Beneteau Sport Yachts & Express Cruisers

Beneteau 45 Gran Turismo, the Flagship That Opens Up

A 48 ft 6 in express cruiser with a lifting aft window, a 48 sq ft sunroof, a full-beam master and a tender garage, offered with Volvo IPS or Z-drives.

2021 to 2024 Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Gran Turismo 45. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
48.5 ft14.78 m
Beam
13.8 ft4.2 m
Cruise
25.9 kn
Cabins
2 (full-beam master amidships, VIP forward) or 3 with bunk cabin option
Used price
$520K to $760K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. What the Beneteau 45 Gran Turismo set out to do
  3. A hardtop that turns into an open boat
  4. Tender garage plus a lifting platform
  5. Full-beam master, VIP and two showers
  6. Three sea trials, three answers
  7. How it rides
  8. Costs, values and the GT50 that followed
  9. Specifications
  10. Price and value
  11. Strengths and weaknesses
  12. Used buyer checklist
  13. Rivals
  14. Our verdict
  15. FAQ

The Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 (GT45) is a 48 ft 6 in flagship express cruiser built from 2021 to 2024, with twin Volvo D6 IPS600 pods or D6-380 sterndrives, two or three cabins, two heads and a tender garage.

Best for
  • Families moving up from center consoles or bowriders
  • Entertaining at anchor with toys aboard
  • Weekend and week-long coastal cruising
  • Owners who want open-air feel with all-weather comfort

Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 by the numbers

LOA 48' 6" / 14.78 mBeam 13' 9" / 4.19 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Speed to length ratio at cruise
3.99A planing cruise. Fast passages in exchange for much higher fuel burn per mile.
Estimated range at cruise
164 nmUsing 90 percent of tank capacity at the cruise speed and fuel burn listed on this page.
Fuel economy at cruise
0.76 nmpgNautical miles per gallon at cruise, both engines combined.
Horsepower per ton
71 hpStrong power to weight for a planing hull.
Length to beam ratio
3.53 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 118 sport yachts & express cruisers we cover

18 ft92 ft

What the Beneteau 45 Gran Turismo set out to do

Beneteau released details of the Gran Turismo 45 in June 2021 as the largest of four GT models alongside the 32, 36 and 41, and showed it in the US that autumn. It was the flagship of the 2018 to 2024 generation, aimed at owners leaving center consoles and bowriders who wanted overnight space without losing the open-air feel. BoatTEST called it the third generation of the Gran Turismo line and praised Beneteau for naming it after its 44 ft 3 in hull length rather than its 48 ft 6 in overall length.

Design was shared between Beneteau's powerboat team and MICAD for the naval architecture, with Andreani Design styling the exterior and interior. Metallic grey fashion plates on the hardtop and engine air intakes give it a sports-car look that still reads as current.

A hardtop that turns into an open boat

The GT45's party trick is how quickly it changes character. A huge electric sunroof, 48 square feet by Yachting's and Power and Motoryacht's count, slides back silently, and an optional electric window at the back of the cockpit lifts at the touch of a button to open the whole saloon to the cockpit. Manual sliding side windows add a cross-breeze. In under a minute an enclosed, air-conditioned deck becomes something close to an open boat, which PMY linked directly to the appeal of center consoles.

Inside that space, a U-shaped settee to starboard wraps around an expanding wood table, facing a wet bar with sink, ice maker, fridge and a TV that rises on an electric lift. BoatTEST measured average headroom of 6 ft 7 in on the main deck, praised the seamless one-piece upper structure, and noted that a 16 inch Garmin display doubles as the Volvo glass dash at the helm.

Tender garage plus a lifting platform

Many 45 footers offer a garage or a tender platform. The GT45 has both. Under the aft sun pad, a garage with an electric winch takes a tender of up to about 7.5 to 8 ft, and the hydraulic swim platform, 4 ft deep and full beam, lifts 771 lb (350 kg), enough for a small RIB or a personal watercraft on pop-up chocks. An electric grill flips open at the aft end of the sun pad, which BoatTEST measured at 68 by 68 inches.

Forward, a bow lounge of about 6 ft 2 in by 8 ft 3 in has ratcheting backrests and a fold-out mini Bimini. Side decks are 17 inches wide with a 24 inch rail and a raised toe rail, though BoatTEST noted that people on the bow pad block some of the skipper's view.

