2017 McLaren 570GT

2017 McLaren 570GT Review

Powerful, good-looking and a joy to drive, the 570GT is worth a look for anyone who can afford it.
4 star edmunds overall rating
author
by Travis Langness
Edmunds Editor

The 2017 McLaren 570GT is the latest in the company's line of Sports Series entry-level models. The 570S debuted first, and now for 2017 comes the 570GT (Grand Touring). This model shares most of the underlying mechanicals with the S but has softer suspension tuning, a quieter exhaust and a new hatchback design. All are meant to make the GT a more comfort-focused, daily-driver/road-trip kind of car. We already thought the 570S was one of the more livable supercars on the road, so this shift should be icing on the cake.

Though it might seem a bit silly to call the McLaren 570GT an entry-level car, that's where it sits in the company's lineup. The 570 is at the bottom of the McLaren ladder, outranked by the record-setting P1 and midlevel models such as the 675LT. But that placement shouldn't make it any less appealing. It still has a stout turbocharged V8, featherweight carbon-fiber construction, amazing handling capabilities and a comfortable ride you can live with. We think the 570GT is a solid rival to perennial sports car all-stars such as the Audi R8, Ferrari 488, Lamborghini Huracan and Porsche 911.

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what's new

The 2017 McLaren 570GT is an all-new model.
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If you're trying to figure out which McLaren 570 to buy, there's no wrong way to go about it. The S is more focused on handling performance; the GT is the comfort-oriented model. From there, it's really a matter of customization. Get the carbon-ceramic brakes if you want, or the Bowers & Wilkins sound system. You can also get virtually any paint color, endless custom interior options and various carbon-fiber exterior parts. For a price, of course.
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trim levels & features

The 2017 McLaren 570GT is the grand touring version of the McLaren 570S. It is part of the company's Sport Series line and serves as the hatchback/comfort-oriented model in the 570 lineup. As is typically the case with high-end sports cars such as the 570GT, there aren't trim levels to choose from as much as there is an endless list of optional equipment. With that said, plenty of standard equipment comes with this exotic sports car, and you can add almost anything your heart desires.

For power, the GT relies on a midmounted turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 (562 horsepower, 443 pound-feet of torque) that drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. Standard equipment highlights include lightweight 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, full LED lighting, parking sensors, a rearview camera, soft-close doors, an adaptive suspension, adjustable drive modes, leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated seats, driver-seat memory settings, keyless entry and ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, and an eight-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

Once you start to scroll down the options sheet, you'll see that the 570GT can be customized to pretty much any taste. For bundled optional equipment, there are two exterior and interior carbon-fiber packages that add bare or glossy carbon-fiber parts such as side air intakes, door inserts, side skirts, front and rear diffusers and gearshift paddles. Almost every other available upgrade for the 570GT (of which there are many) is a stand-alone option.

Other options include a sport exhaust, different wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, carbon-fiber racing seats, a 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound audio system, upgraded leather trims, custom paint and trim selections, and a Nose Lift. Not to be confused with the Hollywood "nose job," it gives you the ability to raise the GT's ride height for more front-end clearance over ramps and speed bumps.

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trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the2016 McLaren 570S (turbocharged 3.8L 8-cylinder | 7-speed automatic).

NOTE: The 570S and the 570GT share many components, but there are some differences, including the GT's hatchback design, a softer suspension, a reduced steering ratio and quieter exhaust. Overall, though, our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's 570GT.

Edmunds Scorecard

Overall4.0 / 5.0

Driving

5.0 / 5.0

Acceleration5.0 / 5.0
Braking5.0 / 5.0
Handling5.0 / 5.0
Drivability4.5 / 5.0

Comfort

4.0 / 5.0

Seat comfort3.0 / 5.0
Ride comfort5.0 / 5.0
Noise & vibration3.5 / 5.0
Climate control4.0 / 5.0

Interior

3.0 / 5.0

Ease of use3.0 / 5.0
Getting in/getting out3.0 / 5.0
Driving position3.0 / 5.0
Roominess3.5 / 5.0
Visibility4.0 / 5.0
Quality5.0 / 5.0

Utility

3.5 / 5.0

Small-item storage3.0 / 5.0
Cargo space4.5 / 5.0

Technology

3.0 / 5.0

Audio & navigation4.0 / 5.0
Smartphone integration3.0 / 5.0
Driver aids3.0 / 5.0
Voice control2.5 / 5.0

driving

edmunds rating
The 570 does more with less. Less electronic trickery is used to skirt around the physics of handling, and less mass (3,280 pounds) means there's less to manipulate to go fast. It feels more organic and rewarding to drive than a car that relies heavily on computer wizardry to carve through a corner.

acceleration

edmunds rating
A 570S we tested went from zero to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. That's quicker than even McLaren's estimates and one of the quickest cars we've ever tested. This 570GT is a bit heavier, but the powertrain is the same, so you can expect the same kind of incredible thrust and superb throttle response.

braking

edmunds rating
The optional carbon-ceramic brakes lack some initial bite, and when coupled with a stiff pedal with short travel, require a higher braking effort. However, the 570 brakes with immediacy, and with a fast-acting ABS providing unfaltering stability from 60 mph, it needs only 95 feet to stop.

