BMW SERIES 4 GRAND COUPE. SET FOR STUNNING.
Channel: Old Money
Date: 2019-09-19

The 2020 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe combines the graceful, flowing roofline of the two-door 4-Series with the four-door practicality of a sedan and the wide-open cargo area of a hatchback. Its handsome exterior styling wraps around a premium cabin, but it's due for a redesign. The Gran Coupe challenges other coupe-like four-doors such as the Audi A5 Sportback and the Kia Stinger, both of which offer a higher level of driver involvement. Nonetheless, we've still come away impressed with the Gran Coupe's two gutsy turbocharged engines which in our testing also proved to be quite fuel efficient.

Although its less-swoopy platform mate—the 3-Series—has been redesigned for 2020, the 4-Series Gran Coupe continues on with only minor changes this year. A revised lower front bumper, darker-tinted taillamps, two new wheel designs, and high-gloss black trim around the grille give the Gran Coupe an ever-so-slightly freshened appearance. BMW is now offering its Active Driving Assistant as standard; the driver-assistance suite includes lane-departure warning, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning. Rain-sensing windshield wipers are also now standard. Inside, the Gran Coupe can be ordered with dark-brown Mocha leather upholstery and 440i M Sport models come with carbon fiber trim.

The 4-Series Gran Coupe's two turbocharged engines provide more than enough gumption for spirited driving, and the eight-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes with aplomb. Wearing the 430i name on its shapely rear end, our test vehicle was powered by the 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Sprinting from zero to 60 mph in a brisk 5.1 seconds isn't a standout among its rivals, but we have no reason to complain. The turbo four pulls strongly, runs smoothly, and emits a muted burble that's appropriate for the Gran Coupe's sporty appearance. Stepping up to the 440i adds two cylinders and 72 more horsepower. While not as athletic as its looks would have you believe, the 4-Series Gran Coupe can still hold its own when pushed hard down a winding road. Unfortunately, the Audi A5 Sportback and the Alfa Romeo Giulia both manage to deliver a higher level of driver involvement and substantially more feedback from the road through their communicative helms.

We haven't had the chance to put a 440i through our real-world testing, but the all-wheel-drive 430i blasted past its 33-mpg EPA estimate and delivered a stellar 37 mpg.

We haven't had the chance to put a 440i through our real-world testing, but the all-wheel-drive 430i blasted past its 33-mpg EPA estimate and delivered a stellar 37 mpg.

BMW's iDrive infotainment system is displayed on a 6.5-inch touchscreen that sprouts monolithically from the top of the dashboard; a larger 8.8-inch display is optional and includes navigation and real-time traffic updates. No matter the screen size, the interface is controlled via touch or by using a rotary clickwheel mounted between the front seats. The optional Wi-Fi hotspot utilizes a 4G LTE data connection, which requires a monthly subscription after a three-month trial.

Without data to analyze from the country's leading safety agencies, we are unable to report on the crashworthiness of the 4-Series Gran Coupe. Driver-assistance features are offered, but most are expensive add-ons. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Standard lane departure warning
Available adaptive cruise control

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