Full-beam master, VIP and two showers

Below, the standard layout has two ensuite cabins and a lower lounge rather than a third cabin. The full-beam master lies amidships with a centerline queen, hull windows both sides, a pop-up TV and an ensuite with a separate shower. Forward, the VIP has scissor berths that make a double or two singles, and the day head, also with a separate walk-in shower, doubles as its ensuite. Opposite the galley, a C-shaped dinette can be swapped for a third cabin with upper and lower bunks.

The galley has a microwave, two burners, a double sink and a full-height fridge freezer. Yachting found the interior unusually quiet, measuring 72 decibels in the forward cabin on smooth water and just 2 more in waves, which Beneteau attributes to coring the forward hull sections and rubber gasketing on doors and hatches.

Three sea trials, three answers

Published performance varies widely, which is worth understanding before you believe any listing. BoatTEST ran twin 440 hp Volvo D6 IPS600s with three people and half fuel, reaching 32.2 knots at 3,640 rpm on 44.9 gph. Best cruise was 25.9 knots at 3,200 rpm on 33.9 gph, good for about 164 nautical miles with a 10 percent reserve, and the boat planed in 8.8 seconds. Power and Motoryacht recorded just over 33 knots and suggested a 23 knot cruise.

Yachting saw only 26.3 knots at 3,390 rpm and 21.5 knots at 3,000 rpm, but its test hull had been in the water two weeks without bottom paint, and Beneteau's representative said top speed commonly exceeds 30 knots. Treat 30 to 33 knots as the realistic top end and 23 to 26 knots as a comfortable cruise with IPS. The D6-380 sterndrive option, with joystick, was the cheaper alternative; no test of it has been published.

How it rides

BoatTEST found the sweet spot in a 2 ft head sea at 25 to 27 mph, about 22 to 23 knots, with some hull slap above that. Following seas were easy, with no tendency to stuff the bow, and beam seas were where the boat felt most at home. As an IPS boat, it turns wide at cruise speed; slow down for tight turns. PMY liked its grippy hull and just the right lean in a hard turn.

Engine access is via a hatch to port of the cockpit walkway or through the garage, with room around both diesels, a 7 kW generator forward and guarded hose clamps, all points BoatTEST and Yachting commented on favorably.

Costs, values and the GT50 that followed

A 25,000 lb diesel express burning 30 to 45 gph at speed is not cheap to run. Including slip, insurance, IPS service, generator maintenance and fuel, we estimate $38,000 to $70,000 a year in the US excluding depreciation. IPS pods need regular service at Volvo-specified intervals, and buyers should budget for it.

Used examples are scarce. European asking prices have ranged from 560,000 to 675,000 euros for 2022 to 2024 boats, and we estimate $520,000 to $760,000 in the US. Beneteau closed the range in 2024 and introduced a new Gran Turismo 50 for 2026 as its next flagship; the earlier GT46 of 2016 to 2021 is a cheaper alternative with a similar full-beam master concept.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 specifications

Length overall48.5 ft14.78 m
Beam13.8 ft4.2 m
Draft3.8 ft1.2 m
Air draft15 ft4.57 m
Displacement24,782 lbs11,241 kg
Fuel capacity238 gal9 L
Fresh water106 gal4 L
Cabins2 (full-beam master amidships, VIP forward) or 3 with bunk cabin option
Berths4 to 6
Heads2, each with separate shower stall
Maximum persons12
Standard enginesTwin Volvo Penta D6 IPS600, 440 hp each
Optional enginesTwin Volvo Penta D6-380 sterndrives (Z-drive) with joystick
Maximum power880 hp
Cruise speed25.9 knots
Top speed32.2 knots
Range164 nm
Hull typeAir Step planing hull adapted and validated for Volvo IPS pods
Hull constructionGRP, with cored forward hull sections
CE design categoryB (12 people) / C (12 people)
BuilderBeneteau, France
Naval architectBeneteau Powerboats and MICAD (Air Step patent by Tableau, Tronquez and Laval-Jeantet)
Other design creditsAndreani Design
Production2021 to 2024
StatusDiscontinued

Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.

