MotorMouths

The 550i Gran Turismo feels like it tries too hard to be something it’s not; it’s as if no one really knew what this vehicle was going to become. It may not be an Aztek, but it’s the closest BMW has come to creating one.

We should love – absolutely and totally 100 percent love – a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V8 hatchback from BMW. But we don’t. For three-out-of-four occupants, the 550i GT is every inch the grand tourer. But for the person behind the wheel, it’s closer to a modern day Family Truckster.

Despite BMW’s efforts to make the GT as sedan-like as possible, it’s not a vehicle that tempts you to get up at 6 a.m. on Sunday for a day of spirited driving.

This oddly-shaped sedan-crossover-SUV-Wagon can cost over 80K.
If you like rear headroom and quirky looks, and you can stomach the price, the 2010 BMW 550i GT may be what you are looking for.

There’s lots of 7 Series chassis DNA underpinning this first example of the next-gen 5 Series, but then the base 550i Gran Turismo is almost 300 pounds heavier than a 750i.

The 5 Series GT can’t match the stellar driving dynamics of the 5 Series sedan but then few vehicles can. The GT’s appeal stems largely from the comfort and versatility of the rear section of its cabin.

I’d prefer to see a bit more of a “driver’s car” feel to this ostensible Ultimate Driving Machine, especially in 550i form, it’s a capable highway hustler with ample room for four adults and a weekend’s worth of gear.

The styling is cleaner, the ergonomics are much improved, and the chassis is more refined. No great leap forward has been attempted this time around, and the car is better in virtually every way as a result. By nearly any objective measure, these are excellent cars.

If you can get past its looks and weight, there’s a lot to like about the 5-series Gran Turismo. The overall impression is of a refined, luxurious, and reasonably sporty vehicle, not a soggy crossover.

Of the hundreds of cars I’ve written about over the years, there are few I would call truly ugly. The BMW 550i GT is one of those cars. On the positive side, none of those hundreds of cars are a better companion on the open road.

The BMW engineers have hammered the torque curve so marvelously level, and poured tranquilizing syrup over every gear change, that the new 5 Series actually feels a little remote and unfamiliar.

The 2011 BMW 5 Series rides well and, driven with more spirit and firmer damper settings on open roads, it will still satisfy the vast majority of traditional 5 Series buyers.