Name: McLaren GT (2019 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: McLaren GT
Rating: 52.0

Summary

The McLaren GTS (originally known as the McLaren GT) is a more comfort-oriented sports car than the Artura or 750S models, despite still being powered by a mid-mounted twin-turbo V8 engine.

Having the engine immediately behind the driver gives the GT/GTS a very different feeling from a traditional front-engined GT like an Aston Martin DB12 or Ferrari Roma. However, it does makes ticking the practicality boxes, such as reasonable boot space, more difficult.

McLaren solves this by making the engine and all its surrounding paraphernalia as compact as possible, freeing up a reasonably large but shallow boot space under the glass rear deck. This is complemented by storage space under the front hood.

The name change from GT to GTS came as part of a mid-life update that was announced at the end of 2023. This update includes a bit more power, a bit less weight, some revised styling, new alloy wheels and a few cabin upgrades.

The looks divide opinion – some testers regard the GT/GTS as visually stunning, others question whether it is bold enough. “We just wish McLaren had done more to distinguish the GT from the rest of the range,” says Auto Express. “It’s a great car but it could have been a bit more special.”

Yet the GTS will make up a quarter of McLaren sales, according to Car, which adds, “look at it as a mid-engined Porsche 911 Turbo and you can see the appeal.”

As of August 2025, the McLaren GTS currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of E with a score of 52%. This score is a combination of data from both the GTS and GT versions. Inevitably, the rating is dragged down by high running costs and CO₂ emissions, as is usually the case with these sorts of cars. But the McLaren’s score also suffers from merely average media review scores and new car warranty coverage.

More McLaren Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

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McLaren GTS highlights

Superb performance and handling…
…combined with surprisingly comfortable ride
Head-turning looks
Quality interior

McLaren GTS lowlights

Not that easy to get in and out of
Poor infotainment tech
Shallow boot
Is this really practical enough to be called a GT?
…or refined enough to be called a GT?

Key specifications

Body style: Mid-engined coupé
Engine: petrol
Price: From £165,300 on-road

Launched: Summer 2019
Last updated: Winter 2023/24
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“A true GT? Not as we know it. But it just manages to avoid feeling like a dumbed-down supercar, too. A used Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T might speak more to all those south-of-France gran turismo fantasies and fit a couple of extra passengers, too. But on those roads above Cannes, Nice and St Tropez, the McLaren GT is more at home.”

Model reviewed: GT (pre-facelift)

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Evo

Stuart Gallagher

“The McLaren GT is a softer, comfier sort of McLaren, but that doesn’t mean it’s as smooth and soothing as some other high-speed grand tourers. It’s more fun to drive than most, but that does come at the cost of some refinement.”

Model reviewed: GT (pre-facelift)

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

More reviews

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: GT (pre-facelift)
“The McLaren GT feels a little muddled. It’s not as sharp as other McLarens in the range but only feels slightly more comfortable than the 570S, and in out-and-out cross-country sumptuousness, it’s trumped by rivals. That’s not to say it’s a bad car as a whole – far from it – it just feels like McLaren introduced it because it felt it needed to, rather than because it wanted to.”
Author: Jack Evans
Read review

Auto Express

Score: 8 / 10
“The McLaren GT is an easier-to-live-with supercar designed for crossing continents in comfort and tackling B-roads with relish.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“But a big part of the GT’s attraction is the extra practicality it affords over other models in the range.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“McLaren is not known for its softer, lifestyle-focused cars, so don’t expect this GT, which stands for grand tourer, to be like other GTs in the market. Comfort and space are all relative when it comes to powerful, lightweight McLarens…”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“What the GT does do is speak to people who really do want a supercar, but can’t justify it because the lack of practicality and refinement means it won’t be used enough.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The McLaren GT is very refined, quick and luxurious – it’s the company’s answer to the Bentley Continental GT.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed:
“McLaren GT is the British supercar-maker’s most useable and engaging model to date for everyday.”
Read review

Daily Mirror

Score: 10 / 10
“This elegant beauty is closest you’ll get to driving the Batmobile”
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Eurekar

