BMW 4 Series Coupe 420i M Sport (A) Review

Hard charging, yet demanding of instant gratification and constant recognition.

No, you're not reading another stereotypical description of the Millennial generation. Instead, those are traits I found myself acquiring after just two days with the BMW 4 Series Coupe.

Hard charging

The 420i we test here may be equipped with only a four-cylinder that pushes out 181bhp and 300Nm of torque, but the way in which that power is delivered is nothing short of a revelation.

Drivetrain urgency and responsiveness in this BMW 4 Series Coupe is top-notch, making blitzing from traffic light to traffic light a genuine and irresistible joy. Around town, the 4 Series Coupe feels just as quick as the Audi A5 Sportback quattro we tested recently, despite its 64bhp power deficit.

Stiffer M Sport suspension comes as standard for all 420i Coupes headed here, but the setup still offers sufficient compliance such that driving over rutted roads never become tiring. Suspension pliancy over larger humps is first-rate, yet it's always at the ready to arrest any unnecessary body movement.

BMW states the suspension setup for this 4 Series Coupe has received model-specific tuning and from behind the wheel, the car sure feels it.

Instant gratification

Head out to open roads and the 4 Series Coupe will reveal yet more tricks from under its sleeve.

The steering is well-judged for a compact executive coupe, delivering reasonable weight but with good levels of feedback. The rack is mighty quick as well, ever tempting you take corners at speed.

And should you choose to comply, the rest of the car doesn't disappoint, with the aforementioned throttle responsiveness pairing with the quick-witted eight-speed Steptronic transmission to allow you to easily tighten your line with some pedal mashing. The brake pedal on this test car was a little too soft, however.

On the highway, cabin insulation is excellent, with only the low burble of the engine barely audible. It's excellent to the point that you'll be constantly checking that 12.3-inch digital cluster to make sure you're not above the speed limit. Thankfully, BMW's Speed Limit Info system comes as standard on the 4 Series.

Expect real-world fuel economy to hover near 9.8km/L.

Constant recognition

I'm sure most of you have already made up your minds about the exterior design of this 4 Series Coupe. Sleek, head-turning looks are an expected out of any executive coupe, and if it is recognition from others that you're looking for, the BMW 4 Series certainly won't fail to deliver, for better or worse.

Say what you want of that divisive grille up front, but to my eyes, the car isn't as offensive in the metal as it is in photos.

And the rest of the car is still a stunning item to look at. With exterior dimensions standing at 57mm lower and 23mm wider than the 3 Series Sedan, the 4 Series Coupe offers low-slung looks aplenty. I especially love the strong muscularity of the rear haunches.

The cabin may stick to a more common layout recognisable throughout the rest of BMW's range, but the upshot is that you get really high build quality everywhere you care to look.

You sit just slightly lower than what I remembered of the BMW 330i, although the cabin fits more sung around you. Ingress and egress, however, is always effortless. For comparison, getting out of the A5 Sportback was occasionally challenging to my knees.

And should you have to ferry passengers, the 4 Series will not disappoint. There is reasonable leg and knee room at the rear, although those relegated here will always find themselves wanting for headroom. Small glass space is also provided for those at the rear, but thankfully there are separate air-conditioning vents to alleviate any claustrophobia here.

Bootspace meanwhile, has been reduced by 40 litres compared to the 3 Series Sedan. At 440-litres there's still plenty of space for all your shopping, but you'll need to stretch rather deep in if you're going to retrieve your last few bags.

Here and now generation

At $227,888 (as of 20 March 2021), the BMW 420i is asking for a small premium compared against the sole 148bhp local variant of the Audi A5 Coupe, or the Mercedes-Benz C180 Coupe. In return, you'll get approximately 30bhp more than said rivals, and a car that will easily catch any pedestrian's attention first.

And if you absolutely need to get your driving thrills here and now, there's no need to look elsewhere.

Need more of the BMW 4 Series Coupe, here and now? We have it for you here.