BMW 320d Gran Turismo
The BMW 3 Series GT promises to mix all the practicality of the Touring estate version with all the sporty, fun driving dynamics of the 3 Series saloon.
The 3-series GT's mission is to combine the looks of the 3-series saloon with the usability of the Touring. Sounds familiar. And, perhaps, unrealistic. The car looks, and is, much bigger than a 3 series sedan. The 3-series GT mixes an extended wheelbase and body with a liftback boot, and a coupé-like roofline. As such, the GT is 200mm longer overall, has a 110mm longer wheelbase and is 81mm taller than an equivalent estate, and seat height has been raised – almost to the level of an X1. So, rear legroom is more than in a 5 series! The boot is huge too, at 520 litres. Again, that’s the same as in the bigger 5. But, thanks to its arcing silhouette and elongated tail, it’s designed to have the visual appeal of a liftback coupé rather than that of a utility car. The coupe-like rear doesn't look bad, but is not as handsome as a sedan. The Touring isn't available in Thailand, so if you want the practicality of the Touring, the GT is the 3 to go for.
Apart from the coupe roof at the rear, subtle design changes differentiate the GT from a normal 3. The headlights and grille are wider, thanks to the overall increase in dimensions. The bonnet has smoother contours to go with the car’s suggested character – more a comfortable long-distance cruiser than the edgier sedan.
In a first for BMW, the 3 GT gets an active rear spoiler that’s nicely hidden at speeds below 110kph. It is a functional unit, which reduces lift on the rear axle by almost 60 per cent, once engaged. It comes into action beyond 110kph and stays there until speed drops below 70kph. To improve aerodynamics, the 3 GT gets another first – the Air Breather – just behind the front wheel arch, which works in conjunction with the Air Curtains on the bonnet to facilitate airflow around the wheel and reduce drag. Not surprisingly, the car boasts of a drag coefficient of 0.28.
The GT is meant for long distance cruising, so the suspension is softly sprung compared to a sedan. The car glided over bad roads, although ride is still stiff compared to, say, a C-Class. The increased length has meant you will encounter a bit of roll on the front wheel when you try to drive it hard, as you should a 3 series. The electro-mechanical steering, which demands power only when needed, is still a joy to use and only limited by the car’s extra-long body and slightly higher centre of gravity.
By now, you realise that useable space in the 3 GT isn't hard to find. The rear seats are best for two, although it won't be too cramped for three. And there’s room for everyone’s luggage. Thanks to the slightly softer suspension, long-distance driving is reasonably comfortable, and there is room to stretch your legs without having to leave the back seat.
The one thing this BMW hasn't carried over from the 5 GT is the expensive twin-hatch mechanism. The 3 GT gets a single hatch which gives you plenty of loading capacity in case you want to carry some serious luggage. Of course, there is no need to store a spare wheel here because the car comes with run-flats, so BMW has used the space at the bottom to conveniently store the two-piece parcel trays in case you have to remove them to make full use of the 520-litre boot.
In Thailand 3 GT is only available with the powerful and economical 2.0-litre diesel engine 320d with 181 bhp and 380Nm of tough mated to the 8-speed automatic as standard. Power is available on tap and in whatever amount the driver demands. This is mated to BMW's brilliant eight-speed automatic, and together they make quick work of all the miles you can throw at the GT.
The BMW 3 GT - or Gran Turismo - gets bespoke bumpers and lights, and it looks handsome from the front. The slightly bulbous rear won't be to everyone's taste but BMW has done a far better job of getting the proportions right than it did with the larger 5 Series Gran Turismo. However, the car is very colour specific. Lighter choices help distract from the car's bulk, but in darker schemes it can seem a little bit ungainly. All models get an Air Curtain vent mounted behind the front wheels for improved airflow, which you won't find on any other 3 Series. There's also an active rear spoiler that pops up at 70mph, while 18-inch alloys are standard. Inside, the GT is identical to the 3 Series saloon apart from some extra trim on the door panels to match that on the dash. That means you get a slickly styled and clearly laid out dashboard, plus excellent build quality and classy materials. Buyers can choose between two different equipment levels Sport and Luxury, which each having their own unique styling cues.
BMW has actually set the 3 Series GT up to be a more comfortable car than the standard 3 Series, so you'll find it's not quite as sharp to drive. Its dampers work well to give a very soft ride in Comfort mode. Switch them to Sport and the suspension firms up, giving you much more confidence in the steering and a little more agility through the bends. The longer body, increased weight and higher centre of gravity mean it never feels as sharp as either the 3 Series saloon or Touring, but the rear-wheel-drive chassis and accurate steering ensure the 3 GT is still more fun to drive than most cars of this size. Of the engine choices, the diesel powered 320d makes the most sense, offering acceleration from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds with claimed fuel economy of 57.6mpg. The engine is a little bit noisy at idle but does improve at speed. The eight-speed automatic gearbox delivers smooth shifts in auto mode and responds crisply when you use the lever to change gears manually.
