BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Review by BMW Blog

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

Ahead of the driving event, BMW experts emphasized the coupe-like driving capabilities of the 4 Series Gran Coupe. BMW says its engineers aimed to offer similar driving dynamics for the niche model so the customers doesn’t feel they have to comprise on the experience behind the wheel while gaining more interior space.

To give the car a run for its money, we took the 428i Gran Coupe M Sport model on superb Spanish country back roads. Under the hood of the 428i Gran Coupe, BMW placed a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbocharged unit producing 245 horsepower between 5,000-6,500rpm and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque at 1,250-4,800rpm.

While the official figures for performance and efficiency are impressive, the engine’s character is what we have been accustomed to in the 428i Coupe or even 328i Coupe: smooth, yet linear and barely exciting. But that’s only true in the Comfort mode of BMW’s Drive Performance Control. With BMW’s Drive Performance Control system as standard, the driver gets to choose between four different driving modes: Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

So we immediately toggled the mode to Sport and a bit later to Sport+. Instantly the 428i Gran Coupe comes to life, steering assistance is reduced (not bad for a modern electro-mechanical system), gear changing is faster and smoother, sharper throttle response, and the suspension firms up. Furthermore, the electronic stability control now allows allow a small degree of oversteer when requested by the driver.

Oh, and even the engine sounds crisper and with a louder roar.

Even with the optional 19-inch alloy wheels low-profile Bridgestone Potenza tires, the car remains comfortable to drive without sacrificing its sportiness. The body roll we encountered first in Comfort mode is now reduced and cornering becomes faster and more exciting.

The back roads of Bilbao were perfect for spirited driving and with back-to-back corners, the 428i Gran Coupe was really put to test. We worried less about MPG and focused more on driving experience, while acknowledging that the 428i Gran Coupe modelaims to be a balance between sportiness and efficiency, with the high-end spectrum of performance being left for the 435i or 435d models.

Compared to the 6 Series Gran Coupe we sampled in the past, the 4 Series Gran Coupe focuses more on the feeling behind the wheel versus the long-distance comfort of a Gran Tourer. Yet, the 428i Gran Coupe can do that as well. Just switch back to Comfort, turn up the music, take a relaxed stance in the perfectly countered sport seats and enjoy the ride and scenery.

Furthermore, take the car out of the back roads setting and place in a mega city like Chicago and you get the perfect daily driver in a commute that many label it monstrous and ridiculous.

Weighing around 3,610 pounds, the 428i Gran Coupe is not a lightweight champ, but with the 245 ponies and the ample torque, it never felt sluggish, underrated.

BMW quotes a 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds, more than decent.