Performance data

RPMSpeed (kn)Fuel (gph)Range (nm)
100062.1627
15008.25.4327
200010.314.6152
240014.321.6141
280020.126.5163
300023.230.8162
320025.933.9164
340028.739.3156
364032.244.9154

BoatTEST test, 2022 model, twin 440 hp Volvo Penta D6 IPS600, three people, 50 percent fuel, 50 lb gear. Range as published by BoatTEST with a 10 percent reserve.

How much does a Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$520K to $760K
Yearly running costs$38K to $70K

Few GT45s reach the market. Recent European listings ran from 560,000 euros for a 2022 IPS boat to 675,000 euros for a 2024 sterndrive boat, with a 2023 IPS example at 659,900 euros. IPS power, the hydraulic tender platform, the electric aft window, a generator and the three-cabin layout all support price; sterndrive boats are typically cheaper to buy and run.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$500K$600K$700K20222022, $520,000 to $640,00020232023, $560,000 to $700,00020242024, $600,000 to $760,000

Estimate your yearly cost

A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.

Versions and options

GT45 IPS
Twin Volvo Penta D6 IPS600 pod drives of 440 hp with joystick, the configuration tested by BoatTEST, PMY and Yachting.
GT45 sterndrive
Twin Volvo Penta D6-380 Z-drives with joystick, a lower-cost alternative.
Three-cabin layout
Replaces the lower dinette with a guest cabin with upper and lower bunks and a wardrobe.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 timeline

  1. 2021Details released in June; shown in the US in the autumn and tested by Yachting and PMY
  2. 2022BoatTEST test of a 2022-model boat records 32.2 knots with IPS600 power
  3. 2024March North American equipment list issued; the 2018 to 2024 GT range closes
  4. 2026New Gran Turismo 50 becomes Beneteau's express flagship

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Converts from enclosed to nearly open in under a minute
  • Both a tender garage and a hydraulic platform
  • Full-beam master and two heads with separate showers
  • Quiet forward cabin thanks to cored forward hull sections
  • Optional third cabin
  • Choice of IPS or sterndrive power

What to weigh up

  • IPS boat turns wide at cruise speed
  • Some hull slap above about 23 knots in a head sea
  • Bow lounge occupants block forward visibility
  • Published speeds vary widely between tests
  • Few used boats on the US market

Used Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Fairline Targa 45 GT

British hardtop with a similar open-closed concept and strong resale.

Compare side by side

Azimut Atlantis 45

Italian styling and a sportier look, with a tighter lower deck.

Compare side by side

Jeanneau DB/43

Group sister with outboard power and a dayboat-first layout.

Galeon 450 HTC

Polish hardtop with fold-down terraces and a full-beam master.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau Gran Turismo 45

The Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 is one of the most livable express cruisers of its size. It is not the fastest, and its published speeds have been all over the map, but it does the important things well: it opens up like an open boat, closes down like a small yacht, carries toys in a garage and on a lifting platform, and sleeps two couples in genuine comfort with two proper showers. Choose IPS for handling at the dock and smoother running, budget properly for pod service, and treat 30 knots as a realistic top speed rather than a disappointment.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 questions answered

How fast is the Beneteau Gran Turismo 45?

BoatTEST recorded 32.2 knots with twin Volvo IPS600s and a best cruise of 25.9 knots at 33.9 gph. PMY saw just over 33 knots.

What engines are in the Beneteau 45 Gran Turismo?

Twin Volvo Penta D6 IPS600 pods of 440 hp each, or twin Volvo Penta D6-380 sterndrives with joystick.

How many cabins does the GT45 have?

Two as standard, a full-beam master amidships and a VIP forward, each with a separate shower; a third bunk cabin can replace the lower dinette.

Why is it called the GT45 when it is 48 feet long?

Beneteau named it after its 44 ft 3 in hull length rather than its 48 ft 6 in overall length, a choice BoatTEST praised.

What is the Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 price?

Used boats have recently asked 560,000 to 675,000 euros in Europe, and we estimate $520,000 to $760,000 in the US.

Does the GT45 have a tender garage?

Yes. It has a garage with an electric winch under the aft sun pad and a hydraulic platform rated for 771 lb.

More sport yachts & express cruisers to explore

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