Used 2019 BMW 6 Series

The 2019 BMW 6 Series lineup consists solely of the Gran Coupe and Gran Turismo versions. An odd couple, but the 6 Series is winding down as a new 8 Series prepares to succeed it. The large Gran Coupe is not a conventional coupe. It has four doors to accompany its sharply raked roofline. Think of it as a rival to the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (a new generation of which debuts for 2019) or the Porsche Panamera.

The Gran Turismo (or GT) is a roomy hatchback, so perhaps a rival to the Panamera, but lets its shape bow to the pressures of practicality. However, if any potential buyers have been eyeing either of these two variants, this could be the time to strike a bargain, since dealers will want to clear their showroom floors to make way for the 8 Series. There’s also a 2019 BMW M6 Gran Coupe, which is reviewed separately.

The ingredients all seem to be there. Either a turbocharged inline-6 making 335 horsepower in the GT, with the same engine or the choice of a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 endowing the Gran Coupe with a muscular 445 horsepower. BMW also has a reputation for producing great suspensions to please enthusiasts who still like to be comfortable from time to time. Yet somehow these aspects don’t quite come together in the 6 Series the way they should. They’re heavy cars and BMW hasn’t been able to bake in much physics-defying agility that makes the 7 Series so remarkable.

The 6 Series is based on a 7 Series platform, but the previous generation’s. The exception is the remarkable 2019 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe, a 600-horsepower rarity modified by the independent Alpina tuning house but available through BMW dealers with the usual new-car warranty.

The interior of the 2019 6 Series is a tale of two vehicles. The Gran Coupe is sedan-like, but rear headroom is limited. The rear-passenger doors are small because of this 4-door-coupe design, and so entering and exiting can’t always be dignified. The back seats are really only good for a couple of occupants, as the middle place is better suited for a center armrest. The 2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo over-compensates with occupant and cargo space. The trunk area is a commodious 31 cubic feet. Fold down the back seats and that expands to 65 cubic feet. Both cars have high-quality materials, smart ergonomics, and excellent fit and finish.

Once again, we have two distinctly different cars. One conforms to current automotive trends; the other is shaped by sensible considerations. Those who like sleek sedans will gravitate toward the 6 Series Gran Coupe. Those who can’t quite bring themselves to go the whole way and buy a crossover SUV or a wagon could find the BMW 640i xDrive GT a perfect pick.

ALPINA B6
Admittedly, it costs around $125,500, which is a lot of money, especially for a model in its twilight years. But everything Alpina does is superb, full of driving thrills and great equipment. The B6 has 40 more horses than the M6 Gran Coupe. And those signature multi-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels look seriously cool.

BANG & OLUFSEN SURROUND-SOUND SYSTEM
Bang & Olufsen’s (optional) 1,200-watt system is amazing. With sound emanating through 16 individually amplified speakers, every instrument and voice resonates with eardrum-caressing clarity.

The 2019 640i Gran Coupe comes with a lot of standard equipment that includes rear-wheel drive (RWD), variable-ratio steering, sport suspension, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, parking sensors front and rear, leather upholstery, wood trim, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, digital instrument cluster, 10.2-inch infotainment display, navigation, Wi-Fi, and wireless charging. The 2019 650i Gran Coupe has 20-way power-adjustable front seats, Nappa leather upholstery and a Harman Kardon 600-watt/16-speaker surround-sound system. The 2019 640i xDrive GT has all-wheel drive (AWD), self-leveling rear air suspension, 16-way power-adjustable front seats, panoramic moonroof, and a power tailgate.

Buyers of either body style can select driver-assistance features (active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking), multi-contour front seats, self-parking, adaptive suspension, rear-wheel steering, heated steering wheel, soft-closing doors, and night vision with pedestrian detection. Then there are larger alloy wheels and various cosmetic packages. All-wheel drive (known as xDrive) is optional with both engines in the Gran Coupe. It’s standard in the Alpina B6, however.

The 640i versions have a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 that generates a robust 315 horsepower (335 horsepower in the GT), while 650i models have a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 developing 445 horsepower. The Alpina B6 takes that V8 and boosts output to 600 horsepower. Each engine runs on premium gasoline and employs a stop/start function to save fuel at idle. All variants use an 8-speed automatic transmission.

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (640i, 640i xDrive)
315 horsepower (Gran Coupe); 335 horsepower (GT) @ 5,800 rpm
330 lb-ft of torque (Gran Coupe); 332 lb-ft of torque (GT) @ 1,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg (RWD Gran Coupe), 19/28 mpg (AWD Gran Coupe), 20/28 mpg (AWD Gran Turismo)

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (650i, 650i xDrive)
445 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
480 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 mpg (RWD Gran Coupe), 17/25 mpg (AWD Gran Coupe)

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe)
600 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
591 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg