BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe (2014-2021) Review

Is it a saloon? Is it a coupe? It’s both – but does that make it the best 4 Series for you?

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Good to drive
  • Efficient engines
  • More practical than a coupe
  • 4 Series coupe looks better
  • Awkward access to back seats
  • 3 Series saloon is better value for money

BMW 4 Series Grand Coupe prices from £14,700   Finance from £333.46 per month

The point of the 4 Series Gran Coupe, in BMW’s view, is to give drivers some of the style of a two-door coupe with some of the practicality of a four-door saloon. This is packaged up in a five-door body, which means you get the added versatility that a hatchback brings over a saloon.

Prices start from less than £35,000 and stretch to more than £50,000 for a range encompassing a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines and throwing in the option of BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive system. BMW has tried to simplify things by offering just two trim levels – Sport or M Sport.

Other options within that price range include the Audi A5 Sportback and the Volkswagen Arteon. You could also consider the slightly larger, and more expensive Mercedes-Benz CLS, or there’s any number of saloons and coupes to weigh up, from the more compact Jaguar XE to the stylish Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.

Because 4 Series Gran Coupe is based on the previous generation 3 Series, the design of the interior is starting to show its age, the build quality can’t be faulted though.

The majority of the car’s features are controlled through BMW’s iDrive system. It’s one of the more intuitive on the market, operated through a combination of a 6.5-inch touchscreen display jutting from the top of the dashboard and a rotary wheel that’s behind the gearstick. A head-up display is optional as part of a technology pack, and M Sport models get a larger touchscreen.

You get comfortable front seats, while the driving position and level of space on offer are also good, making it a prime candidate for cruising, especially when you consider that it’s quiet too.

It's a different story for those sat in the back, though. The low, sloping roof coupled with a severe lack of space between the front seats and the back seats makes it a bit of a squeeze, but there is a pair of Isofix mounts for securing child seats.

Because the boot opens like a hatchback, the Gran Coupe is surprisingly practical. It offers 480-litres of luggage space, which is the same as an Audi A5 Sportback but some way behind the 563-litres of the VW Arteon. The back seats divide 60:40 and fold down to expand the car’s carrying capacity.

Of these three, the 4 Series Gran Coupe feels more responsive on the road. The steering is accurate and precise while the suspension feels well-measured, giving the whole experience of driving satisfyingly composed feel.

Four-wheel drive (xDrive) is available as an option with the 420i petrol model and the 420d and 430d diesel variants, and is fitted as standard to the 435d. It’s one of the best four-wheel drive systems going, as it retains the car’s sporty feel while providing sure-footed behaviour on slippery surfaces.

All the engines on offer are powerful but the diesels are especially impressive because they feel fast, while remaining economical at the same time - even the high-powered models. Every engine has complied with current Euro 6 emissions regulations since the car was launched, so you won’t be subject to low emission zone charges either.

Key facts

Warranty 3 years/unlimited mileage
Boot size 480/1300 litres
Width 2017mm
Length 4638mm
Height 1389mm
Tax (min to max) From £170 in first year and £140 or £465 thereafter, to £530 in first year and £140 or £465 thereafter

Best BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe for...

Best for Economy – BMW 420d Gran Coupe

Regardless of whether you pick Sport or M Sport trim, the 420d diesel returns up to 49.6 mpg, yet has enough power (190hp) to prove brisk on the road.

Best for Families – BMW 420d Gran Coupe

The 420d is both the most frugal and best all-rounder in the Gran Coupe family. It is one of the most affordable models in the range and has some of the lowest running costs too.

Best for Performance – BMW 435d xDrive Gran Coupe

It might be a diesel but this is by far the quickest model in the Gran Coupe Range. In fact, on the road, it’s almost capable of accelerating as quickly as an M3 or M4, because its engine has so much torque, or pulling power, from just 1500rpm.

One to Avoid – BMW 440i Gran Coupe

The six-cylinder petrol-powered Gran Coupe just isn’t as capable as the diesel 435d and lacks four-wheel drive, which hampers the opportunities to make the most of its engine’s power.

History

  • June 2014 4 Series Gran Coupe goes on sale
  • May 2017 Facelift brings new look, improved levels of equipment and revised suspension

Understanding BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe names

Engine 420d

Most 4 Series model names begin with a 4. The following two numbers show you how powerful the engine is: the bigger the number, the more powerful the engine. The letter ‘i’ shows it’s petrol-powered and 'd' indicates a diesel.

Trim level Sport

Each trim level comes with different amounts of standard equipment. Sport is the Sport is the new entry-level trim, followed by M Sport.

