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AutoExpress reviews the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo and says that “it’s easily the most spacious and comfortable 3 Series you can buy and there’s not too much of a sacrifice from behind the wheel”. Learn why on this excerpt below:
The 3 Series has always been the most engaging car in its class to drive, so it’s a worry when BMW reveals it has softened up the suspension in the GT to improve comfort. A quick drive is all it takes to reveal the 3 Series hasn’t lost too much of its magic, though – so long as you opt for the three-stage adjustable M Sport dampers (£750).
Yes, there’s a fraction more body roll in comfort mode than the saloon, but select Sport and you still get a really crisp turn-in, combined with better-weighted, communicative steering and an agile chassis. The easiest way to allay any fears about the handling is to say it feels a lot like a 3 Series saloon, albeit one that’s lost a fraction of its sharpness. It still grips hard and feels more fun than an Audi A5 Sportback down a twisty road.
But focusing on high-speed agility is missing the point, the 3 GT’s trump card is its comfort. What it loses in handling to the saloon and Touring, it makes up for with an impeccable ride. On the 18-inch wheels of our test car it gently cushions the driver from large bumps and softens out ups and downs far better than any other 3 Series.
There’s absolutely no doubt the 3 Series GT has its place in the range but all this extra luxury does come at a price. Our 320d GT – at £31,310 – commands a premium of £2,900 over the saloon and £1,600 over the Touring. That’s a substantial increase, but then no other car offers the GT’s mix of comfort, space and driver engagement. The A5 Sportback comes close, but it’s far less spacious and costs about the same as the BMW.
On that basis, there’s a solid argument for opting for the 3 GT over one of its rivals. But, buyers looking for a 3 Series will still have the temptation of the cheaper saloon and Touring models to consider, and that – as it was with the 5 Series GT – could well be its downfall.
Read full review at AutoExpress
