BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe review
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is a stylish executive car that perfectly blends sporty looks and a fun driving experience with impressive five-door practicality.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
7th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
Choosing a new car can sometimes feel like a game of compromises. Do you go for the sleek, sporty looks of a coupe, the practicality of a saloon, or the load-lugging ability of an estate? Well, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is the car that says, "Why not have it all?". It cleverly combines the swooping roofline of the 4 Series Coupe with the convenience of four doors and a surprisingly practical hatchback boot. It’s the perfect solution for anyone who loves the sharp looks and brilliant driving dynamics of a BMW but needs a bit more versatility for daily life. Inside, you’re treated to a beautifully made, premium cabin packed with intuitive tech, while under the bonnet you’ll find a range of engines that are both powerful and efficient. It’s stylish, great to drive, and surprisingly practical – a truly fantastic all-rounder.
Pros
- Sleek, stylish looks that stand out from the crowd
- Brilliant fun to drive, with agile and engaging handling
- A high-quality, well-equipped interior packed with tech
Cons
- It's a premium car with a price tag to match
- The ride can be a little firm on sportier M Sport models
- The middle rear seat is only really suitable for occasional use
Interior
Dashboard & tech
BMW is known for creating driver-focused interiors, and the 4 Series Gran Coupe is a perfect example of this. The dashboard is smartly laid out and angled slightly towards the driver, making you feel connected to the car. Everything is easy to find and use, but the real star of the show is the iDrive infotainment system.
Controlled by a rotary dial conveniently placed between the front seats, it’s one of the most intuitive systems on the market. It’s as easy to use as a computer mouse and means you don’t have to jab at a touchscreen while you’re driving. The premium feel is everywhere, from the quality of the materials to the crisp graphics on the screen.
Comfort
Getting comfortable in the 4 Series Gran Coupe is easy. The front seats are wonderfully supportive, holding you snugly in place during cornering, and there’s a huge range of adjustment for both the seat and steering wheel.
In the back, two adults will be comfortable enough, but headroom and legroom aren't as generous as you’d find in a 3 Series Saloon. The middle rear seat is quite high, narrow, and hard, making it best for children or very short trips. If you often carry three people in the back, you might be better served by a BMW X3 SUV.
Quality
The interior of the 4 Series Gran Coupe has a real premium feel. The materials are high-quality, with soft-touch plastics, brushed metal highlights, and solid-feeling switchgear. Everything feels like it has been screwed together with precision and care, creating a cabin that feels both luxurious and durable. It’s this attention to detail that helps justify the car’s premium price tag.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
While the sporty, sloping roofline might suggest a compromise on space, the Gran Coupe is a surprisingly practical car. The four-door layout makes getting into the back much easier than in the standard two-door coupe. There’s ample room for four adults to travel in comfort, and you’ll find plenty of useful storage spots for phones, drinks, and other odds and ends.
Boot space
This is where the ‘Gran Coupe’ concept really shines. Instead of a small saloon-style boot lid, it has a large hatchback that opens up the entire rear of the car. This makes loading bulky items an absolute breeze. The boot itself is a generous 480 litres – the same size as a 3 Series Saloon – and is easily big enough to swallow a few suitcases or the weekly family shop.
Versatility
The 4 Series Gran Coupe is a brilliantly versatile car. It has the style to impress on a weekend away, the performance to entertain on a quiet road, and the five-door hatchback practicality to handle the daily grind. It’s a car that can effortlessly switch between being a fun sports car and a sensible family hauler, making it a great choice for those who need one car to do it all.
Driving
Driving experience
If you enjoy driving, you will love the 4 Series Gran Coupe. It offers a fantastic blend of everyday comfort and real driver engagement. The steering is sharp and precise, and because it’s rear-wheel drive, it feels wonderfully balanced and agile through corners. It’s a car that gives you a huge amount of confidence and always feels eager to please.
Despite its sporty nature, it’s also a brilliant long-distance cruiser. Low noise levels and standard cruise control make motorway journeys feel relaxed and effortless. Parking is made easier thanks to good visibility and standard rear parking sensors.
Performance
Every engine in the 4 Series Gran Coupe range provides responsive and smooth acceleration. The petrol engines are punchy and keen to rev, while the diesels offer huge waves of pulling power that make overtaking effortless.
For extra all-weather confidence, many models are available with BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system. This is a great option if you live in a rural area or want extra peace of mind on slippery winter roads. It’s also a great choice if you plan on towing.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
For a car with such strong performance, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is impressively efficient. The diesel engines are the champions of fuel economy, with some versions capable of achieving over 70mpg in official tests. This also means low CO2 emissions, which helps to keep road tax costs down. The petrol engines are naturally a little thirstier, but they are still very efficient for the performance they offer.
Value for money
There’s no denying that the 4 Series Gran Coupe is a premium car, and it comes with a price tag to match. It’s a direct rival to the Audi A5 Sportback, and prices are comparable. You are, however, getting a lot of car for your money, from the high-quality interior and generous equipment levels to the superb driving experience. It holds its value well for this type of car, which is great news for your long-term ownership costs.
Reliability & Warranty
BMW has a solid reputation for building reliable cars with high-quality engineering. The 4 Series Gran Coupe feels like a robust and well-built machine that’s designed to last. From new, all BMWs come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which offers great peace of mind. As with any premium car, a full and complete service history is essential when buying used.
Safety
Safety features
The 4 Series Gran Coupe is a very safe car, based on the 3 Series which was awarded the maximum five-star safety rating when it was crash-tested by the experts at Euro NCAP. It’s built with a strong safety cell and comes with a host of airbags and electronic stability systems to help keep you safe. All models come with rear parking sensors and cruise control as standard, while higher-spec models often add extra features like front parking sensors and more advanced driver aids.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
All versions of the 4 Series Gran Coupe are generously equipped.
- SE: The entry-level model still comes with plenty of features, including climate control, rear parking sensors, and the brilliant iDrive infotainment system.
- Sport: Adds a sportier look with larger alloy wheels, sports seats, and front parking sensors.
- Luxury: This trim focuses on comfort, adding luxurious leather trim and heated seats for a more premium feel.
- M Sport: The most popular trim. This gets a sporty body kit, lowered sports suspension for even sharper handling, and unique M Sport interior details.
Engines
The engine lineup is comprehensive, with a great choice of petrol and diesel options. The model numbers give you a clue to their performance – generally, the bigger the number, the more powerful the engine.
- 420i Petrol: The most popular petrol model, offering a great blend of performance and fuel economy for most drivers.
- 420d Diesel: The diesel equivalent to the 420i. It’s the perfect choice for high-mileage drivers thanks to its excellent fuel economy and strong pulling power.
- More powerful engines: BMW also offers a range of more powerful six-cylinder petrol (430i, 440i) and diesel (430d, 435d) engines. These offer incredible performance but will cost more to buy and run.