2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Review

Name: 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Review
Brand: BMW

Price Range: $18,998 - $28,590

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 430i Sedan Exterior

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 440i Sedan Exterior. M Sport Package Shown.

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Price & Payment

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$21,894 avg. price

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BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe model years

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Cameron Rogers^{Manager, Written Content
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. As a manager of written content, he writes and edits the reviews that help consumers find their perfect car. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Hatchback body style makes it easy to load cargo
Stout performance with either engine
Upscale interior with easy-to-use controls
Well-balanced ride and handling

Cons

Less backseat headroom than in the 3 Series sedan
Heavier and costlier than similar sedan competitors
Available only with an automatic transmission

What’s new

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe has been lightly refreshed for 2018. Highlights include restyled LED headlights and taillights, a stiffer suspension, and an infotainment system upgrade to iDrive 6.0. A rearview camera, keyless entry and ignition, satellite radio, and front and rear parking sensors are now standard on the base 430i. The Executive package is new, bundling elements of last year's Driver Assistance Plus and Lighting packages.

Vehicle overview

German luxury automakers are currently the masters of creating new vehicle types outside the typical coupe, sedan, SUV body styles. Case in point: the 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. Rather than the traditionally styled 3 Series sedan or its 4 Series coupe variant, the 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an unusual combination of coupelike styling, four-door versatility and the inherent utility of hatchback.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Lawrence, KS

16 listings

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2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
430i xDrive Sedan
$18,999
fair price
$397 above market
- 72,000 miles
- 1 accident, 1 owner, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- Auto World (164 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Omaha, NE
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (23 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WBA4J3C54JBG95547
Stock: 12806
Certified Pre-Owned: No
New Listing
2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
430i xDrive Sedan
$19,998
fair price
$871 above market
- 72,657 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- CarMax Reno (1,307 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Reno, NV
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (23 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WBA4J3C55JBL03933
Stock: 26929703
Certified Pre-Owned: No

See all for sale

Fresh from a batch of revised engines last year, the 2018 Gran Coupe sports slight changes to its head- and taillight clusters, an updated iDrive system and additional standard features. Best of all, the updates did little to affect the Gran Coupe's price tag. BMW's typically fantastic balance of a comfortable ride and stable handling is on display here as well. Downsides are limited to the cramped rear seat, aging interior design and the premium you'll pay over the similar 330i. However, buyers looking for something a little different might find what they're looking for in the unusual but very capable 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.1 / 10

Consider the 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe if you want a small luxury sedan that's more stylish than the norm. It has all the inherent strengths of a regular 3 Series sedan but with sleeker styling inspired by the 4 Series coupe.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2018 BMW 430i Gran Coupe (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current 4 Series Gran Coupe has received some revisions, including a name change from 428i to 430i (to reflect a new-generation four-cylinder engine with the same displacement) and an updated infotainment system. Certain sections might not have an applicable star rating, but our overall findings remain applicable to this year's 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Scorecard

Overall	7.1 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.5
Interior	7.0
Utility	6.0
Technology	8.0

Driving

7.5

The 430i Gran Coupe's driving dynamics are hard to criticize but also hard to love. Acceleration is adequate but not lively, and the handling leaves you wanting more than the all-season tires can provide. As far as sleek, luxury sedans go, though, we certainly don't mind it.

Acceleration

7.0

BMW's turbocharged four-cylinder has decent thrust, but the Gran Coupe is a heavy load to bear. What's more, there is a significant delay between when you press the pedal and when the real power kicks in. The Gran Coupe required 6.3 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph, which is acceptable but not quick.

Braking

8.0

The brakes are great in both everyday traffic and in heavy braking. Pedal travel is very short and feels immediately responsive, and we didn't experience any performance degradation during spirited drives. The Gran Coupe came to a stop from 60 mph in 128 feet, which is a bit lengthy for the segment.

Steering

8.0

The steering effort is variable depending on the drive mode (Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport or Sport+) with the ideal weight in Sport mode. Comfort mode is good for parking lots and freeway cruising. All modes have a good return to center, and the hefty steering wheel feels good in your hands.

Handling

7.0

The handling feels rewarding thanks to a good chassis and well-tuned suspension. But stiff 500-treadwear tires produced lots of tire squeal around corners and aren't designed to sustain a spirited pace for long. Stay below the tires' limits, though, and you'll enjoy your time behind the wheel.

Drivability

8.0

The 430i is easy to drive in low-speed traffic even if throttle is a bit lazy at the onset. There's a decent amount of torque off the line and the transmission shifts are smooth. Auto stop-start remembers your settings (enabled or disabled) even after you turn off the engine.

Comfort

7.5

A quiet and soft ride on the highway is the defining characteristic of the 4 Series Gran Coupe. Not quite a grand tourer but adept at keeping passengers comfortable, the 430i does well with any kind of long freeway journey or commute. The climate controls have some oddities.