The platform underpinning the 3 Series GT is pretty much identical to the one used in the standard 3 Series, so buyers can look to the excellent reliability record of that car for peace of mind. The engine range is used extensively throughout BMW's line-up, and all have proven themselves to be extremely reliable. There's a definite feeling of solidity about the interior fittings as well, leading you to believe the 3 Series GT is certainly built to last. There's no official crash safety rating from Euro NCAP yet but he standard 3-Series achieved five stars, so we expect the GT to also score highly, with a full five-star rating. All cars get stability control and six airbags.
The 3 Series GT majors on practicality; it features a wheelbase that is 110mm longer than the standard car, which has allowed BMW to free up a lot more space in the back seats. With an extra 70mm of knee room, there's about as much space as you get in the 5 Series. The rear seats do recline, which helps rear seat passengers relax. The boot is also the largest out of any 3 Series model, with a healthy 520-litre capacity. The rear seats can be folded flat using a pair of levers mounted in the boot, liberating an impressive 1,600 litres of space, which again is more than is available in the practical Touring estate variant.
Conclusion:
The 3 series Touring (estate version) isn't sold in Thailand, but is hugely popular in Europe. The sedan is a universal success, and the GT will now do a new take on providing touring practicality while trying to match the sedan’s sportier stance with a coupe-style design. It's being pegged at someone who wants a 3 series but also wants something more practical, not just when it comes to driving but also when being driven around. A hugely practical 3 series variant – performance is at par, but not necessarily the dynamics. You sit 59mm higher than in the standard 3 Series and rear passengers have an extra 70mm of knee room, which puts it on a par with the larger 5 Series for spaciousness. The 3 GT also has a boot that's 25 litres larger than the Touring with the seats up and a further 100 litres larger with them folded flat. There is little doubt the GT is a more practical number than the sedan – the only downside is that it doesn't offer the adrenaline rush that you can get while piloting a 3 sedan through fast corners. If that’s a compromise you're willing to make, the 3 GT is what you need.
Test drives: AutoPortal AutoExpress CarBuyer AutoTrader AutoCar FastLaneCar Stern in German
The 3-series GT's mission is to combine the looks of the 3-series saloon with the usability of the Touring. Sounds familiar. And, perhaps, unrealistic. The car looks, and is, much bigger than a 3 series sedan. The 3-series GT mixes an extended wheelbase and body with a liftback boot, and a coupé-like roofline. As such, the GT is 200mm longer overall, has a 110mm longer wheelbase and is 81mm taller than an equivalent estate, and seat height has been raised – almost to the level of an X1. So, rear legroom is more than in a 5 series! The boot is huge too, at 520 litres. Again, that’s the same as in the bigger 5. But, thanks to its arcing silhouette and elongated tail, it’s designed to have the visual appeal of a liftback coupé rather than that of a utility car. The coupe-like rear doesn't look bad, but is not as handsome as a sedan. The Touring isn't available in Thailand, so if you want the practicality of the Touring, the GT is the 3 to go for.
Apart from the coupe roof at the rear, subtle design changes differentiate the GT from a normal 3. The headlights and grille are wider, thanks to the overall increase in dimensions. The bonnet has smoother contours to go with the car’s suggested character – more a comfortable long-distance cruiser than the edgier sedan.
In a first for BMW, the 3 GT gets an active rear spoiler that’s nicely hidden at speeds below 110kph. It is a functional unit, which reduces lift on the rear axle by almost 60 per cent, once engaged. It comes into action beyond 110kph and stays there until speed drops below 70kph. To improve aerodynamics, the 3 GT gets another first – the Air Breather – just behind the front wheel arch, which works in conjunction with the Air Curtains on the bonnet to facilitate airflow around the wheel and reduce drag. Not surprisingly, the car boasts of a drag coefficient of 0.28.
The GT is meant for long distance cruising, so the suspension is softly sprung compared to a sedan. The car glided over bad roads, although ride is still stiff compared to, say, a C-Class. The increased length has meant you will encounter a bit of roll on the front wheel when you try to drive it hard, as you should a 3 series. The electro-mechanical steering, which demands power only when needed, is still a joy to use and only limited by the car’s extra-long body and slightly higher centre of gravity.
By now, you realise that useable space in the 3 GT isn't hard to find. The rear seats are best for two, although it won't be too cramped for three. And there’s room for everyone’s luggage. Thanks to the slightly softer suspension, long-distance driving is reasonably comfortable, and there is room to stretch your legs without having to leave the back seat.
The one thing this BMW hasn't carried over from the 5 GT is the expensive twin-hatch mechanism. The 3 GT gets a single hatch which gives you plenty of loading capacity in case you want to carry some serious luggage. Of course, there is no need to store a spare wheel here because the car comes with run-flats, so BMW has used the space at the bottom to conveniently store the two-piece parcel trays in case you have to remove them to make full use of the 520-litre boot.
In Thailand 3 GT is only available with the powerful and economical 2.0-litre diesel engine 320d with 181 bhp and 380Nm of tough mated to the 8-speed automatic as standard. Power is available on tap and in whatever amount the driver demands. This is mated to BMW's brilliant eight-speed automatic, and together they make quick work of all the miles you can throw at the GT.
The BMW 3 GT - or Gran Turismo - gets bespoke bumpers and lights, and it looks handsome from the front. The slightly bulbous rear won't be to everyone's taste but BMW has done a far better job of getting the proportions right than it did with the larger 5 Series Gran Turismo. However, the car is very colour specific. Lighter choices help distract from the car's bulk, but in darker schemes it can seem a little bit ungainly. All models get an Air Curtain vent mounted behind the front wheels for improved airflow, which you won't find on any other 3 Series. There's also an active rear spoiler that pops up at 70mph, while 18-inch alloys are standard. Inside, the GT is identical to the 3 Series saloon apart from some extra trim on the door panels to match that on the dash. That means you get a slickly styled and clearly laid out dashboard, plus excellent build quality and classy materials. Buyers can choose between two different equipment levels Sport and Luxury, which each having their own unique styling cues.
BMW has actually set the 3 Series GT up to be a more comfortable car than the standard 3 Series, so you'll find it's not quite as sharp to drive. Its dampers work well to give a very soft ride in Comfort mode. Switch them to Sport and the suspension firms up, giving you much more confidence in the steering and a little more agility through the bends. The longer body, increased weight and higher centre of gravity mean it never feels as sharp as either the 3 Series saloon or Touring, but the rear-wheel-drive chassis and accurate steering ensure the 3 GT is still more fun to drive than most cars of this size. Of the engine choices, the diesel powered 320d makes the most sense, offering acceleration from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds with claimed fuel economy of 57.6mpg. The engine is a little bit noisy at idle but does improve at speed. The eight-speed automatic gearbox delivers smooth shifts in auto mode and responds crisply when you use the lever to change gears manually.
The platform underpinning the 3 Series GT is pretty much identical to the one used in the standard 3 Series, so buyers can look to the excellent reliability record of that car for peace of mind. The engine range is used extensively throughout BMW's line-up, and all have proven themselves to be extremely reliable. There's a definite feeling of solidity about the interior fittings as well, leading you to believe the 3 Series GT is certainly built to last. There's no official crash safety rating from Euro NCAP yet but he standard 3-Series achieved five stars, so we expect the GT to also score highly, with a full five-star rating. All cars get stability control and six airbags.
The 3 Series GT majors on practicality; it features a wheelbase that is 110mm longer than the standard car, which has allowed BMW to free up a lot more space in the back seats. With an extra 70mm of knee room, there's about as much space as you get in the 5 Series. The rear seats do recline, which helps rear seat passengers relax. The boot is also the largest out of any 3 Series model, with a healthy 520-litre capacity. The rear seats can be folded flat using a pair of levers mounted in the boot, liberating an impressive 1,600 litres of space, which again is more than is available in the practical Touring estate variant.
Conclusion:
The 3 series Touring (estate version) isn't sold in Thailand, but is hugely popular in Europe. The sedan is a universal success, and the GT will now do a new take on providing touring practicality while trying to match the sedan’s sportier stance with a coupe-style design. It's being pegged at someone who wants a 3 series but also wants something more practical, not just when it comes to driving but also when being driven around. A hugely practical 3 series variant – performance is at par, but not necessarily the dynamics. You sit 59mm higher than in the standard 3 Series and rear passengers have an extra 70mm of knee room, which puts it on a par with the larger 5 Series for spaciousness. The 3 GT also has a boot that's 25 litres larger than the Touring with the seats up and a further 100 litres larger with them folded flat. There is little doubt the GT is a more practical number than the sedan – the only downside is that it doesn't offer the adrenaline rush that you can get while piloting a 3 sedan through fast corners. If that’s a compromise you're willing to make, the 3 GT is what you need.
Test drives: AutoPortal AutoExpress CarBuyer AutoTrader AutoCar FastLaneCar Stern in German