BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Review

The second generation BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe arrived in 2021 as the more style led, five door sibling to the 3 Series saloon. It sits in that slightly unusual space occupied by cars such as the old Audi A5 Sportback and Volkswagen Arteon, offering saloon sized underpinnings with a coupe flavoured roofline and a hatchback tailgate. On paper it can look like a car nobody strictly needs. In practice, it is very easy to see why buyers want one.

The core appeal is simple. The Gran Coupe gives you much of what makes the 3 Series so easy to recommend, namely strong road manners, a high quality cabin and a broad spread of everyday usability, but wraps it in a shape that feels a bit more distinctive. It is more practical than the regular 4 Series Coupe thanks to its extra doors and hatchback boot, yet it looks lower, sleeker and more interesting than the standard saloon.

A 2024 facelift brought the current dashboard layout and infotainment system, aligning the 4 Series Gran Coupe more closely with newer BMW models. That means the curved display now dominates the cabin, while the physical button count has been reduced. Some buyers will prefer the older setup with more dedicated controls, but BMW has at least kept the iDrive rotary controller, which makes the latest system much easier to use on the move than some rival screen heavy cabins. The current UK line up has also been slimmed down, with the 420i as the standard 4 Series Gran Coupe and the M440i xDrive as the faster M Performance option. The BMW UK model range page lists the 4 Series Gran Coupe from £47,840 and the M model variant from £64,210.

That narrower new car range means the used market is worth a look, because older 420d and 430i versions fill in some obvious gaps. Even so, the 420i and M440i cover the two ends of the brief well enough. One is all the 4 Series Gran Coupe most people will need, the other is the indulgent choice for buyers who want speed and a straight six soundtrack.

For most buyers, the BMW 420i is the sweet spot. Its 2.0 litre four cylinder petrol engine produces 184PS and 300Nm, gets from 0 to 62mph in 7.9 seconds and returns an official 40.4 to 42.2mpg. Those are strong enough numbers in a car like this, but the bigger point is that the 420i suits the Gran Coupe’s character. It is brisk, smooth and keen enough to feel premium without tipping into unnecessary expense.

If your priorities are pace and character, the M440i xDrive is hard to ignore. It uses a 3.0 litre six cylinder petrol engine with 48 volt mild hybrid assistance, producing 374PS and 500Nm. It covers 0 to 62mph in 4.7 seconds and adds the richer soundtrack and greater effortless shove you expect from a modern BMW six cylinder. It is much more expensive, though, and that means you need to really want the extra performance rather than simply assuming the range topper is the best buy.

Trim wise, the regular 420i comes as an M Sport Gran Coupe in the current UK line up, while the M440i xDrive sits above it as the M Performance model. That keeps the choice simple. For the majority, the 420i gives you the look and the driving appeal without stretching the budget too far.

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe starts at £47,840 in the UK, with the M440i xDrive starting at £64,210. That is a meaningful premium over a BMW 3 Series saloon, which starts from £41,945, and it tells you exactly what the Gran Coupe is asking buyers to pay for. This is not the practical choice in the family. It is the stylish one.

That pricing puts it in premium territory, but not out of line with what you would expect from a BMW wearing this badge and body style. The issue is not whether it is expensive, because it plainly is, but whether it feels expensive enough to justify the step up from the 3 Series. For the right buyer, the answer is yes. The shape, the cabin and the sense of occasion do enough to create clear separation. For the strictly rational buyer, though, a 3 Series gives you much of the same engineering for less money.

The most obvious rival is the Audi A5 Sportback. It offers a similar mix of coupe style and five door usability, and if you prefer Audi interiors or want a slightly softer driving experience, it is a credible alternative. The difficulty for the Audi is that the BMW generally feels sharper and more rewarding from behind the wheel.

There is no direct Mercedes-Benz C-Class equivalent in this shape, so the smaller CLA is the nearest star badged alternative. It looks smart and has strong showroom appeal, but it is not as roomy or as rounded as the BMW. A used Volkswagen Arteon is also worth a glance if you like this type of car but want something a little less obvious, while the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake brings a different flavour again, with a more left field premium feel and generous equipment.

The strongest alternative for many buyers, though, may be inside BMW’s own showroom. If you like the Gran Coupe but do not need the sleeker body, the 3 Series saloon is cheaper and more straightforward. If lower running costs matter more than petrol power, the closely related BMW i4 is also one of the strongest electric executive cars on sale.

This is where the Gran Coupe earns its keep. A regular 4 Series Coupe is the prettier but less practical option, while the 3 Series saloon is the more sensible but less distinctive one. The Gran Coupe lands neatly between them.

Officially, luggage capacity is 470 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,290 litres with them folded. That is enough to make this a properly useful everyday car rather than simply a style exercise. The tailgate is a genuine advantage too, because it gives the BMW easier access than a traditional saloon boot. You do have to lift items over a lip, but the wider hatch opening makes the space more versatile than the numbers alone suggest.

Passenger space is good in the front, where the low seating position adds to the sense of sportiness without making the car difficult to get into. Rear space is a little more nuanced. The shape means legroom is decent enough, but headroom is not as generous as in a more upright saloon, especially for taller adults. Children will be absolutely fine, and occasional adult passengers will not complain much, but this is not the roomiest car in its class if rear seat comfort is a top priority.

