BMW 6GT The 5s Sensible Cousin

retails between Rs 55.4 lakh and Rs 68.4 lakh (ex-showroom). Say you want even more space to indulge your family in luxury, your next option would've been the 7 Series. And that, surprise surprise, costs as much as two top-spec 5 Series. You see why BMW thinks it's wise to push in a slightly controversial looking but thoroughly practical option in the form of the 6GT here.

It isn't asking for twice the money either. In fact, the price difference is as little as ~10 percent between the top-spec M Sport variants of the 5 and the 6GT. Should you just make the switch?

Advantage 6GT

Bigger, Blingier.

Sure, the 6GT is based on the same 'Cluster Architecture' (CLAR) platform as the 5 Series. But it has a noticeably larger footprint compared to the sedan andmdash; 155mm longer, 32mm wider and 76mm taller. The wheelbase has been stretched by a significant 95mm. Plus, the coupe-like roofline, frameless doors and the active spoiler have their own charm. It's also worth noting that in the top-spec M Sport variant, the 6GT gets a sweet set of 19-inch alloy wheels, compared to the 18-inchers on the 5 Series.

More Room

The stretched proportions on the outside have an obvious benefit on the inside. Between the two, it's the 6GT that offers more space for you, your loved ones and the luggage. Here's a quick look at the measurements.

Front

	Legroom (min-max)	Knee room (min-max)	Seat base length	Seat base width	Seat back height	Headroom (min-max)	Cabin width
5 Series	920-1120mm	630-870mm	490-540mm	490mm	615mm	915-980mm	1485mm
6GT	940-1135mm	620-825mm	485-530mm	510mm	675mm	910-1005mm	1510mm

For the front seats, the 6GT offers bigger seats, more headroom and legroom too. There's an extra 25mm of width too, making the cabin feel spacious.

Rear

	Shoulder room	Headroom	Seat base width	Seat base length	Seat back height	Knee room (min-max)	Rear floor hump height	Rear floor hump width
5 Series	1420mm	930mm	1380mm	505mm	645mm	575-850mm	200mm	330mm
6GT	1450mm	955mm	1330mm	480mm	690mm	670-885mm	175mm	345mm

The added width and headroom is apparent at the rear too, despite the 6GT's coupe-like roofline. However, note that the seat base on the 6 is slightly smaller compared to the 5. Minimum kneeroom is a whopping 95mm better, whereas maximum kneeroom is an extra 35mm in comparison to the sedan.

If you're chauffeur-driven, chances are you'd prefer the 6GT over the 5 Series. Not just for the added space, but also for the slightly higher seating position. You can pack in a few extra suitcases for that weekend trip too, given that the boot is larger at 610 litres, compared to the 530-litre boot on the 5.

Focussed For The Boss

With the 6GT, BMW seems to have focussed strongly on the rear seat occupants. For privacy, you get electric sunblinds. There's four-zone climate control on offer too, which lets you set four individual temperatures for all four quadrants of the cabin. You also get treated to a rear-seat entertainment package, with two 10.2-inch touchscreens mounted behind the front seats. This supports USB connectivity, and also lets you plug in headphones should you wish to tune out.

Air Suspension, Baby

No matter which version of the 6GT you pick, adaptive air suspension is bundled in as standard. This automatically adjusts the height of the vehicle depending on the load to optimise ride comfort. You get to choose between Comfort, Comfort+ and Sport settings that alter the ride to suit the terrain and your mood. In comparison, the 5 Series just gets adaptive damping -- that too only on the top-spec 530d M Sport.

Advantage: 5 Series

Quicker

The 5 Series and the 6 GT share the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol, 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engines.

	BMW 530i	BMW 630i GT
Engine	2.0-litre turbo-petrol	2.0-litre turbo petrol
Power	252PS @ 5200rpm	258PS @ 5000-6500rpm
Torque	350Nm @ 1450-4800rpm	400Nm @ 1550-4400rpm
0-100kmph (Claimed)	6.1 seconds	6.3 seconds

In case of the petrol motors, despite having an advantage of 6 extra horsepower and 50Nm, the 630i is two tenths slower than the 530i in the 0-100kmph sprint.

	BMW 520d	BMW 620d GT
Engine	2.0-litre diesel	2.0-litre diesel
Power	190PS @ 4000rpm	190PS @ 4000rpm
Torque	400Nm @ 1750-2500rpm	400Nm @ 1750-2500rpm
0-100kmph (Claimed)	7.5 seconds	7.9 seconds

	BMW 530d	BMW 630d GT
Engine	2.0-litre turbo-petrol	2.0-litre turbo petrol
Power	265PS @ 4000rpm	265PS @ 4000rpm
Torque	620Nm @ 2000-2500rpm	620Nm @ 2000-2500rpm
0-100kmph (Claimed)	5.7 seconds	6.1 seconds

With the diesels, the 5 pulls a significant 0.4 second lead over its cousin. That said, unlike the petrol versions where the 6GT gets additional power and torque, output remains identical for the diesels.

Cleaner Design

If we had to pick, the classic three-box shape of the 5 Series would definitely rank higher than the leaned-forward coupe-inspired design of the 6GT. Full-LED adaptive headlamps, the signature kidney grille, and LED tail lamps make the 5 stand out just as much. Sure, it isn't as distinct as the GT, but if blending in is your thing andmdash; you might just prefer the 5.

Sensible, then?

If you could do with (comparatively) less space, and want a quicker and more engaging drive experience, the 5 Series serves up the grins with a lot more intent.

If your definition of sensible matches ours i.e better cabin space, bigger equipment list, comfier ride and a larger boot, the 6 GT does seem like it's worth the stretch. That said, it'd be a better fit for anyone looking to spend most of their time being chauffeured around, or usually has family in tow for the long road trips.