• Just two petrol engines currently available
• Other available in the past
• Eight-speed automatic gearboxes for all

Petrol engines

The BMW 4 Series Coupe is currently available with just two petrol engines: the 420i and M440i. The 420i has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged motor producing 184hp and 300Nm of torque. It’s fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel-drive. It adds up to a brisk 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 149mph. It’s a perfectly adequate engine that will suit most needs, but it sounds a bit too much like a turbo four-cylinder for our liking in a semi-luxury car.

The top-grade M440i comes with a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo engine that produces a meaty 374hp and 500Nm of torque. It sounds lovely and gets the car from 0-62mph in just 4.4 seconds before topping out at a limited 155mph. An eight-speed auto ‘box and xDrive all-wheel-drive are fitted. The M440i is a truly fabulous thing with power that’s still very useable on real roads.

The 4 Series was previously available in 430i guise. It has a 258hp version of the 2.0-litre engine, which gets it from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds. It’s a rapid thing, but the engine can be a bit raucous. The 420i has also been available with xDrive in the past. You can find full details for all these engines on our specs pages.

Diesel engines

The 4 Series is no longer available to buy new with diesel engines, but they’re a great option if you’re looking for a used example. There are three to choose from: the 190hp, four-cylinder 420d; the 284hp, six-cylinder 430d and the 340hp M440d. All come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, 420d is available with rear-wheel-drive or xDrive all-wheel-drive, 430d and M440d are xDrive-only. The full details for these engines are available on our specs pages.

The 420d is capable of remarkable efficiency but isn’t the most refined four-cylinder diesel on the market. At least performance is reasonably rapid. But if you want a serious turn of speed with efficiency, you need the 430d or M440d. Both are extremely fast cross-country and deeply relaxed motorway cruisers.  

What’s it like to drive?

• Sharp steering will keep you alert
• All cars provide lively handling
• Driver aids are genuinely useful

BMW has fitted the 4 Series with super-sharp steering. That gives the car a feeling of real agility, but the way it darts into corners can take some getting used to. You may also find it tricky to steer smoothly if you initially steer a bit too much then correct the line. Regardless, that sharpness doesn’t make the car feel at all nervous, it just goes exactly where you point it precisely when you point it there.

There’s not a vast amount of feel through the steering – the wheel is too thick for that – but you still get useful information about the car’s behaviour, especially via the driver’s seat. There’s virtually no body roll in corners, either. This is all good stuff if you’re inclined to get a shift on but, more importantly, the 4 Series is perfectly happy to adopt whatever speed the driver is comfortable with and that translates to a satisfying driving experience whatever the circumstances. Certainly more so than any rival.

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Even if you’re driving through town. The 4 Series’ compact-ish size helps when threading down narrow streets, though the relatively poor view out might cause some stress. There will be no stress at all on motorways, though. The 4 Series feels resolutely solid and stable when cruising at high speed.

We do have one area of concern, though. The ride quality with the car’s standard suspension can be rather harsh. It’s not necessarily uncomfortable, but the combination of firm suspension and big-ish wheels with low-profile tyres means bumps and holes thump through the car. Upgrading to the optional adaptive suspension provides a smoother, calmer ride.