BMW 4 Series Review 2026

Designing the new 4 Series could have been left to the work experience kid in BMW's design department. Take the already quite attractive 3 Series, remove the rear doors, give it a sleeker roofline and boom, a strong-selling alternative to the Audi A5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe and Lexus RC. It needn't have been an arduous task.

It seems, though, that the apprentice went a bit rogue and the result is that front grille which has triggered countless internet forum threads and no doubt lost BMW a sale or two. But you certainly can't accuse the BMW 4 Series of being shy and retiring - and who buys a premium German coupe to blend in?

If you've read this far, presumably you're not that offended by the way the 4 Series looks. And we can assure you that, while its design may divide opinion, it's the connoisseur's choice in this class in terms of the way it drives.

The majority of buyers will opt for the entry-level 420i model and that's fine, as we reckon it's probably the best engine in the line-up. It's a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol which produces 184PS and 300Nm of torque, meaning the 420i can accelerate to 62mph in a sprightly 7.5 seconds.

There's also a diesel 420d which will appeal to the long-distance drivers, a 430i (the sleeper choice) and a hot M440. All come with BMW's excellent eight-speed steptronic auto 'box, while you can choose between rear- or all-wheel drive (depending on model).

All of them are fun to drive, but we like the agility of the 420i. The four-cylinder engine is the lightest of the bunch and that means the entry-level car feels the most tactile on a twisty road. The six-cylinder petrols hold plenty of appeal, though - not only for the authentic BMW soundtrack but also for the ease at which they overtake slower traffic. The M440i in particular is a lot of fun and almost makes the upcoming M4 feel a bit redundant.

While the 4 Series coupe's exterior design will divide opinion, there's little to dislike about the interior. It's just as upmarket as you'd expect if you're spending upwards of £40,000 on a new BMW. Sure, you might be able to hunt out a few hard finishes here and there - but only in places where otherwise you might scuff a delicate finish with your dirty boots.

All models come with BMW's 10.25-inch media system which is perfectly positioned in the driver's eyeline without being distracting. We like that you can access it a number of ways - including touchscreen, via the rotary trackpad controller between the front seats, or via BMW's Alexa-like virtual assistant.

It's quick to respond and intuitive to use (the media system - not the virtual assistant... we'll come onto that), while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard (wirelessly, too).

As you'd expect for a coupe like this, the 4 Series isn't the most practical choice. It's strictly a four-seater and, even then, an adult will have to be quite committed to squeeze into the back seats. The boot's big enough, though, and you can drop the rear seats if you're heading away for the weekend without kids in tow.

While BMW could have played it safe with the 4 Series, we're actually glad it hasn't. It's simply brilliant to drive, has a superb interior and, we reckon, you might even start to like how it looks.

BMW has been making cars that out-handle the competition for decades, and the latest 4 Series is no exception. It's just superb to drive, turning eagerly into corners and providing plenty of communication through the steering wheel.

Most models are rear-wheel drive, and you can really feel the power punching you out of bends. We actually rate the standard 420i highly here - with the relatively light four-cylinder engine, the front wheels are a little less prone to drifting wide during speedy cornering.

Diesel models are available with xDrive four-wheel drive, which should provide a little more reassurance if you're driving in slippery conditions, while xDrive is standard on the M440i. The latter is a machine in the bends, divvying up the power between the front and rear axles to ensure you've always got grip.

When you're not in the mood for hoonery, the 4 Series is a fairly compliant tourer. We've only driven the 4 Series with 19-inch alloy wheels, which are a little eager to transfer thumps into the cabin, but we suspect the smaller 18-inch wheels might provide a slightly more compliant ride.

The majority of 4 Series models on the road will be the 420i. This uses a sprightly 2.0-litre petrol engine, producing 184PS and 300Nm of torque. It might be the entry-level engine but these aren't entry-level figures... it'll accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in 7.5 seconds, all the while sounding surprisingly good.

If you want something even punchier (and with a six-cylinder soundtrack), BMW offers a 430i with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine. We're yet to try this but have sampled the engine countless times in other models and it's not going to disappoint, providing you can cope with a slight increase in fuel consumption.

Diesel fans get a 420d, available with or without BMW's xDrive four-wheel-drive system. The 190PS 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine makes for effortless cruising, thanks in particular to the urgency available low down in the rev range. This is boosted by the 48-volt mild-hybrid setup, which - as well as a minute power boost - also enables it to coast to a halt with the engine off.

While the 420d can't be driven under electric power alone like 'full' hybrids (or plug-in hybrids), you will notice how incredibly civilised it is for a diesel engine. There's little diesel clatter on startup and, once rolling, the only noise you'll really notice is from the tyres.

Topping the range is the hot M440i which also uses mild-hybrid tech to produce 374PS from its 3.0-litre petrol engine. xDrive four-wheel-drive is standard here, meaning there's plenty of traction to make progress in all conditions.

No matter which engine you opt for, you'll get BMW's excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox. It provides rapid gear changes and doesn't hesitate when you need to make a quick getaway (unlike, say, Audi's automatic transmissions).

The BMW 4 Series is fundamentally a very safe car, although it's yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP. The very similar 3 Series was awarded a maximum five stars in 2019, including a very impressive 97 per cent score for adult occupants.

There are a wide range of systems on hand to keep you safe, including a city braking function, lane-keeping assistant and an automatic speed limit assist (which automatically adjusts your speed to match the speed limit). Most of these are part of the optional Driving Assistant Professional pack, which itself forms part of the Technology Plus package. 

