Used BMW 6 Series GT 2017-2020 review review

Like chalk and cheese, practicality and style are two very different things. Combining the pair isn't easy, but the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo (or GT) makes an attempt at accomplishing this feat. Is it a success? Well, you can be the judge when it comes to style, but its sleek exterior design comes at very little detriment to interior and boot space. And that makes it a very compelling luxury car buy, especially used.

Its predecessor, the 5 Series Gran Turismo sold relatively well in places such as the US and China, but proved something of an acquired taste on these shores, finding precious few homes. The 6 Series GT, though, is less divisive to look at, and – better still – promises great things for enthusiastic drivers, thanks to sharing the brilliant, current-gen 5 Series' underpinnings.

The engine line up is rather simple. You have the choice of two petrol engines in the four-cylinder 630i and the six-cylinder 640i, or two diesels, the 620d and 630d.

The 640i has the most potent engine in the lineup, with 335bhp on tap and superb low-down pull to dispatch slow-moving traffic. It’s also impressively smooth, even when pushed hard, thanks in part to BMW’s excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox. However, the real-world performance of the far cheaper-to-run 630d diesel is much easier to take full advantage of, and that model’s 0-62mph time of 6.1sec is less than a second slower, with the same electronically limited 155mph top speed.

So, the 6 Series GT’s pace makes it good for overtaking and sprinting down motorway slip roads, but it’s not exactly a sports car in the corners. All 640i models have BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive system; it was an option on both the 620d and 630d. With it, you rarely find the wheels struggling for traction, but the car’s sheer size makes it feel less eager to change direction than a 5 Series.

Overall, sitting behind the wheel of the 6 Series GT is a pleasing experience. Its driving seat is soft but supportive in the main, but you might wish there was more side bolstering for a firmer hold through corners. There’s plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, though, so all shapes and sizes of driver should fit comfortably.

The 6 Series GT’s interior shares the 5 Series’ dashboard, and that’s a very good thing. The materials that surround you are BMW’s latest, consisting of soft plastics, piano black and chrome trims. BMW’s attractive ambient interior lighting is standard, allowing you to select the colour of illumination to your own taste.

Furthermore, BMW’s Professional iDrive infotainment system came as standard from new, with a wide 10.3in colour screen that's controlled most easily using the rotary dial and shortcut buttons between the front seats, or, if you wish, you can operate it as a touchscreen. It remains among the best infotainment systems on sale for ease of use and visual quality.

Front passenger space is exceptional and so is rear space – it's even possible for adults to sit three abreast comfortably. The boot's superb 610-litre capacity provides impressive space for buggies or suitcases; we fitted nine carry-on suitcases inside, but if that's not enough, the rear seats fold almost flat in a practical 40/20/40 configuration to provide a lengthy extended load bay for (rather posh) trips to the tip.

If you're interested in finding a used 6 Series GT, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Having a budget of at least £25,000 is advisable, certainly as a starting point. This will get you into a 2017 or 2018 car in 620d SE form with around 50,000 miles on the clock. For around £2,000 more, you'll find 630ds in M Sport trim; you'll need a similar amount for a 630i or a 2019 car. For a 640i, expect to pay upwards of £31,000.

Examples from 2020 are sparse, with prices nearing £40,000.

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MPG

The 630d, with its official average of 57.6mpg, is excellent on fuel, even with its impressive performance. At the other end of the spectrum, you have the 640i and its official average of 35.3mpg.

Road tax

Due to being registered after April 2017, all 6 Series GT models (whether petrol or diesel) will be charged the current flat rate fee of £155 per year. However, if your example was priced at more than £40,000 when new, you will be charged an additional £335 per year for years two to six of the car's life. Find out more about current road tax costs here.

Insurance and servicing

With insurance groups ranging from 40 to 50, the GT won't be cheap to insure. Expect servicing costs to be relatively high as well.

The 630d offers all the performance you'll need, plus it's among the most affordable models in the range to buy and run. In terms of trim, entry level SE is relatively uncommon; there are far more M Sport cars around and they're not much more expensive.

Our favourite BMW 6 Series GT: 630d M Sport

The 6 Series GT's closest rivals include the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS, both of which, like the GT, are sleeker, though still quite practical versions of more conventional luxury saloon cars.

The excellent BMW 5 Series on which the GT is based is also a great alternative, especially seeing as there are more examples on the used market, as well as more choice when it comes to engines and trim levels.

If you're interested in finding a used 6 Series GT, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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