Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

2014 BMW 3 Series GT: Function triumphs over form in BMW’s high-roofed hatch

Stephen Edelstein
By

BMW wasn’t planning on showing its 2014 3 Series GT until the first week of March, when the Geneva Motor Show opens its doors, but some leaked photos have forced the company’s hand. The specs show a car that has a lot in common with the rest of the 3 Series line, despite its unusual sheetmetal.

The 3 Series GT is similar in concept to the larger 5 Series GT. To make both cars, BMW takes one of its sedans and turns it into a high-roofed hatchback that supposed to be both stylish and utilitarian.

The jury is out when it comes to the styling, but the 3 Series GT will definitely be practical. The wheelbase is stretched by 4.2 inches, yielding an extra cubic foot of rear cargo space over a 3 Series wagon, and rear seat legroom increases by three inches over the sedan.

Related

The roofline may have a dramatic slope, but it’s actually 3.2 inches taller than either a 3 Series sedan or wagon. A power tailgate includes a “smart opener” activated by swiping a foot under the rear bumper (just like on a Ford Escape). The cargo area also comes with LED illumination, making the 3 Series GT the perfect car for a late night body dump.

Look away from the capacious cargo area, and the GT starts to look like a regular 3 Series. Like the 3 Series sedan, it will offered in the United States as a 328i, with a 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, or as a 335i with a 300 hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six.

An eight speed automatic transmission is standard, and doesn’t look like BMW will be offering the GT with a stick shift.

The 3 Series is known for its sporty handling, and the GT will keep the sedan’s double joint front axle. However, it will get space-saving five-link suspension in back.

The 3 Series GT will also be offered in the same trim lines as the 3 Series sedan: standard, Sport Line, Luxury Line, Modern Line, and M Sport.

The differences are mostly aesthetic. Sport Line nets blacked-out trim exterior trim, red interior trim, and 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels. Luxury Line replaces the black trim with chrome and the red trim with wood. Modern Line comes with unique “turbine” alloy wheels and its own interior colors.

M Sport models are breathed on by BMW’s M Division, the same people that brought you the M5. Don’t get too excited, though: mechanical changes are limited to a stiffened and lower suspension. The M Sport will also have a full body kit and a sport steering wheel.

The 3 Series GT will go on sale later this year, and pricing will be announced sometime before then. The GT will probably command a premium over other (non-M3) 3 Series models.

With the X1 and X3 crossovers already in showrooms, and the 3 Series wagon on the way, BMW’s showrooms will soon be crowded with utility vehicles. At least buyers will have plenty of choices.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
The 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe is an exercise in form-over-function design
porsche passport expanded to san diego phoenix las vegas toronto cayenne coupe 1

Previous

Next

Read more
Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD rear end side profile from driver's side with trees and a metal fence in the back.

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?
Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Read more