The result is a car that works very well for singles, couples and small families who want something more stylish than a conventional saloon. It is practical enough to justify itself, but it never lets you forget that design came first.

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is 4,783mm long, 1,852mm wide and 1,442mm tall. Width including mirrors is 2,073mm and the wheelbase measures 2,856mm. Those figures make it fractionally larger than you might expect just from looking at it, and they help explain why the cabin and boot are usefully generous despite the lower roofline.

The biggest cabin change from the 2024 facelift is BMW’s newer curved display setup. The older car already had a very good infotainment system, but the newer arrangement gives the Gran Coupe a more modern look and feel. The challenge with screen led cabins is usually usability, yet BMW handles it better than most because the graphics are clear, the menus are logical and the iDrive rotary controller survives the transition. That matters.

Wireless smartphone mirroring, navigation and a smart digital driver display are all part of the expected premium BMW experience here. More importantly, the system is easy to live with. Some physical controls have gone, which is not ideal, but the overall user experience is more polished than in many rivals that rely entirely on touch inputs.

The Gran Coupe’s cabin does a good job of justifying the price tag. Material quality is strong, the switchgear feels expensive and the overall finish is convincingly premium. The standard atmosphere is sportier than in a 3 Series, with a chunkier steering wheel and a more cockpit like feel around the driver.

M Sport treatment suits the car well because it leans into the BMW’s more assertive look without tipping too far into gimmickry. The M440i adds the expected extra sense of theatre, but even the standard car feels plush enough to belong in this class. If you want a minimal, calming cabin, an Audi may suit you better. If you want something with more visual drama and tactile appeal, the BMW has the edge.

The current new car range is straightforward. The 420i is powered by a 2.0 litre four cylinder petrol engine producing 184PS and 300Nm, driving the rear wheels through an eight speed automatic gearbox. Officially it reaches 62mph in 7.9 seconds and returns 40.4 to 42.2mpg, which is a strong enough blend of performance and economy for most buyers.

The M440i xDrive moves things up considerably. It combines a 3.0 litre six cylinder petrol engine with 48 volt mild hybrid assistance for a total of 374PS and 500Nm, routed through four wheel drive and the same eight speed automatic gearbox. The result is 0 to 62mph in 4.7 seconds and official economy of 37.7 to 38.7mpg. Those numbers make it properly quick, but the bigger appeal is the effortlessness. It does not feel highly strung or peaky, just deeply muscular.

Used buyers get a broader spread. Earlier cars included the 430i and the 420d, the latter making particular sense for high mileage drivers.

The 420i is the surprise star because it feels light enough on its feet and has enough shove to enjoy the chassis without constantly wishing for more power. The steering is precise and the rear wheel drive layout gives the car the sort of balance that keen drivers appreciate, but it is also very approachable. You do not have to be in a hurry to enjoy it.

The M440i xDrive is faster and grippier, with the extra traction helping it put its performance down cleanly. It is the more serious bit of kit, but also the one that edges closer to being more car than most owners really need. That does not make it pointless. It just makes it more of a luxury rather than the obvious default choice.

Ride comfort is good for a car with this much sporting intent. It does a neat job of keeping body movements tidy without becoming brittle over poor surfaces, and that helps the Gran Coupe work as an everyday car rather than just a stylish indulgence. Refinement is strong too. The 420i can sound a little purposeful under hard acceleration, but it settles down nicely at a cruise. The M440i is more vocal, yet in a pleasing way, with the expected straight-six richness.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe itself does not appear as a separate Euro NCAP entry, but the structurally related BMW 4 Series Coupe received a five star Euro NCAP rating based on 2019 protocols, with Euro NCAP noting that it is structurally similar to the BMW 3 Series and shares the same level of safety equipment. That rating is now marked as expired because of the age of the test, which is common rather than unusual.

BMW also offers a broad suite of driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise and lane related assistance depending on specification, though exact availability varies by model and option pack.

The 420i is officially capable of up to 42.2mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. That is respectable for a stylish petrol five door with this level of performance, and it means you do not need to default to a diesel unless your mileage genuinely demands it.

The M440i xDrive is quoted at up to 38.7mpg. That is a decent result for a six cylinder performance model, although real world economy will obviously depend heavily on how often you use its pace. Buyers tempted by the straight-six charm should assume the official figure is achievable only with some restraint.

BMW provides a three year unlimited mileage new car warranty in the UK. That is competitive enough without being especially generous. BMW also offers Service Inclusive plans to cover scheduled maintenance for a set time or mileage period, which can help make budgeting easier.

The cheapest BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe to insure is likely to be a 420i M Sport, which is in insurance group 30. The BMW 420d Gran Coupe is group 32 or 33, depending on model. A BMW 430i Gran Coupe is in insurance group 34, while the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe is insurance group 40.

Of course, these numbers will mean different things to different people. If you're a young or inexperienced driver living in an area with lots of crime, you might want to shop around for an insurance quote before buying a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. More senior drivers living in the suburbs of a quiet town should find insurance to be relatively affordable, meanwhile.

Because the 4 Series Gran Coupe starts well above the expensive car threshold, every new version is liable for the expensive car supplement in addition to the standard £200 VED rate. This means that from years two to six, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is also liable for an additional £440 in tax on top of the standard rate.