Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 640d Gran Coupe

We hit the road in the twin-turbo version of the 6 Series Gran Coupe to deliver our verdict

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your BMW 6 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The 6 Series Gran Coupe is a beautiful thing – the best- looking BMW for some time and the company’s next best car after the new 3 Series. It’s not cheap, though: the price tag puts it directly up against the Porsche Panamera. But in 640d form, this stunning BMW makes a great case for itself thanks to incredible performance, brilliant fuel economy and great comfort.

Advertisement - Article continues below

BMW bills the 6 Series Gran Coupe as a GT car with some rear doors, rather than a saloon with a coupe body like the Audi A7 and Mercedes CLS. So it’s fitting we were able to test the grand tourer capabilities of a UK version of the car on an extended test drive of more than 700 miles.

Our route took in some demanding twisty mountain passes in France, Germany’s billiard table-smooth derestricted autobahns and the lumpy, battered tarmac of the UK.

And to spare you the suspense: the 6 Series Gran Coupe tackled each with aplomb. But more about that later.

First we need talk about the idea behind this car. BMW used the 6 Series as a starting point, rather than the lesser 5 Series, to make it more of a direct rival to the Porsche Panamera than the A7 or CLS.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Ioniq electric

2021 Hyundai

Ioniq electric

31,484 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £9,300
View Ioniq electric
Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

47,278 milesManualPetrol1.3L

Cash £13,525
View Qashqai
Kodiaq

2021 Skoda

Kodiaq

38,572 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £21,500
View Kodiaq
Tucson

2020 Hyundai

Tucson

53,200 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £12,200
View Tucson

If this doesn’t convince you, then maybe the £61,000 starting price will. Thankfully, you can appreciate where the £10,000-plus premium over an equivalent Mercedes and Audi has been spent, because inside the Gran Coupe offers sufficient luxury to rival that of the big Porsche.

And while rear space isn’t as generous as in the Panamera, the fact the Gran Coupe is 113mm longer than the normal 6 Series means there’s still sufficient head and legroom for adults.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In fact, BMW bills the car as a 4+1-seater. You can just about fit a small person in the middle of the back seats, although they have to sit with their legs straddling the transmission tunnel. We found the only real benefit of the set-up is this: because there’s no central divider, you can lie down in the back for a power nap – handy when you’re crossing a continent.

Our test car was the 640d, which will account for 80 per cent of sales. It’s easy to see why. The engine is simply epic: incredibly efficient, surprisingly tuneful and hugely powerful. The car does 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, which makes a Panamera diesel seem lethargic and even leaves the V8 petrol Porsche trailing.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Yet the BMW’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre diesel has the CO2 emissions of a small family hatchback and will return 

almost 50mpg. On our test, the trip computer showed an average 35mpg... but we did take the car to the limit on the autobahn.

And as you sit with the throttle buried in the carpet and the diesel chomping at the bit of its 155mph speed limiter, you appreciate what a stable, quiet and smooth long-distance cruiser this car is.

It’s also at home on a twisty mountain pass, where the precise steering, impressive grip and quick-changing eight-speed automatic gearbox make for fun as well as swift progress. There is one issue, though.

For the 6 Gran Coupe to perform as well as it can, you need the £3,400 Adaptive Drive package. Considering the high starting price, this should be standard. It not only keeps the car completely flat through corners, but also allows you to alter the stiffness of the suspension between various settings, with Comfort+ the most valuable mode for UK driving as it gives the Gran Coupe the ability to glide over even the worst bumps.

And so after more than 700 miles and 12 hours at the wheel, we arrived in London feeling fresh. We were glad to climb out of the driver’s seat only to appreciate again arguably the Gran Coupe’s best feature: its stunning styling.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,474 off RRP*Used from £15,965
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £9,485
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,192 off RRP*
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,794 off RRP*Used from £6,320
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3…
News
18 Jul 2025
Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake - front action

Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop

The second of Merc’s new-era EVs is here in the form of an attractive estate with a huge range
News
14 Jul 2025