Can The Latest Medium Sized Four-Door Coupé From BMW
Pull Off What Its Bigger Brother Has Managed To Do So Well And Create A Whole
New Market?
Some people might not understand the need for a 4 Series
Gran Coupé or how it will fit into the range when there’s already a well
established mid-size saloon in the line up. But similar things were said about
the 6 Series Gran Coupé when it was released and since then it’s turned out to
be a great success for BMW. Last year the ‘niche’ 6 Series model accounted for
nearly 50 per cent of all Six sales, making it more popular than both the Coupé
and Convertible. With that fresh in mind, BMW will no doubt be hoping it can
manage a another successful performance with the smaller version.
420d Gran Coupe
Just like the Six, the 4 Series Gran Coupé completes the
family line up of three variations and underneath they all share the same
platform and wheelbase. That means all Fours are the same length and width,
although the extra two-doors found on this model do give the impression it’s
longer. Parked alongside a normal 4 Series reveals this is an optical illusion
and it isn’t actually any longer at all, but it is arguable that perhaps it
should be as you can’t help but think it would look better if it had been
stretched out a little more to adjust its proportions further. In the flesh,
the shape varies between handsome, plain and a little awkward depending on
where you are looking. It’s identical to a normal 4 Series up to the Apillar
but working from the same overall length you sometimes have to do a double take
to notice the difference between this and a regular 3 Series from some angles.
The side profile is certainly more handsome though, but it’s not the same
instantly eye catching shape the 6 Series Gran Coupé is.
420d Gran Coupe
interior
Still, BMW know whom it is aiming for with the car, so it’s
justifiable that it was styled and proportioned like this for good reason. It
estimates a massive 60 per cent of Gran Coupé sales will be made up from the
corporate market. Recognising that plenty of company car clauses do not allow
two-door cars, the 4 Series suits those who might want the added style of a 4
Series Coupé but aren’t able to opt for one.
With that in mind it’s also likely that the 420d model will
be a popular selection, which comes with the same 184hp diesel that’s fitted
across the range. The model on test is actually an xDrive version, has a manual
gearbox and is an entry-level SE spec car, which seems like a slightly odd
combination, as I’d have usually expected an automatic. The starting price for
this exact model medley is £33,550 on the road but this example is filled with
options, nearly £7000 worth of them. The big numbers come from the Professional
Media Package at £1890, the Adaptive M Sport Suspension at £750, the electric
front seats with driver memory at £945 and the Head-Up Display at £825. All of
these are good, useful options in their own right, but whether they seem
appropriate for an SE spec 420d xDrive is a little more doubtful as over
£40,000 seems to make it an expensive car.
420d Gran Coupe
back seats
Still, it makes the car feel more luxurious as the extras
work with the standard Dakota leather to make it feel nice inside. As with all
Fours the driving position is a fair bit lower than a 3 Series, which helps the
feel but it’s the rear I’m more interested in at first, and seeing how the
sloping roof copes with my 6 foot 3-inch frame. I’m glad (and slightly
surprised) to say there’s plenty of head and leg-room for passengers and BMW
has done a good job of making use of the space. From experience, I certainly
don’t fit in the back of a normal 4 Series Coupé so comfortably.
