Verdict: Attractive, practical, good to drive and cheap to run.
Business Car Manager Verdict
BMW’s current model blitz is so engulfing that it’s hard to stay abreast of what’s what. But the track and length of the Four Series, to say nothing of the styling, is distinctly different to the Three Series, enough to justify it as a new model.
The slightly wider track allows muscular lines and sportier handling, making the Four Series very desirable. In fact, it’s much better looking than the frumpy-by- comparison Three Series GT, which was really designed for the Chinese market.
Now complete in three versions (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) the Four Series is only expected to sell about 28,000 models in the UK over seven years.
We reckon sales will comfortably outgun that conservative estimate, but even if they do the Four Series will remain a comparatively special model on UK roads.
If the convertible is fancy dan and the coupe compromised as all coupes are, the special case for the Gran Coupe is not only that it offers four doors and a liftback, and not even that it suddenly becomes eligible as a choice for some business users.
No, the tantalising special case is that it may actually be the pick of the Four Series because it is the best looking car. Look really hard at it when you go to the show room.
The imperceptible 23mm addition in height (unique to the Gran Coupe) not only allows rear passengers good headroom, but permitted the designers to pull the rear window back, making the car look even better than its coupe cousin.
In fact the Gran Coupé is no longer – it just looks it. This is all reminiscent of the Six Series. For reasons unknown even to BMW, the decision to turn it into a four-door Gran Coupe in 2012 was a smash hit.
So also with the new M3 – arguably there too the four door saloon looks better than the two door coupe. It’s just where BMW seems to excel as a brand. So for practicality, while it’ll never match the Three Series Touring, the Four Series Gran Coupe gets pretty close while looking sensational.
As always, knowing which model and options to select is crucial. A pale interior will lift an otherwise gloomy feeling of being too enclosed by the outwardly beautiful shape.
The ride is now so good that the 18 inch wheels of the M Sport trim tested here are no problem, particularly if you opt for the adaptive M Sport suspension that allows you to select Eco-Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes – a very desirable option in our view.
The eight-speed auto gearbox is a no brainer and improves performance and emissions. The 420d is an obvious choice, but later this year there will be a 418d version, restricted to the Gran Coupe within the Four Series, boasting 121g CO2/kms, 61.4mpg and 19% BIK.
If the budget is larger, the six cylinder 430d is simply sublime and provides the sound track that the 418d/420d cannot (and better sound than the six cylinder petrols, in case you’re wondering), but the cheapest one is £38,835, before any options. The cheapest possible way into a Four Series Gran Coupe is the petrol-powered 420i SE which in non-optioned spec is just below £30k OTR.
Finally, what about 4×4 capability marked by the ‘xDrive’ moniker? Our test car had it, and it works flawlessly.
Although popular and outselling Audi’s quattro equivalent, however, it adds 7 grams of CO2 in emissions and lops about 4mpg off fuel consumption, partly owing to a 75kg weight penalty.
xDrive costs £1,500 and won’t (according to RV estimates by specialists CAP) hold on to more than a third of that cost in residual value over three years. We’d avoid it. The tried and tested way to get through winter is to fit winter tyres, a practice now offered by most BMW dealerships.
