McLaren GT Review: The Grand Tourer That Flies Under the Radar in Australia

The McLaren GT is not the car most people imagine when they think of McLaren. It lacks the aggressive aerodynamic bodywork of the 720S, the headline-grabbing performance figures of the Senna, and the drama of anything with a P1 badge. What it offers instead is something McLaren had never quite managed before: a genuinely comfortable, genuinely usable grand tourer that happens to be built by one of the world’s most focused sports car manufacturers.

What GT Stands For

Grand Tourer. The GT was designed to carry two adults and their luggage over long distances quickly and comfortably. This is not the usual McLaren brief – McLaren’s history is defined by stripped-out, track-focused cars where driver feedback and lap times are the priorities. The GT is deliberately different.

The result is a McLaren with an 11 per cent softer suspension setup than the 570S, a bonded carbon fibre body that incorporates more acoustic damping than any previous McLaren, heated front seats, a larger boot (420 litres across front and rear storage), and a luggage system that allows soft bags to be stored in the front compartment over the engine.

Engine and Performance

The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 produces 456 kW (620 hp) and 630 Nm of torque. The 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox transmits power to the rear wheels only. The 0-100 km/h time is 3.2 seconds. Top speed is 326 km/h.

These are still supercar figures – the GT is not slow by any measure. The difference from the 720S is that you are not constantly reminded of what the car can do. The engine in Comfort mode is unobtrusive at highway speeds. The ride, while still firmer than a conventional GT car, absorbs most Australian road imperfections without protest.

Australian Roads

The McLaren GT finds its best expression on Australia’s long roads. A Sydney to Canberra run, a Melbourne to Adelaide journey, or a coastal route along the Great Ocean Road – these are the scenarios where the GT’s character becomes clear. The combination of comfortable cruising and available supercar performance makes these journeys both quick and pleasant.

In the city, the GT is more manageable than most McLarens. The lifted nose reduces the anxiety of driveways and parking structures that challenge lower-slung sports cars, and the electric power steering is light enough for urban manoeuvring.

Australian Pricing and LCT

The McLaren GT is priced from approximately $380,000 to $430,000 in Australia before options. LCT adds approximately $99,000 to $114,000. A well-specified GT with the Carbon Pack, Premium Audio, and Sports seats typically lands at $500,000 to $550,000 on Australian roads.

This places the GT in direct competition with the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Ferrari Roma, and Aston Martin DB12. Each of these cars takes a different approach to the grand touring proposition, and the McLaren GT’s case is built on the combination of supercar performance with genuine touring comfort.

Under the Radar

The GT flies under the radar in Australia in a way that the 720S and 765LT do not. It does not attract the same attention and does not project the same statement of outright performance ambition. For some buyers, this is appealing – the GT can serve as a practical daily car in a way the more extreme McLarens cannot, while delivering genuine supercar performance when called upon.

Verdict

The McLaren GT flies under the radar in Australia, and that is precisely its appeal. It lacks the drama and visual aggression of the mid-range McLarens above it, but compensates with genuine grand touring ability and enough performance to silence any questions about whether it belongs in the same company. For buyers who want a McLaren they can use regularly without constant attention, the GT is the right choice.