The BMW 6 Series GT is an odd bird in today’s automotive scene. Filling in the shoes left empty by the departure of the 5 Series GT that came before it, the new 6er will soon remain the only car in the range to wear the number on the boot as the Convertible and Gran Coupe models will be retired. However, as confusing as things might be, one definitely should know that the GT doesn’t really go up against cars like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, right? Or does it?
Rebecca Jackson of What Car recently took a BMW 630d GT out for a spin and decidedly compared it against the CLS and the Audi A7 for some reason. To me, that’s a bit of a stretch and unfair for the BMW which is meant to be a roomier, more practical alternative to the 7 Series and not a classy, low-slung rival for the two aforementioned 4-door coupe models. For that, BMW still has the 6 Series Gran Coupe in the range and will bring out the 8 Series Gran Coupe next year.
As I said, the comparison with the CLS or the A7 is unfair, not only to the BMW which would lose in the design department but also to its rivals which would lose on the practicality side of things. Albeit the 6er does come with a sloping roofline and frameless windows, it is closer to a crossover than a four-door coupe and yes, I’ll admit it is hard to fit it in a traditional niche/segment. Due to its size and weight, as Rebecca points out, the 6 Series GT would also lose to its competitors if we were to compare handling, as its taller center of gravity will make it lean quite a lot.
Then again, this isn’t what the 6er GT was made for. Instead, BMW created it as a luxurious alternative to the 7 Series, with more space in the back and the boot. It’s a more practical choice if you will, which comes with all the bells and whistles of the 7er which makes it a winner in my book but definitely not a rival for the Audi A7 or the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
