A larger, more practical variant of the 3 Series, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has roomier back seats. Sadly, it is more expensive and not quite as economical.
We locate excellent bargains from regional and national dealers to remove the trouble and haggling from the process of purchasing a car.
In This Article...
The BMW 3 Series Sedan or the 3 Series GT should I purchase?
The 3 Series, BMW’s best-selling vehicle, is currently available in so numerous variations that it is difficult to claim ownership of a single 3 Series. The 3 Series sedan, 3 Series wagon, and newly released 3 Series GT are all available. All of them come with a variety of engines and all-wheel drive. There are still a ton of variations even though the 3 Series Coupe has been replaced by the 4 Series. So which should a buyer choose when looking for a base four-door BMW?
To be perfectly honest, customers essentially have a choice between the 3 Series sedan and GT in the North American market. Wagons are considered to be lame by the majority of Americans, despite the fact that purchasing one should be the option. Which one should one choose now that the options are limited to the sedan and GT models?
They both have advantages and disadvantages, though. The 3 Series sedan will fulfill the most fundamental practical requirements thanks to its four doors, seating for five passengers, and spacious trunk. Despite this, the BMW 3 Series has the largest trunk and back seats of any vehicle in its class. However, it is still just a regular car.
The performance and price ranges are where the 3 Series sedan excels. It handles far better than the GT since it is smaller, has a shorter wheelbase, and a lower center of gravity. And it appears much better. A 328i sedan starts at $37,500, while the 328i xDrive GT starts at $41,850. It is also much less expensive. Additionally, the GT is only offered with xDrive all-wheel drive, so if you don’t require it or dislike it, this is a waste of money.
The 3 Series GT does have its attractions, though. The 3er GT has a larger wheelbase than the sedan since it is built on a modified version of the extended-wheelbase 3 Series chassis for the Chinese market. This makes it travel more comfortably across uneven pavement and on highways. It also keeps it more calm when moving quickly. Additionally, the 3 Series GT has a lot more interior room thanks to its peculiar body, especially in the trunk and the back seat. Therefore, the 3er GT is much more useful. Additionally, its standard xDrive makes it beneficial in the country’s snowier regions. And even though it is more expensive, it actually represents fantastic value for the money given that it isn’t much more expensive than the sedan and has significantly greater baggage room, xDrive as standard, and a larger wheelbase. The buyer must decide whether the extra scratch is worthwhile, but it isn’t a horrible deal.
Therefore, the 3 Series Sedan is a more attractive, affordable, pleasant to drive, better handling vehicle. Though a little more pricey, the 3 Series GT is more comfortable and useful. What then does a person purchase?
If I had the money, I would choose the wagon instead of the other two since I would be happier with it. But which would you select if you had to choose between the sedan and the GT?
Comparison of the BMW 3 Series GT, Touring, Sedan, and X3 by auto motor and sport
The 3 Series now has three variants in its lineup as a result of BMW’s decision to move the 3 Series Coupe and Convertible models into the brand-new 4 Series. Given that the X3 SUV is the 3er’s bigger brother (wow, those were a lot of 3s! ), it may also be included in this lineup.
To find out what attributes each of them has to offer specifically, Auto Motor and Sport put them all through a test drive. Fairly speaking, all of the vehicles used the same 2-liter diesel engine with 184 HP and an 8-speed ZF automated transmission.
Now that that is decided, let’s look at what each of them suggests. If you want a simple vehicle to get, the X3 is the one to go for. You’ll discover that this one is the most cozy of the lot in this regard.
Additionally, the X3 has the advantage in this area for off-road excursions and transporting, as expected. You should also keep in mind that the SUV is the line-thirstiest up’s vehicle.
Long roads are the domain of the 3 Series Gran Tourismo. Even more comfort is available from the back seats, which can only be found in the 7 Series. This model’s engine is ideal because it provides enough power to make driving it enjoyable.
Being able to fit a lot of items inside is also a huge benefit, as the GT’s baggage capacity in this test is only second. However, you should choose the adaptive dampers option for a perfectly tuned driving experience. They’ll alter Gran Turismo in every way.
