What would you get if a BMW 5-Series and 7-Series had a love child - well, you’d end up with this - a BMW 6-Series Gran Tourismo.

A few years ago, I said the BMW 5GT was the manufacturer's best kept secret - why? Well, it was built on the 7-series platform and almost had the same dimensions, for a lot less money.

But for 2018, the 5GT is no more and has been replaced by a larger, more versatile 6-Series GT.

Something you are guaranteed with a BMW is excellent performance and superb economy all at the same time. This 3.0 diesel 6-cylinder pushes out 265bhp whilst returning almost 50mpg.

The car is fitted with the optional air suspension package which is an essential if you choose the 6GT - it’s a £1,300 option but you’ll get a comparable soft and silky ride to the 7-series.

As in any BMW we test, it’s loaded with options. Once you starting loading up the 6GT with luxuries such as comfort seats, wireless charging, rear seat comfort package etc etc, then you start getting into 7-Series territory - and that’s a big issue.

But you do get 7-series luxury and fine interiors we’ve all come to love inside top end BMW’s. You can of course opt for the extremely initiative rear media pack which does make the 6GT a bit more special than a standard model.

So, why would a chauffeur choose a 6GT over a 5 or 7-Series? Well, it’s all about space. The boot capacity has been increased to a whopping 610 litres so plenty of room for three large cases perhaps, but then if you need more, then this parcel shelf can be stored under here, then a push of button gives you 1800 litres of boot space.

When you’re in rear seats, the you’d be forgiven if you mistook it for a short-wheel base 7 as you certainly have plenty of legroom and tonnes and tonnes of headroom. Rear seats do recline slightly, and this model is fitted with the rear entertainment which does make it feel a little more special.

However, there’s an issue with the doors that I think would cause a problem during chauffeur duties. You see they’re very short compared to the 7-series, and also because they’re pilarless, you get a very disturbing rattle when the doors are closed.

When the 5GT was introduced, you got 7-Series luxury for 5-series money, but now with the introduction of the 6GT it’s much more expensive due to the fact of greater equipment levels, and makes the decision to buy one of these, a much harder one.

So, in conclusion, the 6GT is certainly a handsome, capable, well-equipped car which offers more versatility than a 5 series - but for chauffeurs looking to take advantage of systems like X-Drive the X5 is a better compromise, or a base model 7 is ideal for those concentrating on comfort.

#chauffeur #bmw #6series

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