Testing Out the 2013 BMW GT 5 Gran Turismo
I was recently loaned a brand new 2013 BMW 535i xDrive Gran Turismo from one of my coworkers for a week. I had seen the model on display at the GCLA Show and Expo on Sept. 25th, and was impressed with its sleek look right away.
The vehicle handles with some bulk, but with the inline six-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower, the car moved effortlessly around the road. The interior is luxury all the way, with an advanced computer system in the dash that handles navigation and radio with ease. The rear seats were easy to get in and out of, and the back windows had roll-up shades that made the ride cooler during the hot sun.
The vehicle handles with some bulk, but with the inline six-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower, the car moved effortlessly around the road. The interior is luxury all the way, with an advanced computer system in the dash that handles navigation and radio with ease. The rear seats were easy to get in and out of, and the back windows had roll-up shades that made the ride cooler during the hot sun.
The trunk offers ample luggage room, and there is a hatchback design that either opens the trunk fully for larger cargo, or a smaller segment for quicker loading and unloading.
The main drawbacks I saw were that the back window was very narrow and difficult to see out of. There is a reverse camera in the vehicle that assists with backing up, but any view toward the rear of the vehicle while in motion is impaired.
Overall the car was an amazing ride, and I can see how it would give clients a ride that is luxurious, powerful, and comfortable. I have talked to some operators who use BMW’s in their fleet, often times they have one or two high-end sedans like this BMW or a Mercedes S-Class’s for clients who request it. If you are an operator running a BMW GT 5 Gran Turismo, how has your experience been?
— Tim Crowley, LCT senior editor
Print | posted on Friday, October 04, 2013 4:36 PM
