BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe review

Stylish, spacious and great to drive, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is a fine executive car choice. Its five-door hatchback body makes it versatile, while its roomy interior is beautifully made and packed with high-tech features.

If you’re torn between the sportier BMW 3 Series saloon, the practical 3 Series Touring estate and the two-door 4 Series Coupe, the 4 Series Gran Coupe could be exactly what you’re looking for.

BMW interiors are famed for their comfort and premium appeal and the 4 Series Gran Coupe is no exception. The dashboard is well laid out, and everything is easy to get the hang of. A real highlight is the excellent iDrive infotainment system, which you control using a wheel between the front seats. It sounds odd, but it’s as intuitive as using a mouse and laptop.

Supportive front seats hold you tightly in place, while the wide range of seat adjustment means getting comfortable takes no time at all. Two adults will be comfortable in the back, although legroom and headroom aren’t overly generous. The central seat is rather hard, high and narrow so it’s best suited to children or occasional use only. If you regularly carry three adults – or kids – in the back it might be worth taking a look at BMW’s X3 SUV or 3 Series Touring estate instead.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is practical nonetheless, with a large hatchback that gives you a long, wide boot opening.  This really takes the strain out of loading luggage, while the 480-litre boot is large by any standards and will easily hold three medium-sized suitcases.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is a great all-rounder, blending driving fun with everyday comfort. All of the engines give you responsive acceleration, while the rear-wheel drive layout helps to make it feel balanced through corners.  Four-wheel drive (xDrive) models give you extra reassurance on slippery roads and are a great choice for towing.

M Sport models have slightly stiffer suspension, which brings a firmer ride but even more poise through corners, yet all 4 Series Gran Coupe models are comfortable. Good visibility and rear parking sensors help when parking, while low noise levels and standard cruise control make the Gran Coupe a fine choice for high-mileage drivers.

There’s no getting around the fact that the 4 Series Gran Coupe is on the pricey side. You get a lot of car for your money though, in terms of quality, space and equipment.

You also have a very efficient range of engines to choose from. Some of the diesel versions have an official average of over 70mpg, with correspondingly low CO2 emissions that help to keep tax costs low. The petrol models are thirstier but impressively efficient, even if you go for one of the high-performance models.

BMW has a good reputation for reliability, although it doesn’t always fare that well in independent customer satisfaction surveys.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP but the BMW 3 Series, which it’s based on, scored the full five stars. All cars get multiple airbags and a range of driver aids that can help to avoid a collision happening in the first place.