► Mild restyle front and rear
► Bigger changes under the skin
► Changes in line with rest of 3-series range
The BMW 3-series saloon and estate were given a mid-life overhaul earlier in 2015, with fresh engines, altered suspension and the mildest of restyles. You can read our review of the updated 3-series saloon here. Now it’s the turn of the taller-roofed, longer-wheelbase 3-series Gran Turismo to get its own raft of updates.
So what’s new for 2016?
Just like the rest of the updated 3-series range there’s no revolution in the design department. Major changes are limited to fresh bumpers front and rear, and new lights. Like the rest of the 3-series range there’ll be new headlight inners (high-spec regular 3-series get all-LED units – expect the same on the GT). The tail-lights have had an injection of LEDs too.
Likewise, there’ll be minimal meddling with the interior, which will get a more up-to-date multimedia system and a proper sliding cover for the cupholders, rather than a detachable/losable lid.
Surely there’s more to it than that?
Headline change is the cleaner, cleverer 500cc-per-cylinder engine family. In the regular 3-series range that includes a three-pot petrol 318i, although the GT will pick engines more its own size.
Expect similar suspension changes, too. The 3-series saloon has gained altered top mounts, dampers, power steering tuning and a lower ride height, for example.
Question is, can the changes make the most confused member of the BMW 3-series family more desirable? We’ll find out in 2016.
Read CAR’s review of the existing BMW 3-series Gran Turismo here.
