BMW M4 Review Brilliant Performance With A Heavy Price Tag

The BMW M4 stands as one of the most capable performance machines money can currently buy, blending serious firepower with a degree of everyday practicality that few rivals can match. That said, this is a coupe that feels notably big and weighty when hustled along narrow British B-roads, and it only undercuts a Porsche 911 on price if you stay well clear of the options list. For the truly committed driver, the £15,000 M Race pack is essentially a must-have upgrade that pushes the M4 toe-to-toe with its accomplished German rival, though it does push the bill skyward. The M4 also faces stiff competition from within BMW’s own M stable, with the M3 saloon and Touring offering greater versatility, and the smaller M2 arguably proving even more engaging behind the wheel.

The second-generation M4 arrived in 2020 and continues the proud lineage that began with the legendary E30 M3. The UK line-up has simplified down to a single model: the M4 Competition xDrive, available as either a two-door coupe or soft-top Convertible. Power comes from BMW’s trusted 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six, producing 523 bhp at 6,250 rpm and 650 Nm of torque spread between 2,750 and 5,730 rpm. An eight-speed automatic gearbox sends drive to all four wheels via the xDrive system, which features an Active M Differential at the rear axle and lets the driver choose between standard AWD, rear-biased AWD Sport, and a full rear-wheel-drive mode. A 10-stage traction control system and brake-by-wire technology round out the chassis tech, with personalised settings stored on the bright red M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel.

Performance is genuinely punchy, with the M4 Competition firing from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, while the heavier Convertible manages the same sprint in 3.7 seconds. The standard 155 mph top speed can be lifted to 180 mph with the M Driver’s Pack, included in the M Race Track Pack. The straight-six engine sounds more industrial than musical, but the sports exhaust ensures the noise piped into the cabin is properly mechanical rather than artificially augmented. Despite a kerb weight of more than 1,850 kg, the M4 disguises its mass remarkably well, with BMW’s chassis engineers extracting impressive composure from a car that’s nearly 400 kg heavier than an E46 M3 and over 100 kg heavier than a Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS. Fuel economy sits in the high 20s with gentle motorway driving, and overall consumption of 25.2 mpg is genuinely respectable for a coupe of this calibre, though enthusiastic backroad driving will see that figure tumble below 20 mpg.

Step inside and the M4’s cabin feels every bit the premium performance proposition. The dashboard houses a 12.3-inch driver’s display alongside a 14.9-inch infotainment screen running BMW Operating System 8.5, which thankfully still includes the brilliant rotary iDrive controller alongside touch and voice inputs. Physical buttons remain on the steering wheel spokes and around the gear selector for damping, exhaust, and other driver functions. Build quality feels suitably premium, though BMW has indulged in some fingerprint-prone piano black plastic around the gear selector. The standard aluminium cabin trim can be swapped for carbon fibre at extra cost, and BMW’s Individual programme opens up some properly vivid colour combinations for those wanting to make a statement. Carbon-backed bucket seats are a £4,450 option, offering excellent long-distance comfort and decent space beneath for rear passenger feet, though the prominent leg divider can intrude on some drivers’ legs.

For boot space, the M4 matches the regular 4 Series with 440 litres, which is enough for a couple of suitcases and benefits from a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench for longer loads. Rear passenger space is tight, with anyone approaching six feet brushing their head against the roof lining, but it’s still more usable than a 911. Reliability looks reassuring too, with the 4 Series finishing seventh overall in the 2025 Driver Power survey. First-year VED is a hefty £5,000 thanks to 227 g/km emissions, and company car drivers face a top 37 per cent Benefit-in-Kind rating. Residuals hold up reasonably well, with the M4 Competition expected to retain around 43.7 per cent of its value after three years and 36,000 miles. For buyers wanting the ultimate BMW driving experience in a practical four-seat package, the M4 Competition xDrive remains a hugely accomplished machine that justifies the spend if performance is the priority.