BMW 4 Series Coupe Review

If you can put the divisive grille out of your mind, this BMW 4 Series Coupe review will tell you everything you need to know. You'll have to decide whether the colossal grille speaks to you, but aside from arguably the most controversial automotive design feature of recent times, the BMW 4 Series Coupe has a lot going for it. If you can't get past the bold styling, you could spend your money on an Audi A5 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe instead, but we reckon you’d be missing out.

Indeed, the 4 Series looks pretty phwoar when you view it from the rear. And, even from the front, it’s certainly less offensive in the metal than it is in pictures - so don't dismiss it just yet. You can make your own decision about the coupe’s design but, to its credit, BMW certainly can’t be accused of treading carefully.

Fortunately, the designers didn't do anything too weird inside. It feels pretty much like a BMW 3 Series, with lots of lovely materials and feel-good fabrics. All models are well-equipped with leather seats as standard across the range, as well as the brand’s latest infotainment system. This is excellent, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as BMW's Intelligent Personal Assistant. In theory, this works a bit like Alexa but, in our experience, it’s a bit on the clumsy side.

Of course, the BMW 4 Series Coupe is not as practical as a BMW 3 Series (although a more versatile Gran Coupe is an option). It’s a strict four-seater at best, with the rear seats needing some yoga-like moves to access. They’re fine for occasional use by children, though, and the boot will be big enough for the weekly Waitrose shop.

Being a BMW, the area in which the 4 Series really impresses is how it drives. Even the entry-level 420i (which, actually, is probably our favourite model) is a lot of fun, with power being sent to the rear wheels and lovely, communicative steering keeping you on the road. When you just want to get to your destination, the 4 Series does that too - it’s a remarkably civilised car, although you will notice the odd bump in the road (especially if you buy one with the bigger 19-inch alloy wheels).

The majority of new car buyers tend to go for a 420i, there’s also the M440i if you want a dollop more excitement without going all out for the M4 Coupe. Petrols are the only option now, as BMW ceased offering any diesel model (420d or 430d) when the range was revised for 2024.

Marmite looks aside, there’s little to dislike about the new BMW 4 Series. It’s got a superb interior, is brilliant to drive and is loaded with tech that’s easy to use. Chuck in surprisingly low running costs and high equipment levels and we rate the 4 Series very highly indeed.

For most buyers, the 420i is the sweet spot. Its 184PS and 300Nm are enough to make the 4 Series feel brisk rather than merely adequate, and the official 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds backs that up. It is also the more economical of the two current petrol options, with an official combined figure of up to 44.8mpg. More importantly, it suits the character of the car. The lighter four-cylinder engine helps the front end feel keen and the rear-wheel-drive layout gives the coupe the kind of balance you want from a BMW.

The M440i xDrive is the indulgent option. With 374PS, 500Nm and 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, it is properly fast and has the richer soundtrack and effortless punch that only a BMW straight six really delivers. It starts from £63,385, though, so you need to actively want the extra pace and character rather than just assuming the range-topper is automatically the right answer.

Trim choice is simpler than before. The regular car comes as the 420i M Sport Coupe, while the faster version is the M440i xDrive Coupe. In practice, that means BMW has already made the visual and equipment positioning decisions for you.

The current BMW 4 Series Coupe range starts at £46,180 in the UK, while the M440i xDrive Coupe starts at £63,385. That puts the regular 4 Series in line with what you would expect from a premium coupe, but it also underlines that this is a heart-over-head purchase compared with a 3 Series saloon, which starts from £41,945.

This is the real question with the 4 Series Coupe. Not whether it is good enough, because it plainly is, but whether you want the sleeker body style enough to pay the premium. Many buyers will, because the cabin, the sense of occasion and the cleaner silhouette do create meaningful separation from the 3 Series. Buyers focused purely on practicality will struggle to justify it.

The Audi A5 Coupe is the most obvious alternative. It is more discreet to look at and a touch more forgiving over poor roads, but it does not feel as sharp or as rear-driven in character as the BMW. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe used to be another natural rival, though BMW now has a clearer run if you want a current premium coupe with this sort of dynamic focus.

If you want something more left field, the Lexus RC offers a different flavour, while buyers prepared to sacrifice rear-seat usefulness entirely could also look at cars such as the Porsche 718 Cayman or Toyota Supra. Those are more focused sports cars than direct rivals, but they are relevant if what you really want is a compact premium coupe with a stronger enthusiast bent. That comparison is editorial rather than manufacturer-led.