Although there is a little less headroom and legroom in the rear, the Touring model is still just as fantastic as the GT. Additionally, the back seats are not as comfy, but this model compensates by being more agile and maneuverable than the larger Turismo.
The segment leader is the sedan, and it always will be. The 4-door luxury compact car is for people who enjoy driving and don’t care as much about luggage because of its excellent handling and dynamic feel.
Depending on the market, the Sedan is also by far the most affordable of the group. The lone wolf is more likely to purchase this vehicle than the wolf with a family. All the other options are ideal for families!
What does the BMW term Gran Turismo mean?
the brand-new Gran Turismo BMW 6 Series. Gran Turismo, an Italian phrase for “grand tourer,” refers to sports cars designed for long distance and high-speed driving due to a combination of performance and luxurious features.
Can you still buy a Gran Turismo from BMW?
Some names have reached their demise, much like a number of cars recently. The 3 Series Gran Turismo, one of BMW’s specialized models, is no longer being produced.
The combination of the 3 Series sedan and Touring trims is no longer included in BMW’s price list for 2020, according to a report by Autocar. This indicates that the GT model is no longer being produced, and the remaining dealer stock is for sale.
BMW Gran Turismo: Is it dependable?
In our 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars presently on sale in the UK, the BMW 3 Series range received dependability ratings that were just above average. The BMW 3 Series finished as the 39th-best overall vehicle out of 75 in the 2018 Driver Power poll.
In the 2018 Driver Power poll, BMW placed 21st overall, one position behind Mercedes and three behind Audi but well behind other luxury automakers like Jaguar and Lexus.
Why did BMW cease production of Gran Turismo?
The discontinuation of the 3 Series Gran Turismo will help BMW cut costs as its viability is in doubt. Kruger makes a lot of noise about it, as well as other methods to save money in Munich.
The lowering of BMW’s powertrain types is one of the impending cost-cutting initiatives that we’ll see in the coming years. During the brand’s transition to a new modular platform, which will start in 2021, it plans to reduce the number of available engines by half.
What is a Gran Turismo vehicle?
Definition of a Grand Tourer Gran turismo, which translates to “great tour,” is used in non-automotive contexts to refer to a traditional cultural trip of Europe. So it seems sense that a grand tourer is a type of car designed to be powerful and comfortable across long distances.
What kind of vehicle is a BMW GT?
The most recent price for the 5-seater Sedan BMW 3 Series GT was between Rs 42.50 and Rs 50.70 lakh. It comes in 7 variations, with engine options ranging from 1995 to 1998 cc and 2 gearbox options: Automatic (TC) and Automatic. The 3 Series GT’s Ground Clearance is 165 mm, and its Bootspace is 520 liters, among other important features. There are 2 colors for the 3 Series GT. The 3 Series GT gets between 13.95 and 21.76 kilometers per gallon.
What makes the BMW GT unique?
Even inside, the GT has a luxurious feel. Despite not being the newest on the market, the driver-centric dashboard with the analog instrument cluster is nevertheless comfortable and useful. It is well-constructed and intuitive. Additionally, it is consistent with BMW’s renown for producing high-quality interiors. Electric adjustment on the front seats makes it simple to find a comfortable position. The piece-de-resistance, however, is the back seat, which will actually make its occupants happy. There is ample space for two persons, and the seat is comfortably reclining. The high transmission tunnel may make it uncomfortable for a third person seated in the same row in terms of legroom.
The GT is now more competitive thanks to the addition of features. A redesigned gear selector and iDrive controller are combined with an 8.8-inch screen that shows all the infotainment and vehicle data. The 20GB on-board data storage and nine-speaker system allow you to have limitless music playback on road journeys. There is a ton of helpful information available through the simple-to-use BMW applications. Having a high-quality rear-view camera allows the parking system to provide a good view. The GT has plenty of storage space, two cupholders in the center console, and capacious bins on the doors that can carry large bottles, just like modern BMWs. With 520 liters, the boot is by far the largest of any 3 Series, and when the rear seats are folded flat with the push of a lever, even more space is available. Eight airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, traction control, ESP, and ISOFIX child-seat mounts are just a few of the many safety features that the GT is well-equipped with. The majority of these technologies are also found in BMW’s other models.