So what is the BMW 4 Series?
We used to have the BMW 3 Series Convertible and 3 Series Coupe; but not any more. BMW has created a new series – designated by the number 4 – into which anything that is not a 3 Series Saloon, Touring estate, or Gran Tourismo hatchback goes.
It has also allowed BMW to expand the models on offer – such as this Gran Coupe model.
So what do we have in the 4 Series range?
- BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe – five door coupe
- BMW 4 Series Coupe – three door coupe
- BMW 4 Series Convertible – two door fresh air motoring
And it’s plenty quick enough, accelerating to 62mph in under 8 seconds. Meanwhile BMW’s supersmooth eight-speed gearbox shuffles through the gears effortlessly.
You can play F1 drivers and change manually with steering wheel mounted flappy paddles. But really? In a sophisticated car that sorts out everything so well? No, you don’t. But it’s there if you are in the mood.
More importantly if you are a business driver, what really excels is the brilliant satnav system that comes with the Business Pro version. This delivers real time traffic information. And whenever we used it, the system proved infallible.
Too many times we’ve tested systems that state an arrival time and stick rigidly to it despite the circumstances that you are facing on the road. You know you are going to be late – which is something the satnav system fails to understand.
Not the BMW system.
This constantly updates you with diversions should they be required and estimated arrival time; which is usually bang on. For a business driver this is invaluable stuff.
So should you get one?
Why not? As a business owner you can choose to put it through the business and pay the company car tax but get the tax relief on the car lease rental subject to a 15% leasing restriction.
Our car leasing prices calculator suggests a monthly lease rental of £375 per month (ex VAT) over three years and 10,000 miles. Although at the moment, BMW’s award-winning Business Partnership has a very good deal on the diesel version for £335 a month.
If you want to run it personally, then with the VAT you’re looking at £5400 a year on personal contract hire – but with £4500 tax free available on AMAPs if you do 10,000 business miles a year, the private part of your motoring is ra snip at £900 a year – that’s £150 a month.
A paltry amount for such a sophisticated car.
The BMW 420i xDrive M Sport Gran Coupe Auto is a car of many intriguing and beguiling parts. It’s worth trying out to see if you fall under the same sophisticated spell.
BMW 420i xDrive M Sport Gran Coupe Auto
| P11D value | £35,940 |
| Company car tax banding | 25% |
| Benefit in kind value | £8,985 |
| Company car tax payable at 20% | £1,797 |
| Company car tax payable at 40% | £3,594 |
| CO2 emissions | 152g/km |
| Official fuel economy | 43.5mpg |
| Writing down allowance | 8% |
| 0-62mph sprint | 7.9s |
