2024 BMW 4 Series M440i

BMW's odd naming convention is in full swing with the 4 Series, which is a two-door coupe or convertible variant of the 3 Series sedan. Except there's also a 4 Series Gran Coupe that's actually a four-door hatchback styled like a sedan, but with a swoopy roofline that makes it less practical than the 3 Series sedan. Now that everything's crystal-clear, the other point of differentiation between the 3 Series and 4 Series is the exterior styling; the latter has a pair of vertical grilles that give its face a bucktoothed appearance.

At least the interior design is pretty spiffy, which is even more true of the 2024 BMW 4 Series. This year, BMW took the previously separate digital instrument panel and touchscreen and housed them under one large curved screen. The design is much more cohesive, though the instrument display no longer has a binnacle to keep the screen from washing out in direct sunlight. The climate controls are now relegated to an options menu in the touchscreen, and the physical shift lever is replaced by a toggle switch. We've test-driven these changes in last year's 3 Series, and most are welcome. We aren't fans of the climate system's reconfigured controls.

BMW gives its 4 Series lineup an interior makeover for 2024. With only one exception, the changes are welcome and help modernize the cabin.