BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Review

We have to note that things are pretty different from market to market. While in the US you get the Luxury and Sport lines, Europeans also receive a third choice called Modern. Of course, there’s also the M Sport Package. Oh, by the way, there are also special markets, such as the UK, which gets trim levels, not lines.

We’ll leave the configuring for latter on and open the door now. They’ve chosen frameless windows to spice things up. Once you go past this, you’ll be treated with the usual 3 Series interior. Except the space, of course. An extra 4.3 inches (110 mm) of wheelbase and 3.2 inches (81 mm) in height may sound like a lot on paper, but the real world result is even more impressive.

Up front the seating position is elevated by 2.3 inches (59 mm), so the comfort, or family, if you like, orientation of the car immediately becomes clear to the driver. Still, we have to get in the back for the real treat. Access comes as easy as you’d say “GT” and once you’re in you’ll get to enjoy an extra 2.75 inches (70 mm) of legroom.

The whole atmosphere in here feels airy - they could’ve just as well fit the thing with a rear control for the front passenger’s seat. They’ve kept the greenhouse generous, so the lounge feeling is here. Unfortunately, BMW’s cushions aren’t all that soft and this does bring the cabin’s score down a bit.

Oh and since we mentioned the family we have to explain that three adults can share the back seat. That’s because the new configurations means the rear wheel arches are less intrusive. If you want to spoil yourself, you can adjust the backrest angles over a 19-degree angle.

You can even bring the backrest in vertical position if that’s what you need in order for the luggage behind to fit. They’ve gone though quite some effort to boost the practicality.

We shall start with the the power tailgate, which is standard. Once you open it, you’re treated with 18.4 cubic feet (520 liters), a 25 increase over the 3 Series Touring. What’s more, they populated the boot with a two-piece parcel shelf that proved its practicality during our drive. What’s more, you can fold both sections, stowing them under the compartment’s floor. Here’s where you’ll also find a 12V socket.

Don’t worry though, you can still dip into the list of options. You can also specify a hands-free boot opener, the one that requires a swift foot movement to open the hatch. Another thing you’ll probably want is the gas pressure spring for the load compartment floor, or perhaps the variable attachment system, comprising of two rails fitted to the floor.