BMW is bringing a larger and more spacious version of its 3-series to India. Known as the GT, it is essentially a longer, wider and taller 3-series saloon, much like the 5-series GT that’s already on sale here.

The 5-series GT was a unique car when it first launched and BMW even managed to sell a limited number of them. Now the company thinks it makes more sense to bring the 3-series GT here. It is BMW’s attempt at giving us a car that’s got the space of an SUV and the performance of a saloon. 

The 3-series saloon is the current class benchmark, with its superb combination of punchy engines, space, BMW-trademark dynamic handling, and comfort. The GT essentially comes with all these traits, but with the extra practicality of added space.

It is clearly a bigger car – it’s 200mm longer, 19mm wider and 79mm taller than the saloon. The most important bit, however, is that it’s got a 110mm longer wheelbase, which translates to much more legroom in the rear. In fact, rear seat space is as much as in a 5-series, and there’s plenty of headroom as well. This car will be ideal if you want to be chauffeur-driven, and you can even recline the rear seats. It’s got a cavernous boot as well, with a Skoda-like lift-back hatch opening. The GT’s tailgate also opens electrically, and that is sure to add to the convenience factor. Also, the rear seats can be split 40:20:40 and folded down to take the boot space up to a whopping 1,600 litres. The GT also has flexible seat backs at the rear – you can angle them either for a more laidback seating position or for 33 litres of additional boot space.