Although the BMW 4 Series might not seem the obvious tow car, it is rated to tow between 1600-1800kg depending on your engine choice.

We'd recommend the 420d xDrive if you're planning to tow regularly. It can officially tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1800kg, while 400Nm of torque will make it a fairly effortless task.

While it'd be pushing it to describe the BMW 4 Series as a family car, you can certainly squeeze in a pair of adults and a couple of kids. The rear seats are adequate for little ones, and there are Isofix points back there for child seats (although access could be tricky).

There's plenty of space in the front. You sit quite low down (it's closer to a sports car than an SUV, after all) but the seats offer a reasonable range of adjustment. Disappointingly, you have to pay extra for the Comfort Plus Package for adjustable lumbar support and electric seat adjustment. Having to manually adjust the seat takes away from the premium vibe somewhat - but, if only one person drives the car, it's not something you'll have to do all the time. The BMW 4 Series is no different to rivals in this regard, either.

With 440 litres of luggage space, the boot in the 4 Series will easily accommodate a pair of large weekend bags or the weekly shop. It's usefully square but you will notice a bit of a lip for lifting heavy items over - and don't expect it to be deep enough for transporting anything particularly tall. Like a dog.

The BMW 4 Series won't disappoint in the quality stakes. All the switches are well-damped and most finishes are soft to touch, while standard leather seats across the range helps with the upmarket ambience.

Even the most affordable 420i M Sport feels like a classy contender in the coupe segment. If anything, it's too good - the interior in the much pricier M440i doesn't feel that much better finished. That's good news for the majority of buyers.

If you go hunting for harsher finishes, you'll find them. Most of them are tucked low down in the cabin, though - meaning you're more likely to bash them with your feet than touch them with your fingers. 

We have few complaints about the standard 10.25-inch media system in the BMW 4 Series. It's easy to use and - as we outlined in the intro - can be operated via a rotary trackpad controller as well as touchscreen or BMW's own voice assistant system.

This works like Alexa. Just say 'Hey BMW' and it'll respond, even to vague commands (like "I'm cold"). It's a good idea and maybe it'd improve over time but, in our experience, it's a bit hit and miss. All too often it misinterpreted our requests and we gave in and just pressed a button instead.

Still, it's good news that BMW has finally given in and now offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without a pricey subscription fee. This means you can use apps from your phone on the central display - ideal for swerving congestion using Waze while enjoying your favourite Spotify playlists. They operate wirelessly, too - a first for Android Auto.

There's also a 12.3-inch digital instrument display as standard across the 4 Series range. Like a lot of similar systems, this is information-rich, which can be a little annoying when all you want to know is how fast you're going. It's something you'll get used to, though, and it certainly doesn't detract from the overall very good infotainment setup.

Prices for a new 420i M Sport start at a fraction under £40,000. That's a lot of money, especially when the equivalent 3 Series is closer to £36,000 and has space for all the family. The premium image of the 4 Series will mean it'll be worth more a few years down the line, though, so the difference in lease or finance payments will be negligible.

It also feels sufficiently special to justify the extra cost, and it's not that much pricier than rivals. An Audi A5 in Sport trim starts from £38,575 while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe is priced from £39,705. The hybrid Lexus RC starts from more than £44,000.

The M Sport Pro Edition is an extra £5000, while the 430i M Sport starts from a shade over £44,000. The sporty M440i xDrive starts from £53,865 - broadly in-line with the Audi S5 Coupe and less than a Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe.

The latest 4 Series is, at the time of writing, still a very new car - so there aren't huge savings to be had on used examples. That said, we have seen some very tempting pre-reg deals. These are cars that are in showrooms and ready to go, meaning you can skip the waiting list, too.

A search in the ads reveals an as-new 420i M Sport available for £38,000 (a saving of around £2000), while there are bigger savings available on higher-spec models. We've seen dealers offering ex-demonstrator M440i models on offer for £51,000 - a saving of £4000 compared to list.

If you need to cover as many miles as possible without spending a fortune on fuel, we'd recommend the diesel 420d. This officially returns up to 61.4mpg in WLTP fuel economy tests (which ought to be fairly reflective of the real world but check Real MPG for more accurate figures). This drops to 57.6mpg if you choose a diesel model with xDrive four-wheel drive.

For drivers covering fewer miles or covering a lot of short journeys, we'd recommend the 420i. This can officially return a fairly reasonable 44.1mpg, while the 430i in M Sport trim should see close to 42.2mpg. The M440i is capable of 36.7mpg but expect to see significantly less than this if you're heavy with the throttle.

It'll be worth shopping around for insurance for the BMW 4 Series, especially if you're a young or inexperienced driver. It's worth noting that tax could be fairly expensive, too - most 4 Series models will have a list price of more than £40,000, meaning they'll attract up to £475 a year in VED for the first five years.

M Sport models feature 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, M Sport suspension, selectable drive modes, cruise control, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, BMW Live Cockpit Professional (with 10.25-inch display and 12.3-inch digital instrument panel).

The M Sport Pro adds 19-inch alloy wheels, black exterior highlights, BMW Individual exterior paint, M seat belts, BMW Individual interior trim, Sprint mode and adaptive M suspension.

M440i xDrive models come with 19-inch alloy wheels, metallic paintwork, Cerium Grey exterior highlights, M seat belts, sun protection glass, M Sport braking system, M sport differential and adaptive M suspension.