2020 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

Take a 3 Series sedan, subtract two doors to get the 4 Series Coupe, then add two doors, and voila, you have yourself a 4 Series Gran Coupe - confusing, right? But it still looks damn good, combining the styling of a sedan and coupe into one sleek package. Within the sleek wheel arches rest a set of 18-inch alloys mounted with run-flat all-season tires. The elegant BMW twin-kidney grille is topped with the manufacturer's logo and bordered by aggressive LED headlights. Daytime running lights easily identify the BMW from a distance. The standard LED fog lights sit low down on the front bumper, and newly darkened LED taillights are striking at the rear; the prominent trunk spoiler draws attention to the back end, which boasts twin chrome exhaust outlets.

The Gran Coupe is quite long for a small sedan, measuring 182.7 inches in length, with a 110.6-inch wheelbase. It has a standard width of 71.9 inches, and the 430i is 54.7 inches tall, while the 440i is 55.3 inches tall. The rear-wheel-drive 430i has a starting curb weight of 3,680 lbs, while the all-wheel-drive 440i xDrive caps out at 3,922 lbs.

Two engines are presented with the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. For the entry-level model, this takes the form of a 2.0-liter twin-turbo inline-four that comes standard on the 430i models and delivers 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, or all four wheels on the xDrive-badged variant. This is more than enough power to push the sedan forward with considerable haste, launching it to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds.

The more potent 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder resting under the hood of the 440i models develops an impressive 320 hp and 330 lb-ft to the rear wheels, or all four wheels on the xDrive variant. With this much power, the rear-wheel-drive 440i can make the 0 to 60 mph sprint is 4.8 seconds, while the 440i xDrive can do it one-tenth of a second faster. While these times are impressive, there is a bit of turbo lag before, and the B58 engine isn't quite as sonorous as BMW sixes of old.

Regardless of engine and drivetrain combination, a refined eight-speed automatic transmission rows the gears for you by default, and frankly, you wouldn't want anything else, despite the no-cost availability of a six-speed manual on the RWD 430i.

Both engines offered are turbo-powered monsters, offering more than enough thrust and speed for the avid motorist. Luckily, the handling helps to make the 4 Series GC a comprehensive package. With four drive modes to choose from, steering engagement can vary significantly from light and airy to weighted, and well, still devoid of feedback. But it turns in crisply, even if you're lacking in feel. The car is well-balanced, with an almost 50:50 split in weight, and the equally well-tuned suspension complements this to deliver impressive handling. The run-flat all-season tires aren't the best when it comes to putting the GC through its paces, but they manage well enough with some restraint. The brakes are perfectly calibrated, however, supplying quick, linear responses while still maintaining the vehicle's composure.

The sporty small sedan gets quite admirable fuel efficiency for the performance it delivers. The 430i gets an EPA-estimated 23/34/27 mpg over the city/highway/combined cycles, while the xDrive gets 21/31/24 mpg. The potent six-cylinder engine in the 440i is a bit thirstier, getting 22/30/25 mpg in both its guises. These figures are pretty competitive, as the Audi A5 achieves 23/34/27 mpg in it's most efficient configuration, too. With 15.8 gallons of premium gasoline in the tank, the BMW can cover up to 427 miles between refuels.

The interior is as lavish and well-appointed as you would expect from BMW. The five seating positions are upholstered in SensaTec faux-leather and offer superior levels of comfort and support, besting most rivals. Unfortunately, given the car's relatively small dimensions and the aggressive slope of the roof, headroom in the rear of the cabin is sorely limited. Up front, there is plenty of head- and leg-room for drivers and passengers, but those over six-feet tall may feel cramped. The power-adjustability of the front seats also allows the driver to easily find a suitable position as well as maximize visibility, as there are large blind spots due to the cabin's design. Ingress and egress are easily facilitated by the cars carefully designed height, but the sloping roof can make it a little trickier for taller rear-seat passengers.

Given its reserved dimensions, it's not surprising that the Gran Coupe has severely limited cargo space. Even with its hatchback trunk, it only provides 14 cubic feet of space, which is enough for your daily errands or two moderately sized suitcases. But this is still a lot less than the Audi A5, which offers an impressive 21 cubic feet. On the plus side, as a sportback, the Gran Coupe has fold-down rear seats that can free up quite a bit more space.

Small-item storage is as minimal as you would expect from a performance-oriented car, with a small center console and door pockets that can only fit the slimmest of items. The cupholders and glove compartment will probably be your go-to areas to drop your wallet or cellphone.

