Overall rating:

The BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo's goals of greater comfort, extra space and a massive boost in rear passenger space all make sense, though BMW's insistence on remaining sporting makes it a divisive drive.

Key Facts

Model tested: BMW 335i Gran Turismo M Sport
Pricing: £40,970
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Transmission: rear-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: Audi A5 Sportback, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, Range Rover Evoque
CO₂ emissions: 178g/km
Combined economy: 36.7mpg
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-62mph: 5.4 seconds
Power: 306hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,200- to 5,000rpm

In the Metal:

Initial reservations over the 3 Series GT's styling might not immediately dissipate on first acquaintance, but time and familiarity does see the car's lines increase in appeal. It sits taller than the 3 Series saloon and Touring, which is not just thanks to a 25mm hike in the suspension height and bigger diameter wheels, as the 3 GT is SUV-lite in its lines, though BMW's designers have used some smart - and effective - visual tricks to help mask its increased dimensions.

A hatchback with more ultimate luggage space than its Touring relation, you sit higher in the GT's interior. The fascia and switchgear are all carry-over familiar, but the feeling of space is completely different to the usually snug feel of a BMW wearing a 3 on its boot lid. There's loads of leg-, head- and elbow room, the 110mm stretch in the wheelbase making the rear seat feel as luxurious as those in the back of a 7 Series - arguably more so thanks to the increased height.

Driving it:

BMW claims that the 3 GT retains all of the sharpness of its saloon and Touring relatives, though we're not entirely in agreement. Powered in this case by the 3.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged six-cylinder engine there's no doubting it's got the capacity to shock with its performance - 62mph arriving in just 5.4 seconds - but if you're looking for the quick turn-in, easily-placed accuracy of a 3 Series saloon you'll be disappointed. The steering lacks the quickness of the dour-door's, the longer wheelbase, heightened suspension and additional weight robbing the GT of its accuracy and immediacy - although the trade-off isn't as great as you might expect.

The optional M Sport suspension helps claw back some of that lost dynamism, removing 10mm from the suspension's height hike; though combined with the 19-inch alloy wheel option there's a compromise regarding ride quality. On some particularly nasty tarmac over the Sicily launch route the 3 GT's composure suffers markedly when the road deteriorates, the suspension sending knocks through the car's structure, while also struggling to retain tidy body control. Slow things down a bit and it copes, but the chassis simply doesn't inspire the sort of confidence delivered by its saloon and Touring relations - nor the supple ride quality.

Though there is fun to be had; with 306hp, rear-wheel drive and roads greasy with run-off rainwater the 3 GT reveals a more hooligan element to its make up - even if it's best enjoyed as the badge on its boot suggests, as a Grand Tourer. Do so and refinement is good, only the merest hint of wind noise around the mirrors upsetting the otherwise fine refinement, the engine's ample power and the slick eight-speed automatic gearbox making for an easy long-distance machine.

What you get for your Money:

You're buying a lot more usefulness for a start, the 3 GT feeling like it should be wearing a bigger number such is the leap in interior space and versatility. The boot capacity gives between 520- and 1,600 litres of space - up 25-100 litres over the Touring. Buyers pay a premium of £1,300 over the respective Touring models, and the standard equipment list includes 18-inch alloy wheels, two-zone air conditioning, Bluetooth, USB connection, a 6.5-inch colour display, automatic tailgate and park distance control.

Worth Noting

Those little boomerang-shaped vents to the rear of the front wheels aren't mere visual tricks; they help smooth the airflow around the front wheels by reducing swirl and turbulence. The 3 GT is also the first BMW to be fitted with active aerodynamics, the boot lid spoiler rising automatically at 68mph.

Summary

The Gran Turismo is a bigger, significantly more practical 3 Series for those who value space and versatility over BMW's more traditional draw of immediate driving dynamics and agility. Given the leap in usefulness the compromises aren't as sizeable as you might expect - when mated to the 306hp turbocharged 'six here. What remains in doubt, in the UK at least, is whether there's a market for it, the 3 GT reeking of a car that's been created for countries where estates aren't accepted - like the USA and China. UK buyers looking for a refined and fast, yet spacious car are likely to opt for a 3 or 5 Series Touring, but the 3 GT isn't without merit, especially if you put heavy emphasis on passenger space and comfort.