2010 BMW 535i Gran Turismo Mini-Review
2010 BMW 535i Gran Turismo
Every so often a car comes around that leaves such an impression on the auto industry and the buying public that it changes the course of automobile design, perhaps even moving things in a whole new direction while still embracing timeless elements from the past. The BMW 535GT (Gran Turismo) is most definitely NOT that car. It was clear right from the beginning that BMW was hoping the GT would usher in a new era of the classic “estate car”, but in fact the GT has been anything but. Not that it could have even come close with the 7-Series size and the looks that make you wonder “what were they thinking”. Ultimately the GT is a grand affair with subtle yet distinct lines, a huge pile of the latest BMW technologies, all combined into one of the hardest-to-like packages yet seen from the German automaker. Needless to say, I was less than impressed with the results.
My first impression upon walking up to the GT was the size, way bigger than I was expecting and far closer to the size of the 7-Series models. My suspicions were later confirmed by the local BMW dealer as they indicated that the GT is built on the same basic platform as the 7-Series sedan. So it’s big, which could be a good thing if there were plenty of storage, which thankfully there was. Also, the GT features plenty of clever ways to get items into it such as a combination trunk/hatchback design. The concept is that you can open up the trunk lid when you just need to drop a few small items inside and go for the full hatch when you are packing it up for that monster road trip. Again, a clever idea but perhaps unneeded complexity since I never never realized the feature was there until it was demonstrated for me. Thankfully one aspect of the GT’s size that BMW got right was the interior space for passengers, which was definitely not lacking to say the least. Calling the GT comfortable would be an understatement, calling it a rolling bark-a-lounger would be more accurate.
Where the GT really shines is in the interior, which is clearly based off the current generation 7-Series. Materials are top notch and build quality seems excellent. Controls were easy to reach and even the latest iDrive was far less irritating than previous incarnations.
With regards to performance the GT was what I would describe as “adequate” for a car of this type. The 0-60 was quick but not whip-lash performance under the 3.0 twin turbo engine. Highway cruising was definitely the GT biggest strength with passing power being just about perfect and fuel economy being a very impressive 28+ mpg. Street racer it’s not, the GT does have some BMW magic to deliver if you push the right buttons, the sport+ button to be exact. Once pressed the GT becomes far more alive and delivers much more of a dynamic driving experience. Leave it in normal and your grandparents won’t know the difference between the BMW and their Lincoln.
Overall I really wanted to like the GT for what it wants to be; an old fashioned Gran Tourer that harks back to the days when wealthy families would purchase hand-made “estate cars” that they would keep for what seemed like generations. Ultimately this is where I feel BMW failed the most with the GT by not creating a modern interpretation that retains those key elements which made cars such as this so good. Instead what they have produced is a car which seems stuffy by comparison, with more attention paid to looking the part rather than just being true to that timeless appeal.