Seat comfort

7.0

The front seats are comfortable but a bit narrow for drivers with wide hips or shoulders. The driver's bottom seat cushion can be adjusted, but even in its shortest setting it may feel too long depending on a driver's height. The back seats are comfortable, with decent yet firm bolstering.

Ride comfort

8.0

Ride comfort is especially good in the default Comfort setting. Sharp impacts can still be felt, but they are more than adequately softened. Sport and Sport+ are decidedly firmer and feel out of character for a GT car like this so we kept it in Comfort for most of our test.

Noise & vibration

8.0

No rattles, squeaks or other noises to speak of. The faint growl from the tailpipe only becomes noticeable with the windows down; otherwise it's a quiet cabin both in the city and on the highway. The level of road and wind noise is minor and better than the segment average.

Climate control

7.0

This BMW climate control system is a strange duck. There is no way to sync the dual zones, and the auto setting button doesn't alter fan speed at all. The A/C blows cold and the heated seats work very well on their maximum settings, but below that they leave a bit to be desired.

Interior

7.0

The Gran Coupe's interior is comfortable with relatively easy access to the front seats and a good driving position. Rear visibility is especially subpar, though, and the sloping rear roof forces you to duck down when piling into the back seat.

Ease of use

7.5

BMW's iDrive infotainment interface isn't immediately intuitive, but it is likable once you learn how it operates. Otherwise, the cabin layout is simple with most controls within reach. A few often-used buttons were hard to find at first, but previous BMW owners will be right at home.

Getting in/getting out

7.0

Sliding in and out of the front seat is easy since the seats are at the right height for most adults and there's no need to duck through the entry. But the high beltline and sloping rear roofline make things a bit more difficult for second-row passengers, requiring a quick duck-down on entry.

Driving position

8.0

The driving position is good, with plenty of adjustability in the driver's seat and in the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The door panel and center console armrests are placed at a comfortable height as well. It's a little atypical that this $53K car has a manually adjustable steering column.

Roominess

7.0

There's plenty of legroom, both front and rear, for an average-size adult, which is typical for the class. Front headroom is plenty adequate for a 6-footer. The rear middle seat is a bit tight and rear headroom is limited. Even at 5-foot-8, you may be brushing your hair on the headliner.

Visibility

6.5

The sloping rear roofline impinges on rear visibility, but a crisp rearview camera display helps. Both the side windows and a massive windshield provide a decent forward view, but big windshield pillars and rear pillars alike create significant blind spots.

Quality

8.0

For a car in its price range, the 430i Gran Coupe is luxurious and well-built, as you'd expect. It has soft-touch surfaces on most of the areas of frequent contact, and our tester was devoid of any squeaks or rattles. The panel gaps were tight and even, and paint quality was top-notch.

Utility

6.0

As a hatchback, the Gran Coupe is less utilitarian than we'd like. Cabin storage for small items is abysmal, and cargo space falls behind direct rivals. Car seat accommodation is merely average.

Small-item storage

5.0

If you're someone who carries many small items with you, you'll be keeping most of them in your pockets thanks to the 4 Series' tiny center console, ultra-slim and shallow door pockets, and cupholders that are only meant for regular-size soda cans.

Cargo space

6.0

The Gran Coupe has 14 cubic feet of cargo space, which is just 1 cube more than the 3 Series sedan and 3.5 cubes less than the 3 Series wagon. The Audi A5 hatchback has 21 cubes behind the rear seat. A narrow trunk also restricts access to loading larger items, even when the seat is down.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

Three anchor points on the back of the rear seats and two sets of LATCH points are easily visible but hard to squeeze your fingers into. Most child seats will fit in the back of the Gran Coupe without issue, but installation will require a bit of hunching over.

Technology

8.0

As is typically the case, BMW's proprietary technology is a strong point. Its navigation systems, voice controls and upgraded audio system are all nearly perfect in the 4 Series, but device integration could be improved upon.

Audio & navigation

9.0

The optional Harman Kardon audio system is superb. Sound quality, even at the highest of volumes, is undistorted and clear. Every navigation command was easily understood, and the map is on a crisp albeit small display.

Smartphone integration

6.5

BMW's iDrive system works quickly but has lots of layered menus to search through. Apple CarPlay is a $300 option that our car was equipped with, but it was difficult to connect on a regular basis. Android Auto is not available. Two USB ports up front allow for smartphone connectivity.

Driver aids

6.5

A rearview camera with an excellent display is standard, but other driver aids are optional. Our test car had the Executive package ($2,100), which added a 360-degree camera, automated parking and automatic high beams. This is a high price to pay for minimal driver aids, especially on a luxury car.

