2017 BMW 3-Series GT Facelift Review
Car Tested: 2017 BMW 3-Series GT; Road Test No. 852
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 51.58 – 55.20 lakhs
The 330i GT is something that can be termed as power-packed & practical
The BMW 3-Series is one of my favourite luxury sedans this side of Rs. 50 lakhs. It is dynamically sound, has good performance and feels like a product meant for enthusiasts. On the other hand, the 3-Series GT feels like a more practical version of the 3-Series since it comes with more space and better ground clearance at the cost of driving dynamics. To make things interesting, BMW launched the 330i trim on the GT which is a performance-oriented variant and we had a go in it, and once we were done, we drove the 320d GT, to check which one is better.
Motor Quest: The 330i badge was a favourite with enthusiasts when the previous generation 3-Series was available. It came with a meaty inline-6 engine that offered tons of performance and it was a very involving car to drive. In the Indian market, the 330i didn’t sell much as it was offered only during the fag end of the E90’s life.
The LCI version gets changes to the lights and bumpers on the outside
Exteriors – The car that we have tested here is the LCI version which is a mid-life facelift that includes revised bumpers, adaptive full-LED headlamps, tweaked LED tail-lamps and new alloy wheels. There are no major changes to the exteriors and the 3-Series GT continues to look similar. The changes are also subtle and not everyone will be able to make out the difference between this and the pre-LCI version. The 3-Series GT looks classy from the side and the front looks like a beefier version of the 3-Series sedan. The boot-lid mounted spoiler is definitely the party trick of this car.
Interior layout of the 3-Series GT remains largely unchanged
Interiors – The interiors don’t get many changes. The dashboard carries familiar BMW styling which is driver-centric with ergonomics sorted nicely. The beefy steering feels good to hold while the instrument cluster is neatly laid out. The centre console houses the usual buttons and the iDrive knob. The GT gets the updated version of iDrive and even though it feels more fluidic than before, the menus have a different layout and thus, it takes some time getting used to this, especially after using the older iDrive for quite a few years. What has also changed is the number of colour scheme options that are available now. The 3-Series is a good car to be in, with comfortable seating for four passengers, and a very practical boot.
The 330i gets a 2.0-litre engine with boosted power & torque figures
Performance – This is the first time the 330i badge is being offered with the F30 3-Series in India and since we loved the E90 with this badge, we were really looking forward to driving this one. Packed under the hood is a 2.0-litre petrol engine that comes with 4-cylinders, produces 252 HP of power at 5200 RPM and 350 Nm of torque between 1450-4800 RPM. Crank the engine and the car impresses with its refinement. The motor has almost negligible noise and feels super quiet. In Eco mode, power delivery isn’t all that great and gear shifts also happen slowly at low RPMs. Comfort mode gives a proper blend of quicker power delivery and decent fuel economy. In Sport mode, the powertrain starts feeling aggressive and if you mash the throttle, the car leaps ahead with a lot of urgency. The revs are also held on to 2000 RPM or more, so that you are always in the power band.
The 3-GT feels eager to drive with this engine
The 4 pot, 2.0-litre petrol drivetrain isn’t as dramatic as the older inline-6 unit
Sport+ mode is similar to Sport mode but it deactivates Dynamic Traction Control. The engine itself loves to be revved and has grunt all the way to the top-end of the RPM band. You get the usual 8-speed ZF transmission which is smooth shifting. It helps with quicker and more aggressive cog shifts when you feel like driving fast but blends in comfortably even when you’re just cruising down the highway. At 100 km/hr in 8th gear, the 3-Series GT chugs along without much effort at 1500 RPM. 0-100 km/hr comes up in a quick 6.41 seconds according to our VBOX tests. Fuel efficiency drops to 6 km/l if you’re driving hard, while with sedate driving you can expect 10-11 km/l. Since this is a 4-cylinder engine, the exhaust note isn’t as good as a 6-cylinder unit and all you hear is a whirr.
The diesel engine is familiar, offers performance & efficiency
The diesel powered BMW 3-Series GT uses the same oil burner as the regular 3-Series. This motor produces 188 BHP and 400 Nm, pulling all the way to 5000 RPM. As expected, the powertrain is very refined and can barely be heard at idle although it does get loud once you get past the mid-range, the sound from the mill being good to hear. The 320d GT performs well in the city, smoothly picks up the pace right from get go and there is a surge in the mid-range which is quite addictive. However, it’s really the highway where the BMW 3-Series GT diesel shines as the gearbox is just lovely, it shifts cogs in a jiffy and somehow always knows which gear to select. Even in Comfort mode, the vehicle is very responsive but when you shift in Sport (both the driving mode and gearbox), the added eagerness can be felt. Taking manual control of things using either the Tiptronic function or the steering mounted paddle shifts further make driving the GT a more enjoyable experience.
The 8-speed ZF gearbox is indeed good with slick shifts
The diesel powertrain is very frugal, returns a good 15 km/l on the highway, dropping to 12 km/l in the city (assisted by the stop/start system and the Eco Pro drive mode) while driving pedal to the metal also returns 10 km/l which means no single digit mileage on this car even when you extract every horse from it. Cruising on the highway is another scenario which highlights what a gem of an engine this is. There is barely any noise from the motor even at speeds of 140 km/hr and you can maintain those speeds all day long, the drivetrain feels very relaxed. When you get on the pedal at those speeds, the 320d GT responds instantly, pulling quickly further. For those looking for the best of practicality and performance, probably the 330d version of the GT is what BMW should offer.
While the ride is excellent, handling isn’t as good as the sedan
Driving Dynamics – The BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo has a very comfortable ride which can be attributed to the way the suspension is set up. It glides over bad roads and doesn’t feel unsettling even at high speeds. Sure, the suspension isn’t as stiff as the sedan but remember this is a more practical car? Talking about handling, the steering offers good enough feel and the car feels controlled even during hard manoeuvres. However, body roll is quite noticeable and the GT doesn’t feel as eager as the 3-Series sedan around the corners. In fact, the GT and the sedan feel completely different from each other when it comes to dynamics. The tyres though have good levels of grip and braking performance is also nothing to complain about.
The 3-GT is actually a very good car with hardly any negatives
Verdict – The BMW 3-Series GT is a good alternative to the 3-Series sedan if you like the latter but want some more practicality out of it. To compensate for the added practicality, you lose out on some of the fun that the sedan offers. However, the 330i GT is good at what it does and isn’t exactly boring to drive either. This engine is peppy enough to keep you satisfied all the time and you’ll definitely like the comfort if you’re not a fan of the sedan. Also, if you want the practicality of the GT along with an efficient oil-burner, the 320d GT makes sense too.
The new iDrive system takes some time getting used to
What’s Cool
* The LCI package gets better equipment, the new LED lights are fantastic
* The 3-GT offers a comfortable ride, good space too
* The petrol engine is a very good unit with punchy power delivery
What’s Not So Cool
* Not as agile as its sedan counterpart
Alternatives: None
The 330i badge is actually a bit iconic for enthusiasts
Further Reading –