2018 BMW 6-series GT review, road test

Love the BMW 5-series but find the long-wheelbase new Merc E-class’ space hard to look beyond? BMW might have just the car for you in its new 6GT.

Published on May 16, 2018 08:00:00 AM

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6GT is much better turned-out than its predecessor but still has its bulky angles.

The driving environment is very similar to what you’d get in a 5-series, but you do sit higher up in here.

The 6GT sits between the 5-series sedan and 7-series limousine in BMW’s model hierarchy, and its size reflects as much too. It’s over 150mm longer than the 5 sedan, and the 3,070mm wheelbase is also 95mm longer than the sedan’s, if still 9mm shorter than that of the long-wheelbase Merc E-class. The 6GT is also taller and wider than the 5-series, and the net effect is that it looks more substantial than the sedan in the metal.

Also important to bring in right at the start is that the 6GT’s design is not as much of an acquired taste as the old 5GT’s. Sure, traditionalists may still not take to the liftback (Gran Turismo in BMW speak) shape, and individualists who want their cars to stand out have the sexier Audi sportbacks to choose from, but the latest BMW does balance form and function far more successfully than its predecessor. The 6GT has a smoother silhouette, and BMW designers are particularly proud of how the 64mm lower rear deck has allowed the roof to flow down coupé-style into the back. Still, there are angles from which the 6GT appears bulky, especially on the standard 18-inch wheels that look small amid the vast body.

Play spot the differences with pictures of the 5 sedan and 6GT’s front ends and you’ll note the latter’s headlights are raised and the bumper is unique in its detailing too. The overall styling treatment, however, is modern BMW. The headlights fuse with the kidney grille, and at the sides there’s a prominent shoulder line too; the traditional Hofmeister kink at the C-pillars, however, is all but absent. A nice touch is the sculpted effect to the full-LED tail-lights and there’s a hidden spoiler atop the rear deck that automatically rises when above 120kph, and can also be extended/retracted at the touch of a button. The 6GT also gets other clever aero-aiding touches like inlets in the front bumpers and outlets just aft the front wheel arches to reduce turbulence around the wheel arches. Also hidden behind the kidney grille are mechanical louvres that shut when the engine doesn’t need cooling, thereby reducing drag and improving airflow over the car.

Like the 5-series, the 6GT is built on BMW’s new CLAR (Cluster Architecture) platform, with the body structure using a substantial proportion of aluminium and high-strength steel. BMW claims the 6GT is as much as 150kg lighter than the 5GT it replaces. For now, the 6GT is only available in India in 630i petrol form, though a diesel is expected soon. Power from the engine goes to the rear wheels via ZF’s ubiquitous eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The suspension comprises double wishbones up front and a multi-link setup at the rear; commendably, air springs and dynamic dampers are standard fit.