2016 BMW 428i Gran Coupe M Sport 2.0
BMW’s slogan is “Sheer Driving Pleasure”, and judging by my mate Sahmiul’s face, I could tell it was pretty true. The 4-Series Gran Coupe focuses on blending the stylishness and energy of the 4-Series two-door coupe with the practicality of the 3-Series saloon, as well as the utility of a hatchback thanks to its liftback rear design. But does it do the job effectively?
INTRODUCTION
What you’re looking at is a modern four-door coupe-saloon, a technique that’s already worked for the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe, Audi A5 Sportback, and Mercedes-Benz CLA.
The first-generation 4-Series Gran Coupe is another attempt by the German automaker in hopes of replicating that success, bearing in mind that it still sits on the same platform and dimensions as it’s coupe and convertible counterparts.
This review is produced in collaboration with @sahmiul.
APPEARANCE & PERFORMANCE
This is the 428i M Sport model which features a 2-litre twin-turbo petrol engine that teams up with a smooth 8-speed automatic gearbox. Offering 245bhp, it clocks 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds and has the ability to reach a top speed of 155mph.
There’s something about the balance between ride and handling, between comfort and control that BMW imprinted into the performance department of the 4-Series Gran Coupe. Stick it in Sports Plus mode and the steering becomes sharp and aggressive in turn transforming the exhaust system into an ear-splitting beauty. Or if you want a relaxed drive while still maintaining a surprisingly roaring exhaust, Comfort mode is the solution.
Sahmiul, who has been driving the car since the start of the year, mentioned that the fuel economy can sometimes be hit or miss. He added that motorway fuel consumption is flawless but the 428i is a heavy drinker when it comes to urban driving.
Although fuel consumption is a bad habit, it’s still an exciting thing to drive, fast and fun on the corners, a vibrant loud exhaust pumped by the petrol engine, and it just does everything with a genuinely nice fluency to it. But that’s not all, more in-depth analysis of the driving experience in the following segment below.
When it comes to appearance, the car looks more 3-Series saloon than 4-Series coupe, regardless there’s no denying that it still looks amazing. Dressed in an M-Sport bodykit featuring an upgraded M Performance side skirt and rear diffuser, the 428i sits on a set of elegant but sporty 19-inch diamond cut rims. To give it a more athletic look, Sahmiul installed a rear spoiler, M Performance wing mirrors, finished off with a black roof wrap to match the sunroof.
The front end adopts the two-door coupe’s wider stance, more pronounced bodywork and detailing such as the elongated kidney grille which Sahmiul blacked out, as well as the gloss black air vent frames embedded in each front fender. The side profile is where you’ll really spot the differences, such as a pair of frameless front and rear doors, a longer and lower roofline, and a hatchback instead of a boot-lid. Note that the rear windows don’t go all the way down due to the functionalities inside the doors.
If you’re stepping out of a 3-Series saloon, you’ll immediately notice the lower seating position of the 4-Series Gran coupe, which does take a bit more effort climbing in and out of but once you’re in here, the cabin is textbook 3-Series/4-Series, constructed with high quality materials. Even as a Mercedes owner, I’m a big fan of this steering wheel style from BMW, it just looks suave.
The impressive iDrive infotainment system is housed in a 9” widescreen display which stands on top of the classic BMW angled dashboard, facing the driver’s seat. A rotary dial to control iDrive is placed near the centre console, alongside the unique automatic gear stick, but the interior is let down by the old fashioned hand brake.
Sahmiul chose to get the aluminium dashboard trim wrapped in a carbon fibre coat with an M Performance badge, but there’s still aluminium details scattered across the centre console and door cards to keep the overall theme running. If you like your tunes, the upgraded Harman Kardon speakers sound good with plenty of punchy bass. Ambient lighting would’ve been an ideal compliment to the full leather interior but the sunroof does bring in light on sunny days.
Overall, although the interior offers everything you’d need from an upmarket German car it still has room for improvement, but the exterior does make up for it thanks to the potent design which works well from front to rear.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The driving experience is where the 428i earns its money. Depending on your preference, handling can be tweaked with the flick of a few switches, making the car monstrous, or sharp and on point, or comfortable and chilled.
As the steering wheel is electric power assisted, conducting the car becomes an effortless task. The size of the car is neither too big or too small, so the usual manoeuvres shouldn’t be a problem. Although the parking sensors can be a bit helpful, there’s no rear camera and the sloping rear view makes it quite difficult to see what’s behind you.
Whether you’re inside or outside, Sports mode or Comfort mode, the four-cylinder turbocharged 2-litre engine is incredible to listen to and makes the car feel so premium. The 8 speed automatic gearbox is very smooth and can be controlled manually with the paddle shifts. Due to the sporty suspension and low ground clearance, most road surfaces can make the ride feel rough and bumpy. On top of this, road/wind noise entering the cabin is quite high.
In terms of storage, there are two cupholders concealed up front, an armrest cubby, a decent glovebox, average sized door pockets, topped off with a very large and practical 445-litre boot.
Offering 5 seats, ISOFIX points, and the extra pair of rear doors does improve practicality but it isn’t quite the full-on family car. Not only are the rear doors quite small, the aperture is quite narrow, so it can sometimes be really difficult for passengers to get in and out. Once you’re actually in the rear seats, shoulder room can be a bit tight and headroom for people above 6ft is even tighter.
CONCLUSION
Once you've got your head around the BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe's reason for existence, there's a whole lot of stuff to like about it. Yes, the coupe-saloon is an infamous niche market to consider, however it is still worth considering if you value style over practicality but still want fair access to rear seats and a large boot space.
The 4-Series Gran Coupe has pushed effectively in on the Audi A5 Sportback’s territory and has even won some orders away from cars like the Volkswagen CC and Mercedes-Benz CLA. It also muscles better against the 3-Series GT which rocks a humpback design that isn’t very pleasing to the eye.
If you’re on the fence between a 3-Series saloon and a 4-Series coupe then the 4-Series Gran Coupe should be the right buy for you. A real head turner thanks to its energetic exhaust noise, equipped with all the toys and gadgets you’d expect from a premium German car, and of course providing a decent driving experience. Here’s what it scored below.