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BMW 4-Series

Pros

• Slick and aggressive styling impresses
  
• Great drivetrain delivers plenty of torque throughout the rev range
  
• Interior ergonomics are very high quality

Cons

• Interior, like the 3-Series, is a little dull
  
• Good handling but not exciting enough
  
• Suspension feels a little tense at low speeds

Description

With the creation of the Audi A5 BMW felt moved to create their own luxury coupe model, giving the world the 4-Series. Is it more than a really fast 3-Series that you can't carry as much shopping in? Or is it, as BMW claims, a highly engineered model that deserves to stand in its own light?

BMW 4-Series First Generation (2013 - Present):
The exterior is certainly different enough from the 3-Series featuring a sleek panther-like body with wider arches and a more aggressive posture. It's also noticeably lower, over 60mm lower, in fact, that should make for some interesting handling dynamics. The weight distribution is one interesting facet of the design with BMW managing to obtain a near-perfect 51/49 front and rear balance.

As you'd expect from a performance coupe, the engine range contains some real snarling beasts. With only three models to choose from the range opens with the rather tame 420. A 2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant with four cylinders. The real excitement comes in the form of the latter 430 and 435 models. The 3.0 litre turbocharged six-cylinder is a great fit for the 4-Series and the 3.5-litre unit finally finds a home worthy of all that power. With the petrol and diesel options very close in terms of performance it's hard to recommend one over the other, might be worth a test drive to find out which you prefer.

The interior is laid out very nicely with the same faultless computer management system present too. The ergonomics are also just as spot-on as the 3-Series yet there's a certain dullness to the cabin's construction that the price tag suggests shouldn't be present. Handling is extremely precise but again, considering the power and the rear-wheel format you'd have expected the experience to feel a little more involved. Still, it's quiet at speed and feels every inch the luxury coupe.

Conclusion

Overall the 4-Series feels less like an exciting 3-Series than a shrunken 6-Series. The engines are fantastic; the quality of the overall package is high but there's nothing too exciting about the whole experience. It's a great car, but if you are looking for something a bit different, you may also feel more inspired behind the wheel of a Toyota GT86. Indeed, even the BMW 2-Series in its M-class variant might be a more interesting choice.