2021 BMW 4 Series Review

It should come as no surprise that the 4 Series uses the same powertrains as the 3 Series. The base engine in the 430i is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. BMW says it's good for a 0-60 mph sprint time of 5.5 seconds in the rear-drive coupe, or 5.3 seconds with all-wheel drive (dubbed xDrive). Opting for the heavier rear-drive convertible increases the acceleration time to 5.9 seconds, which works out to be 0.1 second quicker than the previous-generation 4 Series.

The M440i uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six instead, with 382 hp and 369 lb-ft on tap. The 4 Series' version of this engine, unlike the one in the 3 Series, will be augmented by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. It is designed to aid in fuel efficiency but can also provide a small boost of up to 11 horsepower during heavy acceleration. The M440i xDrive coupe's estimated 0-60 mph time is reduced to 4.3 seconds, or just 0.2 second slower than the current M4 sport coupe. The convertible is available in rear- or all-wheel-drive configurations, with the rear-drive version accelerating to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. (xDrive figures haven't been released yet.) Both engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

From the front seats forward, the 4 Series' cabin is nearly identical to the 3 Series' cockpit. Its theme of technological elegance is personified by the ample use of leather and chrome and punctuated by ambient lighting strips, metallic weave trim and high-resolution displays. As with the current 4 Series, a mechanical arm delivers your seat belt so you don't have to twist in position and reach back.

The 4 Series convertible gets some upgrades of its own for its newest generation. The most immediately apparent change is the convertible top construction, which switches from a multi-piece folding hardtop to a traditional soft top. According to BMW, the soft top increases headroom and cargo space and is 40% lighter than the hardtop. There's even a pass-through if you need to store long items that need to stretch into the cabin to fit.

The 4 Series will come standard with a more comprehensive set of standard safety features than the 3 Series. Notable driving aids include forward collision mitigation, lane departure mitigation and blind-spot monitoring. Beyond that, the optional Driving Assistance Professional package adds traffic-adaptive cruise control and limited automated driving at low speeds.

You can also add extras such as a 360-degree parking camera, an automated parking system, and a system that uses the vehicle's front and rear camera to record short video clips, which can be useful in the case of an accident or damage.

Front and center in the cockpit is a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen powered by BMW's latest iDrive 7 infotainment interface. This is the same setup as in other new BMWs. It packs a lot of features, but the maze of on-screen menus can be off-putting.

A 10.25-inch touchscreen is optional, and it's paired with a fully digital instrument cluster. Navigation is standard, and it can tie into transmission behavior to select the right gear for upcoming road conditions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is also included.