BMW 4 Series Review 2023

Designing the new 4 Series could have been left to the work experience kid in BMW's design department. Take the already quite attractive 3 Series, remove the rear doors, give it a sleeker roofline and boom, a strong-selling alternative to the Audi A5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe and, to a lesser extent, the Audi TT. It needn't have been an arduous task. Read on for our full review of the BMW 4 Series.

It seems, though, that the apprentice went a bit rogue and the result is that front grille which has triggered countless internet forum threads and no doubt lost BMW a sale or two over the previous generation model. But you certainly can't accuse the BMW 4 Series of being shy and retiring - and who buys a premium German coupe to blend in?

If you've read this far, presumably you're not that offended by the way the 4 Series looks. And we can assure you that, while its design may divide opinion, it's the connoisseur's choice in this class in terms of the way it drives.

The majority of buyers will opt for the entry-level 420i model and that's fine, as we reckon it's probably the best engine in the line-up. It's a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol which produces 184PS and 300Nm of torque, meaning the 420i can accelerate to 62mph in a sprightly 7.5 seconds.

There's also a diesel 420d which will appeal to the long-distance drivers, a 430i (the sleeper choice) and a hot M440. All come with BMW's excellent eight-speed steptronic auto 'box, while you can choose between rear- or all-wheel drive (depending on model).

All of them are fun to drive, but we like the agility of the 420i. The four-cylinder engine is the lightest of the bunch and that means the entry-level car feels the most tactile on a twisty road. The six-cylinder petrols hold plenty of appeal, though - not only for the authentic BMW soundtrack but also for the ease at which they overtake slower traffic. The M440i in particular is a lot of fun and almost makes the upcoming M4 feel a bit redundant.

While the BMW 4 Series coupe's exterior design will divide opinion, there's little to dislike about the interior. It's just as upmarket as you'd expect if you're spending upwards of £40,000 on a new BMW. Sure, you might be able to hunt out a few hard finishes here and there - but only in places where otherwise you might scuff a delicate finish with your dirty boots.

All models come with BMW's 10.25-inch media system which is perfectly positioned in the driver's eyeline without being distracting. We like that you can access it a number of ways - including touchscreen, via the rotary trackpad controller between the front seats, or via BMW's Alexa-like virtual assistant.

It's quick to respond and intuitive to use (the media system - not the virtual assistant... we'll come onto that), while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard (wirelessly, too).

As you'd expect for a coupe like this, the 4 Series isn't the most practical choice. It's strictly a four-seater and, even then, an adult will have to be quite committed to squeeze into the back seats. The boot's big enough, though, and you can drop the rear seats if you're heading away for the weekend without kids in tow.

While BMW could have played it safe with the 4 Series, we're actually glad it hasn't. It's simply brilliant to drive, has a superb interior and, we reckon, you might even start to like how it looks.

Looking for a second opinion? Check out heycar's review of the BMW 4 Series.

While it'd be pushing it to describe the BMW 4 Series as a family car, you can certainly squeeze in a pair of adults and a couple of kids. The rear seats are adequate for little ones, and there are Isofix points back there for child seats (although access could be tricky).

There's plenty of space in the front. You sit quite low down (it's closer to a sports car than an SUV, after all) but the seats offer a reasonable range of adjustment. Disappointingly, you have to pay extra for the Comfort Plus Package for adjustable lumbar support and electric seat adjustment. Having to manually adjust the seat takes away from the premium vibe somewhat - but, if only one person drives the car, it's not something you'll have to do all the time. The BMW 4 Series is no different to rivals in this regard, either.

With 440 litres of luggage space, the boot in the 4 Series will easily accommodate a pair of large weekend bags or the weekly shop. It's usefully square but you will notice a bit of a lip for lifting heavy items over - and don't expect it to be deep enough for transporting anything particularly tall. Like a dog.

The BMW 4 Series won't disappoint in the quality stakes. All the switches are well-damped and most finishes are soft to touch, while standard leather seats across the range helps with the upmarket ambience.

Even the most affordable 420i M Sport feels like a classy contender in the coupe segment. If anything, it's too good - the interior in the much pricier M440i doesn't feel that much better finished. That's good news for the majority of buyers.

If you go hunting for harsher finishes, you'll find them. Most of them are tucked low down in the cabin, though - meaning you're more likely to bash them with your feet than touch them with your fingers. 

We have few complaints about the standard 14.9-inch media system in the BMW 4 Series. It's easy to use and - as we outlined in the intro - can be operated via a rotary trackpad controller as well as touchscreen or BMW's own voice assistant system.

This works like Alexa. Just say 'Hey BMW' and it'll respond, even to vague commands (like "I'm cold"). It's a good idea and maybe it'd improve over time but, in our experience, it's a bit hit and miss. All too often it misinterpreted our requests and we gave in and just pressed a button instead.

