everything that makes BMW a premium brand. Finishings can be tailored with wood and different leathers to make things more comfortable and unique to the buyer's personality. Safety features include an array of airbags, Daytime Pedestrian Protection, frontal collision warning with city collision mitigation, cross-traffic alert, active blind spot detection and lane departure warning.
The infotainment can include Apple CarPlay and gesture controls, a rear-view camera, navigation, and a 12-speaker audio system. Of course all the usual features and acronyms are in play, as seen in the full executive BMW range.
Verdict
Those who were interested in the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo and missed out need not worry. The 6-Series Gran Turismo is pretty much the same thing besides being slightly longer and having the 6-Series designation. As expected, with 6 being higher than 5, the price has risen to match.
While it's essentially a premium mid-sized sedan, it does feature a hatch trunk and that makes it stand out a bit. It's not very pretty if you have to be honest, but that's also part of the GT appeal. At the end of the day it's still a premium BMW with all the luxury appointments, a turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive – and that's all very good.
