A big Beemer with a difference

Date Published: 20-May-2010

You get to a stage at this game when you begin to appreciate the existence of most cars. You get it when a new model comes along that is outside the norm. There are so many niches these days that there is blurring of the demarcation lines between various variants and categories. More often I ask why some cars are designed when there are so many other options. The first time I saw the BMW 5 Series GT I just asked myself why. What is this?

It’s not an SUV; it is an alternative to that. It’s not a regular saloon or sedan; it is different to that. It’s not a Coupe either, so what exactly is it? Somewhere in there you get a bit of all three. BMW themselves describe it as an attractive, future-oriented extension of the BMW 5 Series, quite unparalleled worldwide in the upper middle segment, combining the characteristic features of a prestige saloon, a modern, highly versatile Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo in brand-new, unprecedented style. That’s a bit of a mouthful, but so is this car. Actually, come to think of it, it is a bit of a handful too.

First and foremost this is a BMW and you get all that is good about the brand. You get a quality motor that delivers dynamic driving characteristics, plush surroundings, a barrow load of the latest technology and that special status that come with owning a Beemer. Nothing can be taken away from the utter quality of the BMW 5 GT.

It is big in every aspect. BMW has built a big muscular car with big wheels, a big attitude, big interior space and big on power. They have slapped a Coupe-styled rear end on to it with a split opening tailgate and boot lid that hides a boot that is not all that big. It is the size of this car that dominates everything about it.

You sit up higher than a regular saloon. That does help visibility but it affects the handling and the BMW 5 GT is awkward on the road and cumbersome around town. Parking is a nightmare so thank God for parking sensors. You can have all the space in the world and all the power you like but if the balance is off, the result is a car that just doesn’t feel right. The ride is coarse, the refinement is compromised and the sharpness that you usually get from a BMW is lacking.

You will have no complaints with the performance of this car. My test model was the 3.0-litre BMW 530d with a price tag of €74,540. It has a superb engine with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and surprisingly good fuel economy with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of just 6.5 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 43.5 mpg. I achieved 6.7 litres /100kms. That represents brilliant returns for a car of this size.

Add a CO2 rating of 173 g/km. with annual road Tax of €630 and you can see that big doesn’t necessarily mean dirty anymore. Maximum output for this engine is 180 kW/245 hp at 4,000 rpm, with maximum torque of 540 Nm/398 lb-ft from 1,750–3,000 rpm.

It is hard to pin-point who this car is aimed at. I’m not sure that they themselves are sure who will buy this car. In their garb BMW use their luxury executive 7 Series as a reference point. Price wise the 5 GT is in the same ball park too. But why you would choose the 5 GT ahead of a 7 Series beats me. Come to think of it, why you would choose it ahead of a regular 5 Series or a 5 Series Touring is debatable too.

I’m quite sure there are some out there who will love this BMW but I just have to ask the same question over and over. Why?

Specification:

Make: BMW

Model: Gran Turismo Executive

Achieved Fuel Consumption: 6.7L/100kms

CO2 Emissions: 173g/km

Acceleration: 0-100kms 6.9 seconds

Price: €74,540

Gerry’s Rating: 7/10