Search: more on the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo
Created as a response to feedback from customers, the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo is designed to have the elegance and style of a saloon, the versatility and space of an SUV and the practicality and functionality of an estate. Is this a good mix and could this be the closest BMW comes to building an MPV? We headed to Scotland to find out.
Challenging looks
On the outside, the five-door looks like almost like a bloated mix of shrunken 7-Series and 5-Series Tourer. BMW challenged its designers to create a practical, five-seater coupe and the result is only moderately successful. At the front is what is expected to be the next Five-Series nose with its upright kidney grilles, large air intakes, sculptured bonnet and slanted headlights. The side features a distinctive styling crease, frameless doors, a coupe-like roof line and its own version of the characteristic Hofmeister kink. At the back, the most noticeable styling feature apart from the split tailgate has to be the distinctive L-shaped LED rear light clusters.
The inside story
The inside of the new Gran Turismo is much more cohesively designed than the exterior. The quality of the trim is as you’d expect for a car of this price range. The dashboard design flows well into the front doors and on to the rear and the commanding driving position increases visibility. Interior space is best described as vast, with rear legroom comparable to the 7-Series. One Gran Turismo design highlight has to be the rear seats, which on Executive models is split into two which adjust individually with their back rests. There’s enough space for five (or four on Executive models) and BMW is making great claims for the rear hatch, it has a small opening but is a flexible shape with 440-litre boot. This can be increased to 1,700-litres with the innovative rear seat folded down.
Which engine?
There’s a choice of three engines, two petrols and one diesel for the 5-Series Gran Turismo. The range starts with the 306bhp 535i, which features a new single turbo engine and sprint the heavy Gran Turismo to 60mph in just 6.3 seconds. Next up is what BMW expect to be the big seller, the 245bhp 530d and then there’s the range-topping twin-turbo 550i with 407bhp. I got to drive the 535i mated to six-speed automatic transmission and found it to be surprisingly swift, despite the Gran Tursimo’s weight and tall body. The auto box changes gears smoothly enough, but feels more lively with the standard Dynamic Drive Control set in Sport and Sport+ modes.
What's it like to drive?
The 5-Series Gran Turismo is a surprising car to drive, as despite its extra bulk it always feels poised and agile to drive. The chassis is balanced and the ride quality is also up to limo-levels. The standard Dynamic Drive Control controls settings for the gearbox, throttle, steering and dampers. There are four settings: Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+. In my view, Comfort is way too soft and wallowy and Sport+ was way too harsh over the bumpy Scottish roads. If I owned a 5-Series Gran Turismo I’d leave it in Normal or Sport settings as these show the Gran Turismo’s capable chassis at its best.
Summing up
If you can live with the Five-Series Gran Turismo’s avant-garde looks the new version of the Five-Series is an interesting, fun to drive solution to carrying four in luxury.
Want to see more? Check out our BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo gallery
