BMW 4 Series Review

The BMW 4 Series demands its sporting rights just after you climb aboard. You’ll feel that you sit considerably lower than in the 3 Series. Not only is the ride height reduced by 0.4 inches (10 mm), but the seat is also placed 0.35 inches (9 mm) closer to the floor.

As far as the driver is concerned, this is the biggest difference between the coupe and the sedan. That’s because the dashboard is carried over from the 3 Series. This made us frown a bit. Since they changed the designation and all, they could’ve given the cabin a more personal touch.

On the other hand, the inheritance means we get the same excellent ergonomics as in the sedan. In this car, everything can be done on the fly, since the controls are intuitive. Oh and they’ve also added a seatbelt concierge. This did twist the belt a bit on a few occasions, but it got the job done.

There is one exception to the ergonomics though. We’re talking about the dashboard indicators. The lower info display has been placed too close to the edge of the dash. Thus, some drivers can’t perfectly see all the info when the steering wheel is in a normal position.

Speaking of this, we got to play with the optional M Sport steering wheel. This can be either good or bad, depending on where you come from. If you’ve never had a car of this kind, you’ll probably like it, since it quenches your sporty thirst. But if you’re familiar with the segment, you’ll find its exaggerated thickness a bit annoying.

It’s the same story with the power front seats of our tester. We know that these aren’t the range-topping option. Thus, it was nice if they didn’t kept reminding us about this. They’re OK, but nothing more.

Nevertheless, as far as the rear passengers are concerned, things have changed. A lot. The 2-inch (50 mm) wheelbase boost has brought extra legroom. What’s more, the back area also feels a bit broader. Together with the pretty generous glass area, this brings an airy feeling in the back. As for the seat, this follows the line of those up front, so it offers a basic-to-decent feel.

There’s just one tiny detail: the roomy rear area conclusion only applies to people up to 5’ 9” (1.75 m) tall. You see, that sweet swooping roofline comes back and bites you once you’re inside. The headroom seems a bit more limited than in the old 3 Series coupe.

BMW’s 4 Series ends with a boot that’s grown a bit. The luggage compartment now offers 15.7 cubic feet (445 L), up from 15.2 cubic feet (430 L). We won’t complain.