Voice control

10.0

Voice controls were flawless in our test, and the prompts can be interrupted to execute your commands, which isn't the case in some systems. Song selection, navigation destination and phone commands were understood the first time, every time, thanks to the BMW system's natural language recognition.

Compare 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe models

Despite its coupe billing, the 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is a four-door hatchback with a traditional sedan profile. Two trim levels are available, 430i and 440i, with the main distinction between the two being what's underneath the hood. The 430i's turbocharged four-cylinder offers a compelling blend of performance and fuel economy. The 440i has a more powerful and nearly as efficient turbocharged six-cylinder engine. Both models are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (called xDrive in BMW speak). An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission available.

The 430i is motivated by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (248 horsepower, 258 pound-feet). Standard features include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and foglights, automatic wipers, a sunroof, a power liftgate, power-folding and heated outside mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, power front seats, driver-seat memory settings, a 40/20/40-split rear seat, simulated leather upholstery, adjustable driving modes, steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, BMW's ConnectedDrive Services, a 6.5-inch central display screen, and a nine-speaker sound system with a CD player, a USB port, and HD and satellite radio.

You'll primarily upgrade to the 440i for its turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (320 hp, 330 lb-ft). You also get power lumbar adjustment for the front seats, hands-free liftgate operation and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

Many optional packages are common to both trim levels. These include the Premium (navigation, an 8.8-inch display screen, heated front seats and lumbar support for 430i models), Luxury (chrome exterior trim, leather upholstery and the Harman Kardon audio system for 430i models) and Executive (adaptive headlights with automatic high-beam control, a 360-degree camera system, automated vehicle parking and a head-up display) packages. You can also up the Gran Coupe's sporting capability with the M Sport (performance tires, a sport suspension, a sport steering wheel and more aggressive-looking front and rear styling) and Track Handling (non-run-flat performance tires, upgraded brakes, an adaptive suspension and variable-ratio sport steering) packages.

Notable stand-alone options include 19-inch wheels, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a digital instrument panel, blind-spot monitoring, a forward collision warning system, adaptive cruise control, wireless device charging and Apple CarPlay functionality.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 430i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.47 per gallon for premium unleaded in Kansas.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Kansas

$152/mo

$145/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#39 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe from 2008-2022.}

$773/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.86x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

13.6%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.6

28 reviews

5(68%)

4(21%)

3(11%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Hot 4 door hatch

BMW BOB, 08/05/2016

2016 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 435i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

I wanted a car to replace my Audi S7, and this was just the ticket. Test drove Mustang 5.0, Lexus GS-f , Lexus IS-f, Mercedes C-400, and Audi 4 and S4. BMW 435 xi Grand Coupe with M package won on several points. Versatility of hatchback, styling, included no cost maintenance, ride/performance balance, and value. Audi maintenance is very expensive, Mustang 5.0 is unrefined, and Lexus …

4-Series X-Drive Gran Coupe has it all

Mark F, 11/18/2016

2016 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 428i xDrive SULEV 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Purchased the car 14 mos. ago. I have owned 10 BMW's over the last 25 yrs. This car is classic BMW. It's a driver's car and performs flawlessly in that regard. BMW has figured out how to maintain performance while increasing gas mileage. I actually observe 34-35 mpg hwy while traveling at speeds in excess of 70mph. City driving gives me 23-25 mpg. The car has utility as well. Both rear …

Love the stlyle

schandlr, 05/04/2015

2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 428i SULEV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I traded my 2013 328i for the 428i GC. I've had about three months to evaluate the car, and, so far, so good. It looks gorgeous from any angle. The turbocharged 4 delivers generous power at any RPM. The car handles curves and turns with grace. Cargo capacity is great with the hatchback design.

Had a 750i - Don't Miss It.

JMR, 11/29/2018

2017 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 430i xDrive SULEV 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I have a 2017 BMW 430i xdrive Gran Coupe. Purchased it new. My previous car was a 2006 750i, which I leased when new. The 750i was a fabulous road car, for sure. I regularly drove from Washington, DC, where I live, to Manhattan, NY. I would make a 4 hour drive in a little over 3 hours. The car was a no drama luxury cruiser. I needed a full size car because I had a family, which …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, so we've included reviews for other years of the 4 Series Gran Coupe since its last redesign.

See all 28 reviews of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

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2018 4 Series Gran Coupe Highlights

Trim:

430i

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$43,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$152/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the 4 Series Gran Coupe models:

Side- and Top-View Cameras: Provide a 360-degree bird's-eye view of the 4 Series Gran Coupe. Makes it easier to navigate in tight parking spots.
BMW Assist: This standard system includes automatic crash notification and roadside assistance.
Active Driving Assistant: Alerts the driver when the vehicle wanders out of its lane. Also warns when a front collision is imminent. Can apply brakes if necessary.

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