The Essentials

• Price from £65,705
• What Car? says:
• Fuel economy: up to 50.4mpg
• What is it? Grand tourer that doesn't want to bankrupt you

• Drive

  More of a mighty cruiser than a sports car but none the worse for that; the diesel engine is powerful and quiet

• Inside

  Lots of seat adjustment and the sensible layout you'd expect in a BMW

• Safety

  Enough electronic safety kit to soothe the most anxious traveller; security kit is good, too

• Reliability

  BMW has a good record for reliability and the quality feels faultless, so we wouldn't fret

• Space

  You and a passenger are fine up front but the back seats are best for kids. There's room for golf bags or a clutch of cases in the boot

• Standard and extras

  Plenty of goodies including heated electric leather seats and sat-nav fitted as standard

• What's it like to drive?

  There's a firm edge to the ride at town speeds, but it smoothes out when you go faster and is superb at a motorway cruise. The 6 Series Coupe also benefits from strong grip and tight body control in corners, although it's too big and heavy to feel like a sports car, even in the most driver-focused, M Sport spec. BMW offers a 3.0-litre diesel model (misleadingly badged 640d) that combines gutsy performance with over 50mpg. Alternatively, if you prefer petrol power and don't mind spending a small fortune on fuel, there's a 3.0-litre turbo (the 640i) and a 4.4-litre twin-turbo (the 650i). The wide tyres generate some road noise, but wind noise is kept to a minimum, so the 6 Series Coupe is still a refined car. The diesel engine is all-but inaudible at a steady cruise, and when you work it hard, it sounds rorty rather than rough.

• What's it like inside?

  The dashboard is typical BMW, which means it looks and feels expensive, and is user-friendly. Most systems are controlled through a central dial that's linked to simple on-screen menus, while eight programmable shortcut buttons take you straight to the functions you use most. The driving position also impresses, because there's a huge range of adjustment and plenty of space. However, adults won't want to ride in the back for long  there's more space than there is in a Jaguar XK, but head- and legroom are still tight. More positively, the boot is long and wide, and every 6 Series Coupe comes with heated, electrically adjustable leather seats, climate control, satellite-navigation and automatic lights and wipers.

• How reliable is it?

  The 6 Series was too new to be included in the most recent JD Power customer satisfaction survey, but BMW finished in the top half of the manufacturer's table. Safety equipment is fairly comprehensive, with every 6 Series Coupe getting four airbags and a host of electronic driver aids. You also get ISOFIX mounting points and a front passenger airbag deactivation switch that lets you mount a rear-facing child seat beside you.

• Should I buy one?

  Some other luxury coupes are more fun to drive, but the 6 Series is one of the best cruisers. As long as you're not hoping to fit lanky teenagers in the back on a regular basis, it's worth considering.