Thinking about upgrading to a larger family cruiser raises a lot of questions: how easy will it be to handle at the docks, how comfortable will it be for kids and guests, and how well will it perform on open water? A recent sea trial aboard the new Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 offered clear answers. As the world’s largest boatbuilder, Beneteau has packed this express cruiser with thoughtful, family-friendly features that make ownership easier and more enjoyable.
The Gran Turismo 45 sits at the top of Beneteau’s express cruiser range. Styled by Andreani Design and engineered by Beneteau Power Boats in collaboration with Micad, the Italian naval design office known for blending style and engineering, the GT 45 balances striking lines with practical solutions for cruising families.
The stern proves especially well considered. A wide hydraulic-lift swim platform simplifies boarding and reboarding for swimmers and divers, and it supports davits for launching and recovering a tender. Behind the lifting transom is a garage with rollers and a winch designed to accommodate a 7½-foot tender while leaving room for paddleboards and other water toys. A transom locker flips up to reveal an outdoor grill and food prep area, moving the barbecue out from under the hardtop so guests on the sundeck can relax nearby. Above the garage sits a generous sun pad large enough for two adults—an ideal spot for soaking up sun or watching the horizon.
Traditionally, express cruisers offered open sun decks with a Bimini for simple weather protection. Over time, hardtops and later canvas and isinglass enclosures evolved to provide more weather protection while retaining an open feeling when conditions allow. The GT 45 refines this progression with a clever compromise: a full glass aft bulkhead that keeps air conditioning or heat circulating around a large U-shaped bench and table aft of the twin helm seats, yet that bulkhead is not static.
With a push of a button on the port bulkhead, a large glass panel lifts and locks overhead, instantly opening the aft space. Another control at the helm retracts a massive overhead hatch into a compartment beneath the hardtop, and that hatch can be fitted with a glass insert along its forward edge to brighten the bridge deck. The result is a sundeck that can be fully opened to fresh air and light or closed to form a comfortable, climate-controlled social area. Large manual sliding panels in oversized side windows further increase ventilation and allow you to look down at the water as you cruise.
Glass on all sides also enhances visibility from the helm. The helm layout includes a flip-up bolster and an adjustable sport steering wheel so the captain can sit or stand comfortably. Controls are intuitive and purpose-built for tight maneuvers: joystick docking lets you pivot, slide sideways, or back away from a dock with precision, while a dedicated bow thruster provides side-to-side control to counteract crosswinds more effectively. Because the bow thruster sits at a distance from the IPS drives, having a separate thruster reduces the bow’s leverage from gusts and makes close-quarters handling in shallow water easier while protecting water strainers.
A gently curved stairway on the port side, lighted by overhead glazing beneath the forward windscreen and by large hull-side windows, leads down to the accommodation deck. Inside, the two-cabin, two-head layout centers on a comfortable living area with a portside galley and a starboard U-shaped dinette. The interior palette of gray walnut and white lacquer feels modern and bright, and carefully placed spot lighting highlights the clean, precise fit and finish—arguably among the best Beneteau has produced.
The forward cabin is designed with flexibility in mind: twin berths are perfect for children but can be combined in a scissor-like arrangement to form a double berth when needed. Two hanging lockers add storage, and companionway access to the portside day head and shower compartment keeps life aboard convenient. The master stateroom is situated amidships and features a centerline fore-and-aft berth with a desk to port and a bench seat to starboard. Generous hull-side windows bring natural light into the space, and owners enjoy private access to an ensuite head with a separate shower.
Performance on the water is engaging. During our trial, the GT 45 came on plane in under 10 seconds and displayed agile handling that felt confident and controlled. Twin Volvo Penta IPS 600 drives provide precise handling both at speed and when maneuvering at low speed around the dock. Our test boat, Hull No. 2 and the first in the U.S., reached 33 knots at WOT with nearly a full fuel load. The most efficient cruise on test was 22.5 knots at 3,000 rpm, burning 23.2 gallons per hour, yielding about 1 nautical mile per gallon and a calculated range of 207 nautical miles with a 10 percent reserve.
For owners considering a step up to a larger, more capable family cruiser, the Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 demonstrates how thoughtful design, comfortable accommodations, and strong performance can come together in a single package. Its blend of open-air enjoyment and weatherproof comfort, combined with intuitive handling systems and well-executed interior spaces, make it an appealing choice for families who want style and practicality on the water.
Specifications:
LOA: 48’5”
Beam: 13’8”
Draft: 3’9”
Displ.: 24,782 lbs.
Fuel: 238 gals.
Water: 106 gals.
Power: (2) 440-hp Volvo Penta IPS 600
Price (as tested): $941,000
This article was originally published in the October 2021 issue.