BMW 6GT: The 5's Sensible Cousin?

BMW’s 6 Series Gran Turismo — 6GT for short -- plugs a unique gap. The 5 Series retails between Rs 55.4 lakh and Rs 68.4 lakh (ex-showroom). Say you want even more space to indulge your family in luxury, your next option would’ve been the 7 Series. And that, surprise surprise, costs as much as two top-spec 5 Series. You see why BMW thinks it’s wise to push in a slightly controversial looking but thoroughly practical option in the form of the 6GT here. 

It isn’t asking for twice the money either. In fact, the price difference is as little as ~10 percent between the top-spec M Sport variants of the 5 and the 6GT. Should you just make the switch? 

Advantage 6GT

Bigger, Blingier.

Sure, the 6GT is based on the same ‘Cluster Architecture’ (CLAR) platform as the 5 Series. But it has a noticeably larger footprint compared to the sedan — 155mm longer, 32mm wider and 76mm taller. The wheelbase has been stretched by a significant 95mm. Plus, the coupe-like roofline, frameless doors and the active spoiler have their own charm. It’s also worth noting that in the top-spec M Sport variant, the 6GT gets a sweet set of 19-inch alloy wheels, compared to the 18-inchers on the 5 Series. 

More Room

The stretched proportions on the outside have an obvious benefit on the inside. Between the two, it’s the 6GT that offers more space for you, your loved ones and the luggage. Here’s a quick look at the measurements. 

Front

For the front seats, the 6GT offers bigger seats, more headroom and legroom too. There’s an extra 25mm of width too, making the cabin feel spacious. 

Rear 

The added width and headroom is apparent at the rear too, despite the 6GT’s coupe-like roofline. However, note that the seat base on the 6 is slightly smaller compared to the 5. Minimum kneeroom is a whopping 95mm better, whereas maximum kneeroom is an extra 35mm in comparison to the sedan. 

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If you’re chauffeur-driven, chances are you’d prefer the 6GT over the 5 Series. Not just for the added space, but also for the slightly higher seating position. You can pack in a few extra suitcases for that weekend trip too, given that the boot is larger at 610 litres, compared to the 530-litre boot on the 5. 

Focussed For The Boss

With the 6GT, BMW seems to have focussed strongly on the rear seat occupants. For privacy, you get electric sunblinds. There’s four-zone climate control on offer too, which lets you set four individual temperatures for all four quadrants of the cabin. You also get treated to a rear-seat entertainment package, with two 10.2-inch touchscreens mounted behind the front seats. This supports USB connectivity, and also lets you plug in headphones should you wish to tune out. 

Air Suspension, Baby! 

No matter which version of the 6GT you pick, adaptive air suspension is bundled in as standard. This automatically adjusts the height of the vehicle depending on the load to optimise ride comfort. You get to choose between Comfort, Comfort+ and Sport settings that alter the ride to suit the terrain and your mood. In comparison, the 5 Series just gets adaptive damping -- that too only on the top-spec 530d M Sport. 

Advantage: 5 Series

Quicker!

The 5 Series and the 6 GT share the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol, 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engines. 

In case of the petrol motors, despite having an advantage of 6 extra horsepower and 50Nm, the 630i is two tenths slower than the 530i in the 0-100kmph sprint. 

With the diesels, the 5 pulls a significant 0.4 second lead over its cousin. That said, unlike the petrol versions where the 6GT gets additional power and torque, output remains identical for the diesels. 

Cleaner Design

If we had to pick, the classic three-box shape of the 5 Series would definitely rank higher than the leaned-forward coupe-inspired design of the 6GT.  Full-LED adaptive headlamps, the signature kidney grille, and LED tail lamps make the 5 stand out just as much. Sure, it isn’t as distinct as the GT, but if blending in is your thing — you might just prefer the 5. 

Sensible, then? 

If you could do with (comparatively) less space, and want a quicker and more engaging drive experience, the 5 Series serves up the grins with a lot more intent. 

If your definition of sensible matches ours i.e better cabin space, bigger equipment list, comfier ride and a larger boot, the 6 GT does seem like it’s worth the stretch. That said, it’d be a better fit for anyone looking to spend most of their time being chauffeured around, or usually has family in tow for the long road trips.