BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe saloon

For such a large car the Gran Coupe handles well. An optional active steering system turns the rear wheels slightly as well as the front wheels, which gives the steering a crisp and responsive feel. Up the pace and the Gran Coupe feels balanced in the corners and is lots of fun to drive. The V8 444bhp 650i model delivers explosive pace, while the six-cylinder 640i is also fast and sounds fantastic. But the pick of the range is the diesel 640d which matches the 640i for acceleration but uses far less fuel.

Variable dampers, fitted as standard, allow you to adjust the suspension, but even in its firmest setting the Gran Coupe is a comfortable and quiet way to cover large distances. Specify BMW's Active Drive system and BMW will add active roll bars at the front and back – which stop the car rolling from side to side in the corners. It all adds up to a car that's stable and balanced whether your cruising around town, on the motorway or driving quickly on a quiet country road. The interior quality is superb and the seats are comfortable and hold you in place well.

All engines offered with the Gran Coupe have been tried and tested elsewhere in the range – so major mechanical problems should be few and far between. A huge range of optional safety equipment is offered including Surround-view, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, Park Assist, Lane Change Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, Speed Limit Display and a full colour Head-up Display so you can keep your eyes on the road at all times.

BMW refers to the Gran Coupe as a 4+1, as opposed to the 2+2 Coupe. That means a fifth passenger can squeeze in if they straddle the centre console, but because the centre seat is raised there's limited headroom and it's only really comfortable for short distances. Rear legroom is generous though and unlike the Coupe the rear seats fold flat, boosting the narrow boot space from 460-litres to 1,265-litres. A ski hatch also lets you poke longer objects through with the seats in place.

A starting price of around £61,000 is expensive for this class. Despite the extra interior space it only costs around £1,800 more than the equivalent 6 Series Coupe – but roughly £10,000 more than the equivalent Mercedes CLS. Two trim grades will be offered in the UK – SE and M Sport, with the latter adding approxiamtely £4,500 to the price. As standard you get leather trim, sat-nav, 18-inch alloys and heated seats, while M-Sport adds 19-inch lightweight wheels, a bodykit and sports seats.

All three engines come with stop-start and BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission. The results are astonishing - the 640d returns fuel economy of 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 148g/km, while still covering 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. The 640i posts the same 0-62mph time, but uses far more fuel with a combined figure of 36.2mpg. The 650i is inevitably the least efficient of the bunch, but is the first V8-powered BMW to emit less than 200g/km of CO2. As with all BMWs, expect to pay over average for servicing and repairs
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