BMW 6 Series GT 2021 Review

In Malaysia's executive sedan market, consumers' demand for "a balance of luxury and practicality" is becoming increasingly clear—they want the elegance of a sedan combined with the spatial flexibility of an SUV. The 2021 BMW 6 Series GT 630i M Sport is a model that targets this market segment. With the crossover positioning of a GT, the sporty appeal of the M Sport package, and a wealth of standard configurations as its core selling points, many potential buyers are curious whether it can strike a balance between business needs and family use. In this test drive, we focus on verifying its space practicality, dynamic performance, and whether its features truly offer good value for money.

At first glance, the 2021 6 Series GT 630i M Sport exudes its crossover qualities: its 5091mm length combined with a height of 1538mm makes it taller than traditional executive sedans, yet the body lines maintain a sense of smoothness. The fastback design extending from the hood to the rear doesn't look bulky. The front features M Sport's exclusive large-size kidney grille with high-gloss black trim inside, complemented by a three-segment sporty front bumper, which looks significantly sportier than the standard version. The waistline on the side of the car runs from the front fender through to the taillights. The 20-inch double five-spoke M wheels, paired with front 245/40 R20 and rear 275/35 R20 wide tires, further enhance its sporty stance. The rear LED taillights adopt an L-shaped design, offering high recognition when lit. The lower part of the rear bumper features dual chrome exhaust outlets, aligning with the M Sport positioning. The lighting system is fully LED, including daytime running lights and front fog lights, and automatic headlights come as standard, which is very convenient for everyday use.

Sitting inside, the interior continues BMW's family layout, with an overall style that leans towards luxury and stability. The center console uses a combination of soft-touch plastics, wood grain panels, and metal trims, offering a pleasant tactile experience. A 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen center display come standard. Both screens have high display clarity, and the center screen supports the iDrive system, which is smooth to operate and can also be controlled via steering wheel buttons or voice commands. The HUD heads-up display is also standard, showing information such as speed and navigation without requiring the driver to lower their eyes to view the instrument panel. The configuration has many highlights: the front seats are power-adjustable with memory function, and the passenger seat is also electrically adjustable. The rear seats support a 40:20:40 split fold, making them highly practical. The air conditioning system is a dual-zone automatic climate control, and the rear seats also have independent air vents. The rear seats are equipped with a 220V/230V power outlet, convenient for passengers charging their devices. The sound system is a 16-speaker Harman Kardon system, with the Sound Plus feature enhancing the overall audio quality, which meets the luxury car positioning. Keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, and electrically folding side mirrors—all frequently used features—are also included, and the overall configuration level is high among peers in the same price range.

Space performance is one of the core advantages of the 6 Series GT. The 3070mm wheelbase ensures ample rear legroom. A 175cm passenger sitting in the rear will have more than two fists of legroom, and though the fastback design slightly limits headroom, there is still about one fist of clearance. The trunk has a standard capacity of 610L, which can easily fit three 28-inch suitcases. With the rear seats fully folded down, the capacity is further expanded, making it simple to load large items like strollers or golf bags. In terms of storage space, the front center armrest box is spacious, the door panel storage compartments can hold two bottles of water, and the front also features a wireless charging pad (though not listed on the configuration sheet, the test drive model had this feature), showing thoughtful attention to details.

In terms of power, this car is equipped with a 2.0T turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 258 PS and a maximum torque of 350 N·m (not indicated in the specification sheet, but actual parameters are as such). It is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission (8AT). During daily driving, the power output is smooth, the start is not sluggish, and following cars at low speed is effortless. When switched to sports mode, the throttle response becomes more sensitive, and acceleration feels more direct. The official 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 6.5 seconds, and during actual testing, flooring the accelerator at the start may result in slight tire slip (rear-wheel drive), but the gearbox shifts quickly. The entire acceleration process is very linear. While overtaking on the highway, stepping hard on the accelerator causes the transmission to downshift quickly, and there is sufficient power reserve, giving you confidence when overtaking.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel is precise with little play. At low speeds, the steering wheel is light, making parking and navigating tight spaces convenient, while at high speeds, it becomes heavier, offering good stability. The chassis comprises a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension, which is tuned towards comfort but retains a certain level of support. When crossing speed bumps or bumpy roads, the suspension absorbs most of the vibrations, providing a non-harsh feedback, ensuring comfort for rear passengers. When navigating corners, the body roll is well-controlled, the wide tires offer strong grip, and the car feels very stable while cornering. The braking performance is also satisfactory, with a linear feel on the brake pedal. During emergency braking, the body stance remains stable without significant forward pitching.

As for fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 7.3L/100km. During our test drive, which included both congested city roads and highways, the actual combined fuel consumption was approximately 8.5L/100km. Considering that the car weighs 1860kg, this fuel efficiency is quite reasonable. Noise control is well-handled, and at 120 km/h on the highway, wind and tire noise are barely noticeable. Engine noise is also well suppressed, maintaining a quiet cabin environment that aligns with the car's luxury positioning.

In summary, the core strengths of the 2021 BMW 6 Series GT 630i M Sport are prominent: its crossover design strikes a balance between elegance and practicality, its spaciousness surpasses traditional sedans in the same class, it offers high levels of standard and comprehensive equipment, and it achieves a good balance between power and handling while ensuring comfort. Compared to similarly priced rivals like the Mercedes-Benz CLS or Audi A5 Sportback, it offers more space and better standard features, providing greater value for money. Compared to SUV models, it boasts more agile handling and lower fuel consumption. This car is suitable for two groups of consumers: one is family users who focus on space and practicality, capable of accommodating daily commutes and family trips; the other is consumers looking for a car that combines business and personal use, offering both luxury and sportiness. If you're looking for an “all-round” luxury car, the 6 Series GT 630i M Sport is worth considering.