The "Slowest" McLaren Has a Huge Advantage

ACCELERATION – THE “SLOWEST” NEW MCLAREN IS STILL TERRIFYING

The GTS is the slowest car McLaren currently makes in 2025. But with two people on board, we clocked 3.02 seconds to 100 km/h whic is faster than McLaren's own 3.2 claim. And it feels every bit as fast. There's hardly any turbo lag, and the torque continues to surge all the way to redline. With 626 horsepower and ~1,500kg weight, it's technically has the highest power to weight ratio in the GT class.

Note: It took us a while to realize you need to turn the ESC off before it gives you "the full beans".

HANDLING – IMMENSELY SATISFYING, EVEN WITH THE OPEN DIFF

Unlike most of its rivals, the GTS uses an old-school hydraulic steering rack. Which means you can still FEEL the road texture, the undulations, and connection with the road. Combine that with McLaren’s mid-engine layout and lightweight carbon fibre tub, and you get a super sharp front end turn-in, loads of grip, and fantastic body control.

Even with a bloody open diff, McLaren’s clever brake-steering system mimics an LSD by subtly braking the inside wheel mid-corner. We didn't notice it getting in the way of speed or road feel.

RIDE QUALITY – GT SOFTNESS WITHOUT THE BOAT FLOAT

This is supposed to be a Grand Tourer, so McLaren has tuned it like one. The ride is genuinely comfortable most of the time. The proactive damping system scans the road and softens or firms up depending on what’s ahead. That said, it's not "Bentley-smooth" as it's very much on the sporty side of comfortable. Whether that's going to work for you or not can only be sorted in a test drive.

INTERIOR – UNIQUE TO MCLAREN, BUT NOT CLASS-LEADING

It has soft nappa leather. Premium audio. A glovebox. Seriously, it's the only new McLaren with a glovebox (after the GT). That means this is McLaren’s most liveable cabin. Yet it still retains no buttons on the steering wheel to keep you focused on the important part, which is driving. The downside is that it's still not as good as other GT cars like the Aston Martin DB12 or Bentley Continental. Also, as many others have pointed out, a big weakpoint is the infotainment. It gets the job done, but there's no CarPlay or Android Auto.

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PRACTICALITY – THE CARGO KING OF SUPERCARS

We’re not kidding when we say this has more cargo space than a Toyota Camry. 570 litres split between front and rear compartments. Granted, you’ll need to pack like a Tetris grandmaster, but you could plausibly bring golf clubs, skis, or a suspicious number of baguettes. Critically, it has more cargo space than any GT car on the market. If you care about that, the GTS might go straight to the top of your shopping list.

STYLING – THE SUBTLE MINI SPEEDTAIL

It’s elegant, not obnoxious. Subtle, but still exotic. The supercar for those who don't want to shout (too much). The defining feature is that elongated rear end, which is really the opposite of many other GT cars that typically have a long hood (e.g. the Ferrari Roma). The side profile looks like a drawn bow ready to shoot. Pop the doors open and then you're making more of a statement.

VERDICT – THE BEST DAILYABLE SUPERCAR?

If you want a more practical supercar that still retains the McLaren lightweight DNA and undeniable speed, this is it. It’s the most rational McLaren for sale because it has that cargo space advantage over the others (including competitors). And that might be the most exciting thing about it. That all said, you have to decide if it truly classifies as a GT (because we think a GT is a 2+2).

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