BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo (2017-2020) Review

The BMW 6 series GT combines coupe, hatchback and saloon in one but could be a little more exciting to drive

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Lots of interior and boot space
  • Impressive build quality
  • Excellent entertainment system
  • Uninspiring handling for a GT
  • Petrol models depreciate heavily
  • Wheel sizes can hurt fuel economy

The 6 Series GT is a saloon, coupe and hatchback rolled into one. We’ve been here before with the old 5 Series GT, which this model replaced.

This 6 Series version shares mechanical parts with the current 5 Series saloon which, given how good that car is, is a good thing. However, it’s almost as big as a BMW 7 Series, so is even roomier and more comfortable - the raison d'etre of the car.

It goes up against other big coupes including the Audi A7 Sportback and Mercedes CLS. It’s clearly the more spacious and practical of the three but not as good looking.

There are two petrol and two diesel engines to choose from but given the GT is aiming to be a long-distance luxury cruise vessel with plenty of room for passengers and luggage, the diesels make the most sense.

We like the entry-level 620d. It has enough ‘go’ to get you quickly up to the legal maximum and stay there, while consuming much less fuel in the process. If you want more muscle, go for the 630d. It’s also a smooth, quiet and flexible engine.

Enthusiast drivers will be tempted by the smooth and powerful 630i and 640i petrols but they are juicy and depreciate faster than the diesels.

Four-wheel drive, referred to as 'xDrive' by BMW, is standard on the 640i and an option on the diesels. It’s certainly worth having on the torquey 630d where it adds an extra layer of security in the wet when you put your foot down.

The GT is at its best in a straight line. It’s too heavy and bulky to shine in the corners and its steering lacks true feel. An Audi A7 Sportback and Mercedes CLS are better.

The GT is the same length between the front and rear wheels as the BMW 7 Series luxury saloon. This translates into generous cabin space. Although it slopes, the roof is sufficiently high that headroom is in abundant supply, even with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted.

The vast 610-litre boot is bigger than the competition’s and thanks to the 40/20/40-split and fold rear seats can be made larger still. It’s just a pity it’s a little shallow, a consequence of the sloping roofline.

The driving position is very good, although lumbar support is only an option. A large glass area means visibility is excellent but if you’re struggling to park it, there’s a reversing camera and sensors.

Fit and finish are first-class. The dashboard is straight out of the 5 Series and all the better for it. There are two trim levels and both feature BMW’s first-rate infotainment system. SE has most of the things you could wish for but we’d understand why people might like to spend a little more on M Sport trim since it gives the otherwise bulky GT a bit of much-needed visual sparkle.

 

Key facts

Warranty 3 years
Boot size 610 litres
Width 1902mm
Length 5091mm
Height 1538mm
Tax (min to max) £170 to £855 in the first year; £465 from the second

Best BMW 6 Series for...

Best for Economy – BMW 620d SE

On 18-inch wheels this version can do 46.3mpg. SE is the cheaper of the two trims, further reducing your costs. However, with optional xDrive, economy can fall as low as 40.4mpg.

Best for Families – BMW 630d xDrive SE

Decent economy and strong performance combined with secure four-wheel-drive and good-value SE trim make the GT a great family express.

Best for Performance – BMW 640i xDrive M Sport

This is the quickest GT and xDrive gives it the ability to exploit its performance in all weathers while M Sport trim looks the part.

One to Avoid – BMW 630i M Sport

Slower and much less economical than the 630d, you’d be better off paying a little bit more for that car in SE trim.

History

2017: Car launched and replaced 5 Series GT. Engines are 630i, 640i and 630d.
2018: The 620d engine is introduced.
2019: New, more accurate WLTP economy and emissions figures are published.

Understanding BMW 6 Series names

Engine 20d

Confusingly, these numbers are not always a clue to the size of the engine. Here, they are, with the 20d being a 2.0-litre engine. However, the 30i petrol is also a 2.0 litre… The letter following is d for diesel. The petrol engines have no letter.

Drive xDrive

All GTs are rear-wheel drive, which means the engine’s power goes to the rear wheels. However, all but the 30i petrol engine models are also available with four-wheel drive or what BMW calls xDrive. It boosts grip in slippery conditions and is not for off-roading. It’s standard on the 640i and an option on the diesel cars.

Trim M Sport

This the level of luxury you can expect to find. The standard trim is called SE but you can have a sportier look and feel in the shape of M Sport inspired by BMW’s M performance division.

BMW 6 Series Engines

Petrol: 30i, 40i

Diesel: 20d, 30d 

The GT is offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. However, modern diesels are so good that you can almost rule out the petrols. The 620d may not look powerful enough for such a big car on paper, but it’s probably all the engine you’ll ever need.  However, the 630d has the edge in terms of effortless, high-speed, long-distance cruising ability and sheer punch.

Of the two petrols, the six-cylinder 640i is the smoothest and most characterful. It’s a strong performer but you’ll pay at the fuel pumps.

BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive boosts grip levels and allows the engines to put all their power down safely and securely but it does affect economy slightly.

For example, without it, the 630d SE returns up to 43.5mpg and with it, 40.9mpg. For some drivers, the pay-offs in terms of increased grip in the wet will be ample compensation.

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

30i

Petrol

32.1-34.9mpg

258hp

0-62mph: 6.3s

155mph

40i

Petrol

26.9-29.1mpg

340hp

0-62mph: 5.3s

155mph

20d

Diesel

40.4-46.3mpg

190hp

0-62mph: 7.9-8.0s

140mph

30d

Diesel

37.2-43.5mpg

265hp

0-62mph: 6.0-6.1s

155mph

BMW 6 Series Trims

SE, M Sport

Two well-equipped trim levels mean that it’s simple to choose the GT that’s right for you. SE has most of the things you’d expect in a £50,000 car including LED headlights, large alloy wheels, a large display screen packed with connected features, and a reversing camera and parking sensors.

M Sport brings a sportier feel to the car thanks to a body kit, a sports steering wheel and pedals, larger 19-inch wheels, firmer suspension and stronger brakes.

 

BMW 6 Series Reliability and warranty

The GT’s three-year, unlimited mileage warranty is typical of most car makers. Don’t read too much into this, as the BMW 5 Series saloon, on which the 6 Series GT is based, charted in a reasonable 36th place out of 75 cars in the 2019 Auto Express Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, making it BMW’s highest-ranking model. Japanese and Korean models dominated the chart above it.

Used BMW 6 Series

Obviously, a used 6 Series GT is a great used car buy but thanks to its strong image, performance, quality and practicality, it’s no steal. As this was written, BuyaCar was showing a year-old 620d GT M Sport with 10,000 miles for £34,000, a saving of £13,500 on the new price, or a fall of 28%. As new cars go, that’s not heavy depreciation although it’s still enough to make a used GT look very tempting.

Instead, if you want a real bargain, look among the petrol models. BuyaCar was also showing a year-old 630i M Sport with 5000 miles priced at £34,000 or almost £18,000 less than new, a fall of 34%. This is only to be expected on petrol versions with their higher running costs.