Gran Opening - 420d Gran Coupe (Part 2)
So there’s some added practicality then, although jumping
into the driver’s seat soon reveals the distinct lack of visibility through the
rear view mirror. It’s poor to say the least as the angle of the glass and
large Cpillars make things appear very dark back there with a letter box-sized
look out.
420d Gran Coupe
Engine
Otherwise, out on the road it feels very much like a 4
Series Coupé, so a little bit more dynamic than your average 3 Series, although
there’s not a lot in it. We already know the N47 four-pot diesel is a
thoroughly proven unit and in this platform it performs as well as usual. It’s
a little gruff in its delivery but I’ve learnt to live with that and there’s
plenty of power on tap to keep things lively and have some fun which more than makes
up for it. The six-speed manual gearbox attached to it is nice to use, if a
little notchy at times, but it’s the xDrive that really makes things
interesting for the tried and tested drive train.
420d Gran Coupe
Tyre
The four-wheel drive system makes the car feel so utterly
planted in the corners it’s amazing. You soon realise the chassis feels
particularly sure footed within the first few flowing corners and it doesn’t
take long until you’re pushing a bit harder for each bend to try and find a sign
of weakness, only it simply doesn’t appear. The xDrive answers the call every
time without breaking into a sweat, making it a joy to drive and, after a
little while, you find it so confidence inspiring that it doesn’t take long
before you’re devouring the next series of corners without braking or even
lifting as a smile begins to flood your face. Even stirring the gearbox becomes
fun, though I would have preferred to try an automatic version to see if it
gave the same grin factor.
It’s certainly a lot of fun to drive in this formation and
it feels more composed and sporty than a 3 Series like this. Its agile manner
also gives the car an added air of confidence that suits the Gran Coupé’s image
well. Together it’s an impressive package and it undoubtedly makes the very
most of the engine, but with comparatively reserved looks, will the 4 Series
Gran Coupé be the success BMW’s hoping for? It’s harder to say as you can’t
help but wonder if the key to the 6 Series Gran Coupé’s sales success are the
sophisticated good looks as much as the added practicality aspect. And the 4
Series Gran Coupé is certainly not the drop dead stunner that its bigger
brother is, but then the market here is different and with the corporate sales
due to take a large slice of the pie you may well be seeing a lot of these cars
filter on to the roads soon. Invest in the xDrive if you enjoy a good country
drive though.
420d Gran Coupe On
Road
