What’s hot?
- A completely new BMW Series; and a completely new car. That doesn’t come along so often these days and makes for a distinctive package…
- …and one of the most beautiful cars on sale in Britain, with the looks but not the prices to rival more exotic competitors…
- …and it went on sale in the UK on October 5.
- Real-world fast – 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, and top speed limited to 155mph.
- Better equipment levels than for the 3 Series, with every car specced to SE level with leather as standard, DAB radio, Bluetooth and 18in wheels on the M Sport.
- Creamy straight six serves up pace and aural satisfaction, without ever getting raucous (unlike the four cylinder diesel, 20d).
Equipment levels are better than the 3 Series, with leather as standard. It’s all terribly grown up - Eight-speed automatic transmission is seamless, and also reduces emissions to 169g/km (compared with 185g/km for the six-speed manual).
- M Sport version is the only one that gets the desirable Estoril Blue paint option.
- M Sport suspension is well worth having and is naturally standard on the M Sport model.
- xDrive 4 wheel drive now an option.
- Can still be specced with old school six-speed manual ‘box.
What’s not?
- Engine note is muted compared to yesteryear BMWs. In fact it sounds more charismatic to the outside world than to the occupants, so refined is the BMW 4 Series Coupe.
- You still have to pay an extra £515 to get adaptive suspension, yet having got the M Sport suspension you’ll want this too.
The boot’s OK, but if you need carrying capacity, better look to the 3 Series. Or even the 5 Series given the price - Unexpectedly, the optional 19 inch wheels with Bridgestone tyres run better than the smaller, 18-inchers fitted as standard with runflats. So that’s another additional cost to consider.
- Why is adaptive cruise and a sliding front armrest optional equipment on a car costing this much, when they come as standard on so many other vehicles (such as a mid-range VW Golf?)
- Boot is deep but short.