Model reviewed:
“Although it can be hurtled around a track with enormous gusto, and not inconsiderable pace, it is more than content to be driven to the circuit rather than trailered, and even to call in at Tesco on the way home for a few groceries.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed:
“McLaren’s supercar formula in a more practical package”
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The Sun

Model reviewed:
“The McLaren GT is light-switch fast, beautiful and perfectly balanced – but it lacks function.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed:
“Ever since the template for mid-engine two-seaters was laid down by the Ferrari 308, it’s been nigh-on impossible to make one that is anything less than stunning. Yet, somehow, McLaren has managed it, and got the front end all wrong. It looks limp.” (Jeremy Clarakson)
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The McLaren GT offers something a bit different, and looks sensational.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“It drives like a McLaren sports car should, but a GT should probably be more practical.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of August 2025, the McLaren GTS has not been crash-tested by independent safety authority, Euro NCAP. Having to buy a few McLaren supercars for testing would probably blow Euro NCAP’s budget for the whole year, so it’s unlikely to ever happen.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of August 2025, the McLaren GTS has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. Again, we’re not expecting it to happen anytime soon – so you’ll have to use your imagination to work out how environmentally friendly a luxury GT with a twin-turbo petrol V8 engine from a supercar might be.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	24 mpg	E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	270 g/km	E

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	50	F

The McLaren GTS is a very expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The car’s fuel economy of 24 mpg is one of the poorest fuel consumption stats in our Expert Rating Index, and insurance premiums are in the most expensive bracket too. All of this will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone in the fortunate position of being able to buy a McLaren GTS.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of August 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the McLaren GT and GTS to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the GTS, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the McLaren GTS

Overall ratingC41%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileageUnlimited miles

McLaren’s standard new car warranty is fairly basic, running for three years – albeit with no limit on mileage. McLaren does offer extended warranty options up until the car is 12 years old, but this is at extra cost.

Warranty on a used McLaren GT or GTS

As of August 2025, any used McLaren GTS will still be under new car warranty as the car only hit UK roads in early 2024. As such, the first GTS models won’t reach the end of their factory warranty until early 2027.
If you are buying a ‘Qualified Pre-Owned’ GT (pre-facelift model) from an official McLaren dealership, you will get a minimum 12-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used GT from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used GT from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the McLaren GT

2022

2021

2020

Date: March 2022
Recall number: R/2022/060
Model types: All
Build dates: 08/2019 to 06/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 141
Defect: The connection between the driver airbag and the occupant restraint controller may not be fully engaged.
Remedy: Check resistance values. If necessary, remove the airbag and ensure that the secondary locking tab is correctly engaged.

Date: August 2021
Recall number: R/2021/289
Model types: All
Build dates: 07/2019 to 03/2020
Number of vehicles affected: 8
Defect: The banjo bolt that is fitted between the flexi-hose and the caliper within the brake assembly on each corner of the vehicle may not function properly.
Remedy: Disassemble the brake hose assembly, remove the banjo bolt and inspect it. In the event the banjo bolt is defective, it will be replaced. The brake hose assembly will then be reassembled and the brakes bled.

Date: August 2021
Recall number: R/2020/127
Model types: All
Build dates: 08/2019 to 03/2020
Number of vehicles affected: 1,411
Defect: The Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) foam pad underneath the fuel tank may retain moisture and corrode the fuel tank, potentially causing a fuel leak
Remedy: Remove the NVH foam pad from the vehicle and inspect fuel tank. Repair or replace the fuel tank if necessary.

As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there have been three DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the McLaren GT.

Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local McLaren dealer.

If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used Artura, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the McLaren GTS, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Discontinued models: Aston Martin DB11 (2016 to 2023) | Audi R8 (2015 to 2024) | Lexus LC (2017 to 2024) | Mercedes-AMG GT (2015 to 2023) | Polestar 1 (2019 to 2021)

You won’t find many mid-engined cars claiming to be GTs so the perceived rivals to the McLaren are rather more traditional front-engined models, such as the Aston Martin DB11, Bentley Continental GT or even a BMW 8 Series. But like most cars at this end of the market, the GTS will mostly be bought not because it’s a Grand Tourer, but because it’s a McLaren.