BMW 340i Gran Turismo

Quirky compact exec hatch is a global hit. Facelift aims to build on this success.

- Matt Robinson

ANOTHER day, another mid-life facelift for a BMW product that looks barely any different to that which has gone before. This time it’s the idiosyncratic 3 Series Gran Turismo (a cross between the Saloon and Touring estate) that’s been subjected to the lightest of updates.

In this case, though, perhaps it’s easier to understand BMW’s reluctance for radical alterations – because the 3 GT has been a big success story for the company during its three-year career. More than 140,000 examples have been sold globally since 2013, with China, Germany and the US in particular falling for the GT’s unconventional combination of a 3 Series front end and hatchback-like practicality.

One reason it hits the spot in these countries is that it has cavernous rear seat space; due to the GT’s 2,920mm wheelbase, BMW says it offers as much room in the back as the current 7 Series. That’s certainly true of legroom, but restricted headroom – caused by a raised bench and the car’s sloping roof – means six-feet-plus passengers wouldn’t want to sit in the back for long.