Still, it's good news that BMW has finally given in and now offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without a pricey subscription fee. This means you can use apps from your phone on the central display - ideal for swerving congestion using Waze while enjoying your favourite Spotify playlists. They operate wirelessly, too - a first for Android Auto.

There's also a 12.3-inch digital instrument display as standard across the 4 Series range. Like a lot of similar systems, this is information-rich, which can be a little annoying when all you want to know is how fast you're going. It's something you'll get used to, though, and it certainly doesn't detract from the overall very good infotainment setup.

For the complete experience, you can also order the BMW Live Cockpit Professional system with colour head-up display for the driver.

Prices for a new 420i M Sport start at a fraction under £43,500. That's a lot of money compared to the equivalent 3 Series that has space for all the family. The premium image of the 4 Series will mean it'll be worth more a few years down the line, though, so the difference in lease or finance payments will be negligible.

It also feels sufficiently special to justify the extra cost, and it's not that much pricier than rivals. Rivals from Audi and Mercedes are similarly priced, which will not make your decision about which to choose any easier.

The M Sport Pro Edition is an extra £5000, while the sporty M440i xDrive starts from £58,330 - broadly in-line with the Audi S5 Coupe and less than a Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe.

If you buy a car from BMW's stock brand new rather than ordering one to be built to your exact specification, you can make a small saving on the list price.

A two-year old 420i M Sport with average mileage will cost from around £30,000, which is a decent saving over new.

The BMW 420i can officially return a fairly reasonable 44.1mpg and 41.5mpg with the xDrive four-wheel drive system specified, while the 440i offers 36.7mpg.

It'll be worth shopping around for insurance for the BMW 4 Series, especially if you're a young or inexperienced driver. It's worth noting that tax could be fairly expensive.

Road tax falls between £255 and £1040 for the first depend on which 4 Series you choose as carbon dioxide emissions range from 145- to 174g/km.

BMW has been making cars that out-handle the competition for decades, and the latest 4 Series is no exception. It's just superb to drive, turning eagerly into corners and providing plenty of communication through the steering wheel.

Most models are rear-wheel drive, and you can really feel the power punching you out of bends. We actually rate the standard 420i highly here - with the relatively light four-cylinder engine, the front wheels are a little less prone to drifting wide during speedy cornering.

BMW's xDrive four-wheel drive is available as an option for the 420i and standard with the M440i, which should provide a little more reassurance if you're driving in slippery conditions.

When you're not in the mood for hoonery, the 4 Series is a fairly compliant tourer. We've only driven the 4 Series with 19-inch alloy wheels, which are a little eager to transfer thumps into the cabin, but we suspect the smaller 18-inch wheels might provide a slightly more compliant ride.

The majority of 4 Series models on the road will be the 420i. This uses a sprightly 2.0-litre petrol engine, producing 184PS and 300Nm of torque. It might be the entry-level engine but these aren't entry-level figures... it'll accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in 7.5 seconds, all the while sounding surprisingly good.

If you want something even punchier (and with a six-cylinder soundtrack), BMW offers a 430i with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine. We're yet to try this but have sampled the engine countless times in other models and it's not going to disappoint, providing you can cope with a slight increase in fuel consumption.

With no diesels offered now, top of the range is the hot M440i which also uses mild-hybrid tech to produce 374PS from its 3.0-litre petrol engine. xDrive four-wheel-drive is standard here, meaning there's plenty of traction to make progress in all conditions. If you want to go quicker still, you'll need to look to the M4.

No matter which engine you opt for, you'll get BMW's excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox. It provides rapid gear changes and doesn't hesitate when you need to make a quick getaway (unlike, say, Audi's automatic transmissions).

The BMW 4 Series is fundamentally a very safe car and earned a full five-star rating when it was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2019. It performed particularly well for adult occupants and vulnerable road users.

There are a wide range of systems on hand to keep you safe, including a city braking function, lane-keeping assistant and an automatic speed limit assist (which automatically adjusts your speed to match the speed limit). Most of these are part of the optional Driving Assistant Professional pack, which itself forms part of the Technology Plus package.

Although the BMW 4 Series might not seem the obvious tow car, it is rated to tow between 1600-1800kg depending on your engine choice.

We'd recommend the 420d xDrive if you're planning to tow regularly. It can officially tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1800kg, while 400Nm of torque will make it a fairly effortless task.

BMW 4 Series M Sport models feature 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, M Sport suspension, selectable drive modes, cruise control, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, BMW Live Cockpit Professional (with 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch digital instrument panel).

The BMW 4 Series M Sport Pro adds 19-inch alloy wheels, black exterior highlights, BMW Individual exterior paint, M seat belts, BMW Individual interior trim, Sprint mode and adaptive M suspension.

BMW 4 Series M440i xDrive models come with 19-inch alloy wheels, metallic paintwork, Cerium Grey exterior highlights, M seat belts, sun protection glass, M Sport braking system, M sport differential and adaptive M suspension.