Standard features comprise dual-zone climate control, 10-way power front seats with driver memory, keyless entry and ignition, power windows and door locks, cruise control, a rearview camera, a power liftgate, four 12-volt power outlets, a power sunroof, rear and front parking sensors, lane departure warning, pedestrian warning, forward collision warning, city collision mitigation, and automatic emergency braking - a long list indeed. Additionally, features that can be specced on include four-way power lumbar adjustments, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, blind-spot monitoring, a parking assistant, active cruise control, a head-up display, and a dynamic digital instrument cluster.

The infotainment suite on the BMW is not overly elaborate, but it is extremely high quality, being comprised of an 8.8-inch touchscreen display, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, a nine-speaker sound system, AM/FM/CD/MP3 playback, and HD Radio. A substantial upgrade is available by means of adding the optional 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, wireless charging, and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, as well as SiriusXM satellite radio.

J.D. Power rated the 2019 4 Series Gran Coupe at 85 out of 100, putting it in the top 10 of all convertibles, a rating that should remain prevalent for 2020. The 2019 model was recalled three times, while the 2020 model has already been subject to one recall - an improperly packaged knee airbag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury. BMW offers a 50,000-mile/48-month limited warranty and 48 months of roadside assist.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has not been rated for safety by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features include ABS brakes, a rearview camera, park distance control, and active driver assistance, which comprises lane departure warning, forward collision warning, city collision mitigation, pedestrian warning, and automatic emergency braking.

BMW seldom disappoints and the 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn't break from that tradition. The fastback coupe's elegant exterior and plush interior belie its aggressive athleticism. Equally enjoyable when leisurely cruising around town, or hooning down the highway at ludicrous speeds that are synonymous with German engineering, the Gran Coupe is an excellent vehicle. But in a segment rife with renowned brands and luxurious sedans, coupes, and fastbacks, the BMW doesn't really stand out as much as we'd like.

The interior is one of the car's best selling points, but the standard features are a bit on the light side, with BMW asking that you lay out quite a bit of extra capital to secure the optional features that push this vehicle into the same realm as rivals. More than enough advanced safety features come standard, but no more than what rivals offer on their base models. And, while the Gran Coupe may offer more potent engine options than some rivals, rivals seem to provide more driver engagement - formerly a hallmark of BMW. Still, while the BMW may not be as thrilling to drive as the A5 or Kia Stinger, it is far from being a disappointment. If you're looking for luxury over performance, there are better BMWs to choose from with similar price tags, but the Gran Coupe is still a great all-rounder - even if it does miss the mark a bit at times.

As a luxury vehicle, the Gran Coupe has a relatively high starting MSRP of $44,750 for the 430i, while the all-wheel-drive variant will cost you an additional $2,000. Getting behind the wheel of the higher-performance 440i will set you back $51,150, with the xDrive trim also raising the price by $2,000 to $53,150. These prices exclude tax, registration, licensing, and BMW's destination charge of $995.

The 430i is certainly a powerful and well-performing model, but if you're looking at a Gran Coupe, then you want the best of the best; otherwise, what's the point? For this reason, we suggest the 440i. The xDrive offers only fractionally better performance, so it's not necessarily worth the extra $2,000, but equipping the rear-wheel-drive trim with the Track Handling Package will give you the peak-level sports performance you're jonesing for at a starting cost of $52,850 without any other options.

The BMW 3 Series is the birthplace of the 4 Series Gran Coupe, with almost identical dimensions and performance figures. However, the 3 Series focuses more on the practical aspects of the BMW brand, with the suspension and handling tuned more towards comfort than high-octane performance. The sedan supplies more headroom, especially for the rear passengers, but its traditional trunk doesn't have the same amount of space as the fastback. With similar price tags and fuel economy, it really comes down to what you want from a BMW: performance or comfort? Each model has its advantages. The 3 Series makes more sense as a daily driver or potentially a family car, whereas the Gran Coupe is more of a fun way to make a statement - a more stylish, sporting 3 Series if you will.

The Audi A5 Sportback bears a similar evolution to the BMW, having been designed off the back of a similar sedan-based coupe. The A5 delivers a well-appointed cabin with top-notch tech and infotainment features, while still providing a fair amount of passenger space - although it suffers from the same pitfalls as any sportback due to its sloping roof. However, while the BMW may be more luxurious inside, the Audi offers significantly more cargo space, meaning that it doesn't sacrifice as much utility in the name of performance. Sadly, the A5 only offers a single 252-hp inline-four engine, so it can't rein in as much power as the six-cylinder Gran Coupe. Still, the Audi A5 does more with the power at its command than its BMW rival. If you're looking at a sportback because they promise a thrilling driving experience without completely sacrificing the versatility of a classic sedan or hatchback, then the A5 will deliver on that dream slightly better than the BMW.