BMW 4 Review

Things are somewhat problematic these days, though, thanks to BMW’s complicated lineup which means it can be hard to differentiate the BMW 4 Series from its most common sibling- the 3 Series. 

You can think of the 4 Series as a three-door, coupe variant of the wider 3 Series platform, but in it latest generation, the differences go more than skin deep. 

Going up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C Class, Audi A5, Lexus RC, the BMW 4 Series has its work cut out for itself, so just how well does it perform against its rivals? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $71,031

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BMW 4 (20i M SPORT GRAN COUPE) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check BMW 4 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The BMW 4 Series lineup kicks off from $71,031 for the entry-level 420i, with prices rising to $75,900 for the 420i Gran Coupe, while the 4 Series 430i is priced at $84,900. 

Opting for the 4 Series convertible family brings the price to $88,471 for the 420i convertible, while the 430i convertible is priced at $104,971. 

Stepping up to the M440i xDrive coupe or four-door variants come at a cost of $118,471, while the M440i xDrive convertible is priced at $135,471. 

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What Features Does the BMW 4 Series Have?

BMW’s entry-level 4 Series 420i comes riding on 19-inch alloys, and receives a set of LED headlights, M sport styling and M sport suspension package, a set of sport seats up front, cruise control, a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, a mix of alcantara and leatherette for the upholstery, powered boot lift, ambient lighting package, a head-up display, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10.25-inch infotainment system fitted with DAB+, sat-nav, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay which is paired with a ten-speaker sound system. 

Stepping up to the 4 Series 430i adds leather upholstery, BMW’s Professional Driving Assistant package, keyless entry & start, adaptive suspension and a set of upgraded M sport brakes. 

Finally, the M440i xDrive receives a set of 19-inch alloys, an M sport differential, panoramic sunroof, laser headlights, heated front seats with lumbar support, an M-specific platform tune and an upgraded 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system atop some visual upgrades.    

Range Features:

• 19-inch alloys 

• LED headlights 

• M sport styling 

• M sport suspension 

• Sports seats 

• Cruise control 

• Alcantara/Leatherette upholstery 

• Head-up display 

• Ambient lighting 

• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Leather upholstery (430i) 

• Professional Driving Assistant (430i) 

• Adaptive suspension (430i)  

• M sport brakes (430i) 

• 19-inch alloys (M440i xDrive)

• M sport differential (M440i xDrive)

• Panoramic sunrfoof (M440i xDrive)

• Laser headlights (M440i xDrive)

• Heated front seats with lumbar support (M440i xDrive)

• M-specific platform tune (M440i xDrive)

• 16-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system (M440i xDrive)

BMW 4 Series Colours

The BMW 4 Series range is available in a choice of Alpine White, M Brooklyn Grey, San Remo Green, M Portimao Blue, Sunset Orange, Mineral White, Bluestone Metallic, Arctic Race Blue, Dravit Grey, Tanzanite Blue II, Aventurin Red Metallic, Jet Black and Mineral White. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

As we’ve come to expect from cars from a manufacturer like BMW, the BMW 4 Series is exceptionally smooth and comfortable to pilot, while offering an impressive set of dynamic abilities. 

BMW offers the 4 Series with a choice of three engines, with the 420i and 430i receiving the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit that produces 135kW of power and 300Nm of torque for the 420i, while the 430i produces 190kW of power and 400Nm of torque. 

Both cars power the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission that offers fast, silky-smooth shifts. 

The driving experience in the 420i & 430i is typical of BMW, providing an impressively smooth and sophisticated driving quality that rewards driver inputs and is a heap of fun to push on the open road. 

Dial everything back into the comfort settings, though, and the 4 Series remains subdued and luxurious, making for a wonderful commuter or grand tourer. 

Opting for the M440i xDrive adds a powerhouse 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine producing 285kW of power and 500Nm of torque, powering all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic. 

The driving experience on offer ranges from impressively smooth acceleration in the base model 420i to absolutely immense in the M440i, with the latter receiving a specific M sport tune from BMW’s performance division. 

Combined with a set of upgraded brakes and an M sport differential, the M440i provides a seriously rapid and luxurious driving experience that gives it an impressive dual nature and versatility as a fine-tuned weapon and comfortable all-rounder.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

In terms of practicality, the 4 Series features the same cockpit you’ll find in the 3 Series, albeit with a slightly sportier driving position that hints at its aspirations as a sporty, grand-touring version of the 3 Series platform. 

The end result is the familiar, sleek and high-tech cockpit design that we’ve seen from BMW that looks great and features an array of modern features and some practical touches, too. 

Up front the driver is treated to a fully-adjustable driving position with a decent amount of headroom and space to stretch out, while the dual high-definition screens add to the contemporary design inside the 4 Series. 

Practical touches include a large amount of storage in the covered area at the base of the dash, large door bins either side, and storage inside the folding arm rest. All up, the front of the cabin is sleek, user-friendly, comfortable and undeniably premium, even in the base model. 

Move to the rear of the cabin and you’ll find seating for two with a heap of legroom for tall adults, however, headroom is limited by the sloping roof design that looks great from the outside, but eats up interior space. 

In terms of boot space, the 4 Series features a boot measuring in at 440L in the standard car and 470L in the Grand Coupe which translates to a relatively family-friendly nature, alongside the two sets of ISOFIX anchors in the rear of the cabin. 

Is it Safe?

The BMW 4 Series has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating from its 2019 tests. 

In those tests, it scored 96% for adult protection, 86% for child protection, 93% for pedestrian protection and 73% for its safety assist technologies. 

As standard, the 4 Series comes packed with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, forward and rear collision avoidance, lane departure warnings, a reversing camera with parking sensors and a heap of airbags as standard. 

Features like adaptive cruise control, front cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, and evasive steering assistance are reserved for the Driving Assistant Professional package on the 430i variant and above. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

In spite of its size and performance, the 4 Series range returns fairly impressive fuel economy figures. 

The 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder powering the 420i and 430i returns combined cycle figures of 6.4L/100km and 6.6L/100km, while the range-topping M440i xDrive is rated at just 7.8L/100km, which is made more impressive by the amount of power on tap. 

Our Verdict: Is the BMW 4 Series Worth it?

While it might be difficult to tell from the outset, the latest generation 4 Series is much more than a coupe-styled 3 Series. 

As a complete package, the 4 Series feels slightly more focused yet, somehow even more accommodating for long-distance journeys.

The sublime ride quality becomes impressively sporty in higher-spec variants, with a heap of variety within the 4 Series range for all types of buyers. 

If you’re a fan of the 3 Series and you’re looking for some sleek couple styling, the 4 Series is well worth a closer look. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Three-year, unlimited KM warranty 

2. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

3. Three engine options are available

4. Four-seat configuration 

5. 440-470L of boot space 

Pros 

• Impressive driving dynamics 

• Undeniable versatility

• Sleek and stylish inside & out 

Cons

• Limited three-year warranty coverage 

• Some key safety features are reserved as optional extras 

• Expensive options

• Sloping roofline restricts second-row headroom 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8.5/10

BMW 4 Series Competition