Driver's delight

BMW, India’s second biggest German luxury car by sales, has filled up a gap in BMW 6GT’s armour with a diesel variant.  As a result luxury car buyers in India can now have a choice beyond the German compatriot Mercedes E-Class for a comfortable and spacious luxury sedan with a diesel engine.

Interestingly, the Bavaria-based automaker’s brand new BMW 630d Gran Turismo (GT for short) gets the same 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine used in the smaller BMW 5-Series 530d. It puts out 265HP and 620Nm of torque at 2,000 – 2,500 rpm and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

With a claimed 0-100 km/ph sprint in just 6.1 seconds, this big luxury sedan has the capacity to take on well-established performance cars as well as some sports cars too.

The BMW 630d GT is available in two design schemes – Luxury Line and M Sport – and I took a long test drive of the M Sport variant to check it out.

The new BMW 630d GT sits above the BMW 5-Series. But because it is locally assembled at BMW factory in Chennai, it is not more expensive.

The first thing you notice is that the new sedan stands out from the crowd due to its striking presence and coupe style. Its modern design is indeed a true eye-catcher. The generously sized long bonnet builds a distinctive and powerful appearance. Frameless doors, coupé-style low roofline and large automatic tailgate convey elegance and sporting flair. The rear design makes it even more attractive. Active rear spoiler provides visual lightness and reduces lift at touring speeds. The M Sport brings out the sporty character and powerful presence through M Aerodynamics package, which comprises items such as black fins for Air Breathers, a special design for side skirts and rear apron, large front air intakes and M Sport Brake. Exclusive ‘M’ designations on the side, ‘M’ door sill finishers, car key with ‘M’ logo and ‘M’ light alloy wheels reminisce its motorsport legacy.

The BMW 630d GT’s few special design highlights includes the blacked-out slats on the front grille, sporty side skirts, rear apron, large front air intakes and beautiful 19-inch alloy wheels with M Sport brake package. The diesel variant is also offered in the more affordable Luxury Line trim, which does not come with these M Sport features and rides on higher profile tyres.

The interior impresses with a balance of dynamic driver-orientation and luxury. The rear compartment provides three comfortable, full-sized seats with generous legroom and headroom. A relaxed and harmonious lounge atmosphere is created thanks to optimised noise insulation, a two-part panorama glass roof, electrically operated adjustable rear seats with comfort cushions for headrest and electrically operated sunblinds for rear side windows. Ambient Lighting with six selectable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood.

At the centre of the dashboard and at the driver’s eye-level is a new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system which comes with the usual Apple CarPlay and satellite navigation as standard. It also gets BMW’s gesture and voice control system that has also filtered down from the big Six. It’s a smart system which understands certain hand gestures and thus makes managing the iDrive infotainment system very easy on the go. For instance, you can simply flick your fingers in the air to control the Harman Kardon Surround Sound System. It’s a pretty cool system, once you get used to it.

This sedan has cameras all around that offer a 360-degree view of the surroundings which, along with the parking assist, is extremely useful while parking and comes in handy while manoeuvring the car through narrow roads. It has a wireless smartphone charger, a soft-close door function and Isofix child seat mounts. The safety kit includes six airbags, ABS with brake assist, stability and traction control, and cornering brake and hill descent control.

The cabin is identical to its petrol counterpart – everything you touch feels plush and well-built. The features list, though, is a lot longer, in comparison. It gets features like a 360-degree camera, Nappa leather upholstery, Harman Kardon sound, wireless charging, a smart key with remote parking functionality, and a colour head-up display.The luggage compartment has a capacity of up to 1,800 litres thanks to a 40/20/40 split. Even with rear seats fully occupied, the boot still offers 610 litres of space.

When you are at the wheel, you come to know that you are in a diesel because of the distinct drone at idle. This soft clatter turns into a thrum as you gain speed and once you are in the mid-range, it converts into a rather raspy exhaust note. It is only at crawling speeds that you will feel the slight vibrations. What helps counter this is the automatic engine cut-off, which shuts down the engine when you are stalled in peak-hour traffic or at a red light signal.

However, the sheer grunt on offer is amazing. The 620Nm of torque is well spread out and the way it pulls is nothing short of exciting. Undoubtedly, at high speeds, the refinement is excellent and you barely notice the speed inside the cabin.

The new sedan offers a choice of three engine modes such as the Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport which alter performance accordingly. ‘Eco Pro’ is best-used in heavy traffic and to stretch that litre of fuel. The ‘Comfort’ mode keeps the engine relaxed and gives you a sedate drive for when you want to let your chauffeur drive and enjoy the rear comfort.

Should I buy one?

Undoubtedly, the GT finally has got that all-important diesel variant to take on the Mercedes E-Class in India. The 630d GT is priced at '66.50 lakh for the Luxury Line variant and '73.70 lakh for the M Sport – the latter being the closest rival to the Mercedes E-Class 350d priced at '72.85 lakh.

It is a matter of taste to make a choice but this GT will inspire its owner enjoy rear-seat comfort as well as the occasional stint at the wheel to enjoy the thrill.