Item: Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé 2014-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170">Audi A5 Sportback</a>&nbsp;is similar to the 4 Series Gran Coupé in that it comes with a practical hatchback boot, yet it has coupé-inspired styling with a low roofline and sleek lines. It won’t have the same amount of space inside as the 4 Series Gran Coupé, but it will corner better with less body roll.

If you want something with a bit more flair, then there is the bold styling of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-5/hatchback/review/n17207">Citroën DS5</a>&nbsp;to consider. It has the additional height as per the 4 Series Gran Coupé, plus road and wind noise are well contained at speed. Its unforgiving, rock-hard ride doesn’t do it any favours, though.

Then, there is the more conventional alternative, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/used-review/n803">3 Series Touring</a>. It's one of the few cars where you can still open the glass separate to the rear hatch and it's just as good to drive as the 4 Series Gran Coupé.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

There has been a recall regarding the fuel pump, relating to components in the pump that haven’t been nickel-plated correctly. The excessive friction that may result could cause the pump to fail, which either means the car won’t start or that the engine stalls due to a lack of fuel. Affected vehicles built between 2 September 2014 and 1 April 2015 will have had their fuel pumps replaced. Check with your BMW dealer if you have any questions.

The 4 Series Gran Coupé scored well in our most recent reliability survey, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>&nbsp;as a brand didn’t do particularly well, finishing mid-table in 17th place out of 31&nbsp;car brands.

If you would like to see the full reliability list for executive cars, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2017-what-car-reliability-survey/n16179">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Hatchback

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

4 SERIES

More stylish than its saloon relatives and more practical than the coupé on which it’s based, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé is a desirable niche-buster

Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé 2014-present

Running costs for the entry-level diesel are pleasingly parsimonious. The 418d has a combined average of 62.8mpg and £30 road tax, which is very good for this type of car. The 420d has official fuel economy of 57.6mpg under the old NEDC test and £115 tax (the 2016 update improved this to 67.3mpg and £30).

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>&nbsp;gives the name 'xDrive' to vehicles equipped with four-wheel drive. This is available on the 420d and 430d, and comes as standard on the 435d. You can also find it as an option on the 420i and standard on the 440i petrol. Models equipped with xDrive get a similar or slightly lower mpg figure compared with models without it. It’s worth finding an example with xDrive if you live in rural areas where it is guaranteed to snow in cold weather.

Petrols aren’t quite as efficient as the diesels, but the majority have smaller four-cylinder engines and use turbocharging to improve performance. The 420i has an average fuel consumption figure of 46.3mpg under the old NEDC test and £150 tax. If you want a bit more power, the 428i gets 42.8mpg and £190 tax. The 2016 facelift introduced the 430i, which manages 43.5mpg and £190 tax.

Top-of-the-range petrols are the six-cylinder 435i and 440i, and these are rather thirsty. The 435i gets 37.2mpg and costs a whopping £220 to tax, while the updated 440i xDrive is a little cheaper to run at 41.5mpg and £190 tax.

Under the later and more realistic WLTP tests, the 420i averages 44.1mpg, the 420d 61.4mpg, the 430i 42.2mpg and the M440i 36.7mpg.

If you are looking to purchase a car that was registered after 1 April 2017, then you will be charged under the new flat-rate fee of £150, unless you happen to be buying a 4 Series Gran Coupé that had an on-the-road price greater than £40,000, which is easily done for some of the M Sport and six-cylinder-engined models. For example, a 420d M Sport xDrive Auto that would have cost £135 before 1 April 2017 will cost you an eye-watering £475&nbsp;afterwards.

You can get a five-year fixed-price servicing package on a new BMW car, so check whether the example you are looking at still has some coverage. Even if it doesn’t have any services left, BMW servicing isn’t the priciest around.

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More stylish than its saloon relatives and more practical than the coupé on which it’s based, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé is a desirable niche-buster

Prices for an early&nbsp;420d SE with a high&nbsp;mileage start at under £10,000. If you spend more than £11,000, you’ll find plenty of petrol or diesel 4 Series Gran Coupés with an average mileage from 2014&nbsp;or 2015. The 420d is by far the most popular engine option and you will find that the majority of 4 Series Gran Coupés for sale are diesel. Spend between £12,000 and £14,000 on a good 2016 car, £15,000 to £17,000 on a 2017 one and between £18,000 and £20,000 on a 2018 model. Big bargains are to be had used and 2019 and 2020 cars can be had for between £20,000 and £25,000.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Entry-level SE trim comes with 17in alloy wheels, cruise control, parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, DAB radio, Bluetooth, leather seats and sat-nav. It’s the one we’d recommend because it offers the best value for money and comes with our favourite engine, the 420d.

