2017 BMW 4 Series Review

Standard equipment for the 430i coupe includes 18-inch wheels, adaptive xenon headlights with LED accents, foglights, auto-dimming mirrors, a sunroof, imitation-leather (premium vinyl) upholstery, power-adjustable front sport seats (including power-adjustable side bolsters), driver-seat memory settings, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, fold-down rear seatbacks, dual-zone automatic climate control, the iDrive technology interface with a 6.5-inch display screen, BMW Assist, Bluetooth connectivity and a nine-speaker audio system with a USB port, an auxiliary audio jack, HD radio and a CD player.

In place of a sunroof, the 430i convertible has a power-retractable hardtop with a wind blocker. The convertible also includes a folding rear seat, a feature rarely seen in drop-tops.

The 440i adds a more powerful engine, keyless ignition and entry, a hands-free trunk release, front seat four-way power lumbar adjustment, satellite radio and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

A number of options packages are available. The Premium package for the 430i adds leather upholstery, keyless ignition and entry, power lumbar adjustment, satellite radio and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The Technology package adds an upgraded iDrive system (including navigation, voice controls, a higher-resolution 8.8-inch display screen and a touchpad-enhanced controller) along with a color head-up display, a more capable trip computer, BMW Online (provides real-time news and information to the car), BMW Apps (connectivity for select smartphone apps) and BMW Remote Services (allows select mobile devices to lock the car remotely, turns on climate control and includes a stolen vehicle recovery service).

Wireless device charging, enhanced Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and a Wi-Fi hotspot come with the Wireless Charging package. The Lighting package tacks on adaptive LED headlights and automatic high beams. A Cold Weather package adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and (on the convertible) neck-warming air vents for the front seats.

The Driver Assistance package adds a rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors, while the Driver Assistance Plus package adds blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, a side- and top-view camera system, speed limit info and a forward collision warning system with automatic braking.

The Luxury package adds special wood or aluminum interior trim, different wheels and a choice of leather upholstery. The M Sport package also offers a range of trim and leather options, further adding an aero body kit and a sport-tuned suspension. The Track Handling package ups the ante with lightweight wheels, adaptive sport-tuned suspension dampers, stronger brakes and variable-ratio steering.

There are some stand-alone options, too. Most notably, the 430i can be outfitted with the Harman Kardon stereo, and all models can be equipped with an automated parking system (parallel and perpendicular), Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, side- and top-view cameras and adaptive cruise control.

The 2017 BMW 4 Series comes with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (which BMW calls xDrive). For both body styles, an eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. A manual transmission is a no-cost option for rear-wheel-drive coupes and the all-wheel-drive 440i coupe. In order to save fuel, both transmissions come with an automatic stop-start function that turns off the engine when the car stops.

The 430i model employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. EPA estimates vary a little depending on whether you get the coupe or the convertible and on which engine-transmission combo you choose. An automatic-equipped rear-wheel-drive 430i coupe is rated at 27 mpg combined (23 city/34 highway), which is impressive given the car's power.

The 440i has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated at 320 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. A 440i coupe with rear-wheel drive and the automatic transmission gets an EPA estimated 25 mpg combined (21 city/32 highway), with other 440i variations earning slightly less.