handling

edmunds rating
Light on its feet, with excellent turn-in and a bit of understeer as you approach the limit. It puts power down very well, yet it doesn't have insane grip like some cars armed with sticky R-compound tires. If you coax the rear end out with a big stab of throttle, it's still very controllable.

drivability

edmunds rating
The seven-speed transmission pulls off gear changes seamlessly during leisure driving as well as it executes crisp, positive shifts during high-speed sprints. First gear can be lurchy at times, and it takes awhile to adjust to the brake pedal's soft initial bite and short, extra-firm throw.

comfort

edmunds rating
Though the 570GT is marginally more softly sprung than a 570S, it's still not up there with the plushest of grand tourers. However, it manages a good degree of comfort considering how viciously it devours curves.

seat comfort

edmunds rating
The cushions are very firm; there's lumbar adjustment and great lateral support at both back and thighs. The seat controls are pretty basic and could benefit from a tilt function. Although supportive, they're not optimal for long-distance comfort.

ride comfort

edmunds rating
The GT has a surprisingly supple ride for such a performance-oriented car. Suspension tuning feels borderline plush without being underdamped in its softest setting, and it has two sportier settings. Traveling over fairly rough surfaces won't leave you feeling beat up afterward.

noise & vibration

edmunds rating
Very little wind noise but a moderate amount of road noise on coarse roads. The most prevalent sounds, however, come from the engine against your back, and those levels are adjustable to a degree. Definitely noisier than your average sports car, but fortunately the engine sounds fantastic.

climate control

edmunds rating
Climate is controlled via a touchscreen where active airflow zones are depicted with a graphic of a helmeted occupant. The system has ample capacity for cooling or heating the compact cabin, and optional seat heaters function well to warm bums in cold, damp weather.

interior

edmunds rating
The 570GT could be driven daily, but it doesn't completely escape the ergonomic challenges that many supercars face; being a few inches off the ground and having fancy doors come with trade-offs. However, the cabin feels roomy inside, and visibility is uncommonly good for a mid-engine car.

ease of use

edmunds rating
McLaren does interior design with minimalism in mind. Inboard seat controls are hidden from view, requiring operation by touch alone, while a single multifunctional steering stalk serves to navigate through a maze of menus and functions. It takes some time before it all makes sense.

getting in/getting out

edmunds rating
Entry is easier than in other McLarens thanks to a lower and narrower step-in. A low ride height requires you to plop down into the seat, which might prove challenging for the less agile. Additionally, the dihedral-hinged doors require effort to close because of the air struts that prop them up.

driving position

edmunds rating
The driver seat adjusts to fit a wide range of heights, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes. The footwell is narrow, and the pedals are closer together than they need to be with an automatic transmission. More separation would increase comfort and avoid pedal overlap.

roominess

edmunds rating
There's a good amount of interior room once you clear the door opening. Driver and passenger sit close together, but overall elbowroom and legroom are pretty generous. The floating center screen layout also creates a more spacious-looking cabin and allows access to the forward cupholders.

visibility

edmunds rating
Visibility on the road is surprisingly good. Properly adjusted, the rearview and sideview mirrors provide comprehensive coverage of the two adjacent lanes and anything behind you. Forward visibility is also good, as the low, door-mounted side-view mirrors don't obscure the front window corners.

quality

edmunds rating
Beautiful design complements quality materials and hand-built craftsmanship at its best. And they truly hand-build these cars; we've walked the factory floor ourselves. The only parts that look a bit chintzy are the sun visors, but it's likely they're intentionally made as light as possible.

utility

edmunds rating
Supercars may not prioritize utility, but your driving experiences will be limited if you can't bring much with you. The 570GT comes with a good amount of utility that will accommodate a road trip for two without much struggle.

small-item storage

edmunds rating
Small item space is precious without a glovebox (due to a knee airbag). There's a small center armrest compartment, hidden drawers in each door, and a handful of spaces for cups and smartphones. Elastic netting between the seats and by the passenger footwell can accommodate documents or similar items.

cargo space

edmunds rating
The front trunk and the rear cargo shelf combine to provide about 12 cubic feet of cargo space, which is decent for a mid-engine sports car, and will hold a couple large duffle bags. Accessing the "hatchback" to load your bags can be tough thanks to the super-wide rear roof pillar.

technology

edmunds rating
McLaren's powertrain technology is amazing, but we aren't talking about it here. The interior electronics are less impressive, with subpar rearview camera and smartphone integration. The touchscreen infotainment system is cleanly designed and works well with only a few hard-button menu shortcuts.

audio & navigation

edmunds rating
The optional Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker audio system produces great sound but adds an odd, tadpolelike speaker that sits on the center dash. The navigation system doesn't surpass what your phone is capable of, but as far as factory systems go, this one functions well and is intuitive to use.

smartphone integration

edmunds rating
We connected our smartphone via USB and found no way to access podcasts, and only the basic music menu showed up on-screen. Also, the antiglare layer over the touchscreen makes it difficult to see and operate when wearing polarized sunglasses.

driver aids

edmunds rating
We connected our smartphone via USB and found no way to access podcasts, and only the basic music menu showed up on-screen. Also, the antiglare layer over the touchscreen makes it difficult to see and operate when wearing polarized sunglasses.

voice control

edmunds rating
The voice controls are limited to interaction with phone and music, with no function for navigation programming. The system isn't great at finding your requested music, either.

edmunds expert review process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

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