Driven wheels xDrive

Four-wheel drive versions of the 4 Series are badged xDrive. Otherwise, all models have rear-wheel drive.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Engines

Petrol: 420i, 430i, 440i. Diesel: 420d, 430d & 435d

The 420i petrol engine is the cheapest option, and accelerates briskly. Fuel economy is about average for a car and engine of this size, with an official figure of up to 37.7mpg, depending on the options that you choose.

If you value fuel economy, then consider the 420d instead. The entry-level diesel engine offers virtually the same performance as its petrol-burning counterpart, but in a different way. All of its get-up-and-go is low in the rev range, which makes it remarkably flexible and relaxing. It is capable of achieving up to 49.6mpg, and CO2 emissions are low.

Mid-range 430i and 430d cars bring more power and slightly faster acceleration, but the big change comes with the BMW 440i, which is a large, six-cylinder petrol engine, with power to spare, allowing it to accelerate rapidly, but smoothly from 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds. The drawback with this model (for some drivers at least) is that xDrive four-wheel drive is not available. On wet roads, the car struggles to put its power down on the surface.

That’s why we’d say pick the 435d if you want a powerful 4 Series Gran Coupe. It’s faster still and has all-weather traction, thanks to xDrive.

With the exception of the 420i, which has a manual gearbox as standard an auto as an option, every model in the range comes with an automatic transmission.

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration (0-62mph)

Top speed

420i

Petrol

37.2mpg

184hp

7.5 secs

147mph

420i xDrive

Petrol

35.3mpg

184hp

8.1 secs

145mph

430i

Petrol

37.2mpg

252hp

5.9 secs

155mph

440i

Petrol

34.0mpg

326hp

5.1 secs

155mph

420d

Diesel

49.6mpg

190hp

7.4 secs

149mph

420d xDrive

Diesel

46.3mpg

190hp

7.5secs

143mph

430d

Diesel

41.5mpg

258hp

5.6 secs

155mph

430d xDrive

Diesel

39.2mpg

258hp

5.3 secs

155mph

435d xDrive

Diesel

39.8mpg

313hp

4.8 secs

155mph

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Trims

Sport, M Sport

With the 2017 update BMW reduced the trim selection to Sport and M Sport, which keeps things simple for buyers.

The price difference between Sport and M Sport varies, from £1,350 for entry-level 420i petrol models to £1,030 for mid-range xDrive petrols, or £1,290 for the mid-range diesels.

There is nothing especially lacking with the Sport version. It comes with leather sports seats, alloy wheels, sat nav, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors and heated seats. Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and heated mirrors are also included.

Step up to M Sport and you get a more assertive look for the car, with sporty add-ons inside and outside. There’s also electric adjustment for the front seats, an improved media package and larger, 10.3-inch touchscreen.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Reliability and warranty

With all new BMW models, the German car maker provides a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which is fairly typical amongst its competitors. 

However, there is some evidence to suggest you may have to rely on the car’s warranty. The 4 Series finished in 54th place (out of the 75 cars ranked) in the 2018 Auto Express Driver Power satisfaction survey. At the same time, BMW finished 21st out of the 26 manufacturers that were ranked, which is far from impressive for a brand that prides itself on engineering pedigree.

Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has been on sale in the UK since the middle of 2014, and has proved a particularly popular model with Britain’s drivers, which means there is a wide selection of second hand models available.

On BuyaCar, there are more than  14 to choose from, with prices starting from £14,700. That sort of budget affords either a 418d or 420d, but just a few hundred pounds more will see high-mileage examples of the 430d fall within reach.

For  £14,258, or  £280.81 a month with PCP finance, 2017 and 2018 versions of the 4 Series Gran Coupe are available. That’s a big saving on a car that is potentially only a year old. Push that price up to  £14,258 and you’ll find nearly new 2019 models with that are available for immediate delivery.

Other Editions

4 Series (2013 – 2020)

If smart looks are more important than practicality, and you want a premium badge and a fun driving experience, a 4 Series is worth a look

4 Series Convertible (2013 – 2020)

A fun driving experience, strong engine lineup and an unusual folding-metal roof set the BMW 4 Series Convertible apart

4 Series (2020)

Dramatic looks, a great range of engines and a fun driving experience help the BMW 4 Series Coupe to stand out

4 Series Convertible (2021)

Mixing four-seat practicality with open-top thrills and a great range of engines makes the 4 Series Convertible an appealing overall package

4 Series Gran Coupe (2021)

Sporty coupe styling and family car practicality are perfectly blended together in the sleek BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe