BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe review

You sit nice and low in the 4 Series Gran Coupé – lower than in the A5 Sportback – for a sportier feel, which arguably helps you feel better connected to the road. It’s fairly easy to get the seat in a comfortable position, although the manual height adjustment is a bit fiddly (not a problem on versions fitted with electric front seats) and lumbar support isn't standard. Also, the pedals are slightly offset to the right. Otherwise, the driving position is very good, with controls that are well laid out and clear instruments.

Visibility is better than in the 4 Series Coupé but worse than in the 3 Series saloon, due to the Gran Coupé's thicker rear pillars. You do at least get parking sensors as standard to help when reversing.

Quality is for the most part good, with soft-touch plastics in the places you interact with regularly and switches that work smoothly. That said, cheaper materials aren’t too hard to find. In that respect, the 4 Series Gran Coupé is starting to feel a little dated compared with the A5 Sportback.

All variants get sat-nav, a DAB radio, a USB port and Bluetooth. Infotainment is taken care of by BMW’s brilliantly intuitive iDrive system, which uses a rotary dial between the seats for control of its functionality. You get a 6.5in colour screen in the entry-level models, and it’s easy to look at, because the screen is mounted high up on the dashboard. A bigger screen, better online connectivity and an improved sat-nav are optional on lower trims and standard on pricier models.