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AutoExpress takes the all-new BMW 640d Gran Coupe and pits it against its strongest segment competitors, the Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CDI and the Porsche Panamera. The 640d Gran Coupe is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 313 horsepower and 630 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. 0 to 62 mph is said to come in 5.4 seconds. The segment creator, Mercedes CLS, in its 350 CDI variant is priced at £54,210. Under the hood, the 350 CDI packs a 3.0-liter V6 diesel which outputs 256 horsepower capable of the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in just 6.2 seconds. Closing the circle is the Porsche Panamera, a £62,134 diesel machine powered by 3.0-liter engine that develops 247 horsepower and 55. 0-60mph is covered in 6.5 seconds. In this review, the 640d Gran Coupe just places second. Learn why on this excerpt below:
2nd Place – BMW 640d Gran CoupeThankfully, one area of the Gran Coupe that didn’t divide opinion was the drivetrain. While the engine is based on the 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel that appears in the 7 Series, in the 6 Series it offers 10bhp more. The car also features a newer transmission: an eight-speed auto borrowed from the 5 Series range.
Despite being such a mix and match, the 640d’s drivetrain works beautifully. With deep reserves of low-range pulling power and perfectly spaced ratios, the car punches out of corners with an eagerness that belies its 1,865kg kerbweight. Plus, the box has a manual function that allows shifts via a pair of neatly fashioned steering wheel paddles, and this ensured the BMW was the only car of our test trio that felt happy letting its driver make the choices.
Thanks to its 5 Series underpinnings, the Gran Coupe also delivers when it comes to driving dynamics. It strikes a fine balance between sportiness and refinement – soaking up surface imperfections without robbing the driver of feedback from the road surface. The front end is accurate and easy to place, while the car’s agility through twisting sections of tarmac speaks volumes for BMW’s chassis know-how.
But if we have a criticism of the Gran Coupe, it has to be value for money. With a basic price of £63,900, the 640d is the most expensive car in this test – it costs £1,766 more than the Panamera and £9,690 more than the CLS. Although the BMW does come with a generous kit list, it offers no more space or performance than its two rivals here. So while it’s an easy car to love, your devotion will be sorely tested when you’re asked to sign on the dotted line.
