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Choosing between a McLaren 570GT and 570S is more interesting than choosing a comfortable car or a sporty one. The 570GT’s optional Sport Pack complicates that simple division, while its distinctive glass hatch changes how the car can be used. For US buyers examining pre-owned examples, the right comparison begins with the exact build of each car rather than the model badge alone.
Understand the GT starting point
McLaren’s 570GT archive describes a panoramic roof extending farther rearward than the 570S’s roofline, a comfort-oriented cabin and tires incorporating noise-reducing foam. It lists a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at 570 PS, or 562 bhp, with 443 lb-ft of torque. The GT label sits on a distinctly high-performance foundation.
Those factory intentions are useful background, but a used example may now have different tires, seats or an aftermarket exhaust. When comparing two cars, record what is fitted today. Otherwise, a previous owner’s changes can easily become an apparent difference between the models themselves.
The hatch makes a real difference
The manufacturer’s 2018 specification and options guide, preserved in a brochure archive, lists a side-hinged rear glass tailgate and a leather-trimmed touring deck with retaining points. It quotes 150 liters of front luggage space and 220 liters at the rear, approximately 5.3 and 7.8 cubic feet respectively.
Treat those as two separate spaces. A combined volume does not establish whether a rigid suitcase fits through an opening or sits comfortably beneath the glass. Bring the bags you use for a two-night trip, and ask the seller to demonstrate access and the correct restraint arrangement. Also assess rearward visibility with the intended luggage in place.
The 2018 Sport Pack is the key complication
In a January 2018 announcement posted by McLaren Automotive, the company explained that the Sport Pack brought the 570S’s steering rack, damper actuators and uprights to the GT, together with matching damping, steering and stability-control calibration. The release also discussed the move to standard carbon-ceramic brakes and the availability of an electrochromic panoramic roof.
That announcement concerns the Australian market, so use it to understand the engineering changes, not to infer US pricing or the equipment of every American car. A US window sticker and manufacturer build record should establish the specification of the example you are considering. The brochure likewise needs to be read with its market and period in mind.
Compare the cars on the same terms
Ask specifically whether the GT has the Sport Pack, then distinguish that answer from a seller describing it as “sporty” or pointing to a carbon-fiber option package. Check the fitted wheel and tire details on both cars before a back-to-back drive. Evaluate steering response and ride over the same route, at ordinary legal speeds.
For the cabin, try the exact seats, inspect the roof’s controls if applicable and test the air conditioning after the car has been outside. Confirm that the touring-deck trim and hatch seals are in good condition. The best choice follows the combination you value: the GT’s packaging, the particular chassis specification and the condition of the actual car. A carefully identified 570GT can make the decision much more nuanced than its name suggests.
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