BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: Review

BMW squeezes two more doors into the 4 Series Coupe but has the focus gone fuzzy?

The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe we like. It's beguiling in any specification, more practical and yet somehow better to drive than the standard two-door. We're not the only ones to think so, as BMW reports it now accounts for 60 per cent of 6 Series sales globally. You can see why the guys and gals paid to come up with new model niches quickly latched onto the idea of rolling out the whole Gran Coupe idea to the new 4 Series range, can't you?

First 6, now 4 Gran Coupe. 2 next?

All the improvements to the 6 Series are due to the considerably longer wheelbase, so it's a bit of a surprise to discover that the new 4 Series Gran Coupe is exactly the same length as the regular two-door and sits on the very same wheelbase. Bizarre. You won't believe us either, as the new roof design makes the car look longer. And of course it has two new doors.

They are at least frameless to keep with the sporting feel (though aren't the 3 Series Gran Turismo's as well?) and access to the rear seats is perfectly fine. There's a little more headroom, boot space is increased to the same level as the 3 Series Saloon and an automatic tailgate as standard. Otherwise, it's virtually identical to the 4 Series Coupe inside, which means a high-quality fit and finish that elevates it ever so slightly above the 3 Series.

Niche appeal
In our M Sport spec test car there's a chunky M steering wheel and decent enough leather chairs, plus the Sport version of the excellent eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox with tactile paddles mounted behind that wheel. Under the bonnet is the higher-powered version of BMW's 2.0-litre four, which as ever is mostly muted, but brimming with torque at all speeds. It returns an impressive set of performance figures while supposedly being relatively economical - though we didn't even manage 25mpg...

Four-door 4 not as sleek as 6 GC

That's because there were truly great Spanish mountain roads to play on. In the interests of research we set out leaving the car in its default settings, but that was hopeless in the conditions (though quite lovely on the motorway later on) so the toggle switch was soon tapped into Sport Plus mode. This is more like it. The engine sounds crisper (you probably don't want to know that it's partially faked), throttle response is better, the transmission is exceptional and the steering isn't half bad for a modern electro-mechanical system There's no fear in turning the stability and traction control system fully off in the dry either, such is the surfeit of grip over grunt.

Instead, the 4 GC seems to revel in smooth, unruffled driving, sweeping its occupants along at a decent lick without taxing the driver too much. It was somewhat surprising to find that it was still relatively comfortable and, well, normal, in the firmest settings. No hooliganism to be had here. Perhaps that'll change when the six-cylinder 430d and 435d models arrive (no 435i for the UK), but we doubt it; the 4 Series Gran Coupe in its standard formats is a car many will like and aspire to own, though most PHers will want a little more. 'M4 Gran Coupe': now that sounds worth waiting for.

BMW 428i GRAN COUPE M SPORT
Engine: 1,997cc turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (eight-speed automatic optional)
Power (hp): 245@5,000-6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@1,250-4,800rpm
0-62mph: 6.1 seconds (6.0)
Top speed: 155mph
Kerbweight: 1,510kg (1,530kg)
MPG: 42.8 NEDC combined (44.8)
CO2: 154g/km (147g/km)
Price: 37,335

Figures for auto in brackets.