This is not the BMW 4 Series Coupe’s strongest area, but it is not a disaster either. The boot holds 440 litres, which is a useful figure for a two-door coupe, and the seats split and fold in a 40:20:40 arrangement to give the car a bit more flexibility when you need to carry bulkier loads. The shape of the luggage area is usefully square, though the opening is naturally narrower than in a hatchback or Gran Coupe.

Front-seat space is generous, with enough adjustment for taller drivers to get comfortable, and the low driving position adds to the sense that you are in something more interesting than a standard saloon. The rear seats are the obvious compromise. Access is awkward compared with any four-door alternative, and taller adults will notice both the tighter legroom and the sloping roofline. For children or occasional short trips, it is acceptable. For regular adult carrying, it is the wrong tool for the job.

The 420i measures 4,768mm long, 1,852mm wide and 1,383mm tall, while the M440i xDrive is fractionally larger at 4,770mm long and 1,393mm tall. Width including mirrors is 2,081mm and wheelbase is 2,851mm. In everyday terms, that means the BMW is not a small coupe, but it is easier to place than an SUV and compact enough to work as a daily driver.

BMW’s infotainment remains one of the better systems in this class. The current 4 Series Coupe gets the curved display arrangement with a 14.9-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch driver display, and the key point is that BMW has kept the iDrive controller on the centre console. That gives you a safer and less fiddly way to operate the system on the move than a touchscreen alone.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and BMW’s voice assistant is available too. As with most systems of this type, the voice control can be useful rather than essential, but the broader interface is clear, quick and easy to learn.

Material quality is exactly where a BMW coupe at this price needs to be. There is a pleasing mix of soft-touch surfaces, quality switchgear and trim that feels properly premium. M Sport detailing suits the car well, and even the regular 420i does not feel like the poor relation. The M440i adds performance flavour more than a radically different cabin atmosphere, which is not really a criticism given how strong the base interior is.

The 420i uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 184PS and 300Nm, driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It reaches 62mph in 7.5 seconds and officially returns up to 44.8mpg. Those figures tell only part of the story, because the real strength is how naturally the engine and chassis work together. It is quick enough to feel premium, but not so powerful that you stop exploiting the balance of the car.

The M440i xDrive adds a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance, producing 374PS and 500Nm. It gets from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and returns up to 36.2mpg. Four-wheel drive gives it huge traction, but also shifts the character a little away from the light-footed feel of the 420i. That does not make it less desirable. It just makes it the more brute-force answer.

In terms of handling, the entry-level 420i is actually the sweetest. Its lightweight four-cylinder engine ensures the front end is really keen to turn in, and you can actually have a lot of fun in the most affordable BMW 4 Series Coupe.

While the standard rear-wheel-drive 4 Series is in no way intimidating to drive, the xDrive four-wheel-drive models will appeal to those whose commute often features slippery roads. Available as an option on the 420d when it was part of the new line-up and standard on the M440i, xDrive will juggle power between the axles to ensure you’ve always got grip. A trade-off is that the xDrive models feel a little heavier and less agile, so be sure that you really need four-wheel drive before going down this route.

While the BMW 4 Series Coupe feels noticeably sportier than the Audi A5, a trade-off is a slightly firm edge to the ride quality. We’ve only driven it on 19-inch wheels (18-inch alloys are also available and as standard on the 420i, and they might provide a slightly softer edge), but you’ll certainly notice bumpy roads. That said, it’s fairly compliant and comfortable enough on smooth motorways.

The BMW 4 Series Coupe holds a five-star Euro NCAP result based on a 2019 assessment, though the rating is now marked as expired because of age. Euro NCAP says the 4 Series Coupe is structurally similar to the BMW 3 Series tested in 2019 and shares the same level of safety equipment, with additional tests carried out where performance might differ.

BMW also offers a broad suite of driver-assistance systems, though availability varies by specification and option pack. That means buyers should check individual cars carefully rather than assuming every safety feature is standard.

The 420i manages up to 44.8mpg and the M440i xDrive manages up to 36.2mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. Those are respectable numbers for cars with this level of pace and performance.

BMW covers the 4 Series Coupe with a three-year unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty, including BMW Roadside Assistance. BMW also offers Service Inclusive plans, and for petrol, diesel and PHEV models these can cover servicing costs up to the car’s fifth birthday or 62,000 miles.

Insurance groups for the BMW 4 Series Coupe sit between group 30 for the 420i M Sport and group 42 for the M440d xDrive. The M440i sits just below in group 40 and the smaller diesels like the 420d are more affordable in group 32. 

Any new BMW 4 Series Coupe sits above the expensive car threshold, so buyers should expect the standard VED charge plus the expensive car supplement for years two to six of the car's life. This is currently £440, so long with the standard rate of £200, you're looking at £640 per year.