If there is one criticism to level at the BMW M4 it’s simply that the interior never quite feels as special as the price tag may lead you to believe it should be. Certainly, slip behind the steering wheel of a Porsche Cayman or Jaguar F-Type Coupe and they both exude a more crafted and detailed cabin. Here it’s very much repmobile 320d with a smattering of fancy trim, a bespoke steering wheel and gear lever (for the M-DCT automatic) and superb seats.

The latter really are impressive, managing to look sporty but proving effortlessly comfortable and supportive for many thousands of miles. There’s lots of adjustment available, though previous M car fans may lament the loss of the adjustable under-thigh squab, and the perforated leather design looks excellent – even if the M-badges on the backrest may be a branding too far for some.

But this is something of a prevailing theme with the M4 – not the branding, but the long term impression and excellence. Sure that dashboard may not wow occupants at first glance, but spend some serious wheel time with the car and everything makes sense.

All of the switchgear is where you’d expect it and, without fail, every switch, dial and control operates seamlessly with no fuss or fanfare. The head up-display option is an excellent piece of kit, allowing users to configure what information they’d like projected ahead of them, and ensuring driver’s can keep their eyes on the road. An important feature in a car as fast as this.

The firm’s i-Drive control is now familiar to many buyers, and unlike early systems is now intuitive to use for first-timers as well. There’s a dazzling array of options and menus to control via it these days too, including a GoPro camera app that lets you preview camera output on the M4’s main 8.8-inch screen which sits tablet-style on top of the dashboard, as is the fashion, with high-quality graphics and quick response to any inputs.

Adaptive dampers do most of the legwork here, but that means BMW M4 comfort is probably better than you expect. There’re three modes, Comfort, Sport and Sport+, and there’s no doubt the latter pair – especially Sport + – sharpen the car’s responses but do so at the expense of ride quality. Leave it in Comfort, and configure the steering and throttle response for the same, along with the ferocity of ratio swaps on the M-DCT automatic gearbox (there’re three modes for this also) and the M4 is an entirely comfortable and civilised car to potter around in.

Sure the 19-inch alloy wheels mean it’ll never filter out every single imperfection below you, and sharper surface changes below tyre are clearly noticeable, but on the whole the M4 does comfortable surprisingly well. Especially at high speed, where the balance between body control and comfort seem expertly judged.

You do notice some road noise finding its way into the cabin at cruising speeds though, especially from the rear wheels. Still the stereo soon drowns that out, while the sound of the exhaust being enhanced through the car’s audio speakers helps too – even if purists will question the requirement of such a system when the engine should be able to make enough noise.

Those sitting in the front are treated to excellent seats too, with a brand new design for the M4 (and M3) which mixes the perfect amount of comfort, support and an excellent – and low-set – driving position. In fact after 1,000 miles in just one day we were barely fatigued by the time spent behind the wheel, testament to the car’s comfort indeed.