BMW 6-series GT review – a high-class 5-series or a cut price 7-series? - Performance and 0-60mph
BMW’s 6-series GT offers space, luxury and refinement and in 630d form a decent drive, too
Performance and 0-60 time
BMW might be keen to major on the Gran Turismo side of the GT’s character but despite this the benchmark sprint times demonstrate the big (err, coupe? Saloon? Low-slung SUV?) GT is no slouch. The entry-level 630i is equipped with BMW’s familiar 2-litre four cylinder which develops 255bhp from 5000-65000rpm and 295lb ft between 1550 and 4400rpm giving a 0-62mph time of 6.3sec and a 155mph maximum.
The next rung up the ladder is occupied by the only diesel in the line up, the 530d, and its stats are 261bhp at 4000rpm and a healthy 457lb ft giving a 6.1sec 0-62mph time for the rear-drive model, a figure that’s bettered by 0.1sec by the xDrive four-wheel drive.
The range-topper for the time being is the 640i xDrive and its 3-litre turbocharged ’six pushes out 335bhp between 5500 and 6500rpm while that’s backed up by 332lb ft of torque that’s on tap all the way from 1380 to 5200rpm. Aided by its four-wheel drive traction it hits 62mph from rest in a pretty decent 5.3 sec, not bad when you remember it tips the scales at 1910 kilos.
We’ve yet to sample the four-cylinder model, but both the diesel and petrol ’sixes feel strong, and while the benchmark sprint might indicate the 640i is the quicker car, on the road the diesel’s 130lb ft torque advantage makes itself felt and of the two it feels the better choice. Keep it spinning in its torque sweet spot and it’ll cover ground deceptively quickly. The petrol does rev eagerly but starts to run out of puff a little towards its top end and as the GT is well insulated from the outside world the straight-six soundtrack isn’t all that conspicuous inside.