If you don’t do many miles or you drive only in town, then the 420i is more than up to the job of propelling the 4 Series Gran Coupé around. But, for the most part, the 420d is the only engine you'd need. It’s smooth, efficient and rather quick too.

Our favourite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>&nbsp;4 Series Gran Coupé&nbsp;420d SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Effortless long-distance capability</li> <li>Strong standard specification</li> <li>Low running costs</li> <li>Comfortable driving position</li> <li>Comprehensive yet easy-to-use infotainment system</li></ul>

Executive cars are often the choice of company car drivers, so factors such as CO2 emissions (which govern your monthly tax bill) are just as important as cruising refinement for those long motorway journeys, a plush cabin and (whisper it) the image of the badge on the bonnet.

The good news is that there are options for all budgets and tastes. If rear space is crucial and you’re willing to put up with a less-than-premium badge, the Skoda Superb is tough to beat, while if you want a premium badge on the bonnet then the BMW 3 Series is consistently one of our favourites in this class.

And don't think you're limited to just petrol or diesel-powered choices in this class,&nbsp;because at the top end the Tesla Model 3 is well worth considering for its long range and engaging driving style.

Executive

The diamond-cut alloy wheels on M Sport cars can corrode. This usually originates from kerb damage that allows road salt to react with the exposed metal. If this is left untreated, damage could spread. And since repairs to this type of alloy wheel are slightly more complex than standard alloy wheels, it can be quite expensive to fix. Make sure you’re not the one footing the bill for damage caused by the previous driver.

If you were asked to describe the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, you’d have to say it was a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/executive">four-door saloon</a>, with the swoopy looks of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/coupe">coupé</a> and the practicality of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family">hatchback</a>. Then you’d have to deal with the puzzled look adorning the face of whoever asked you. Shame, really, because while it may sound like pretty confusing, in actual fact it’s a rather good car.

The 4 Series Gran Coupé adds two extra doors, an additional seat and a standard-fit electrically powered tailgate to create a more family-friendly version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/coupe/used-review/n847">4 Series Coupé</a>.

Inside, the dashboard is closely related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/used-review/n803">BMW 3 Series</a>&nbsp;and material quality, on the whole, is good. The majority of the controls and switches you interact with work in a precise, well-damped fashion. However, it’s not hard to spot some hard, scratchy plastic, and when you compare it with the interior of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170">Audi A5 Sportback</a>, the 4 Series Gran Coupé doesn’t feel quite so luxurious. The driving position is compromised slightly because the pedals are offset to the right, but all the major controls fall easily to hand.

You have to climb over the rear wheel arch to get into the back seats but, when you do, space for the outer two seats is fine and equal to that of a 3 Series. Despite the sloping roofline, there’s enough head room for most, although the centre rear occupant won’t be quite so well off.

The boot may have a bit of a lip to negotiate, but it is a useful square shape and comes with split-folding rear seats. With all the seats down, maximum capacity is not far off that of the 3 Series Touring, meaning the 4 Series Gran Coupé can cope with the odd Ikea trip.

Entry-level SE trim comes with 17in alloy wheels, cruise control, parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, DAB radio, Bluetooth, leather seats and sat-nav.

Sport trim adds 18in alloy wheels, interior ambient lighting and sports seats. M Sport fits an aggressive bodykit, bespoke M Sport wheels, sports suspension and an upgraded sat-nav system.

Where this car really shines is in the way it drives. The entry-level engine is the 420i, a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit that can sometimes feel a little weak unless you absolutely nail it. Better is the 430i, a more powerful version of the 420i. But if you can stretch to it, the six-cylinder 440i is wonderfully refined, yet has a real sporting edge to its note and proper, hairy-chested performance.&nbsp;

Diesels start with the 420d, an engine that is far more flexible and fuel efficient than the 420i. Our only complaint is that it is a little unrefined compared with the equivalent oil-burners in the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé. A better bet is the automatic-only six-cylinder 430d, because it’s far smoother, has massive mid-range surge for truly effortless pace and yet is also impressively frugal. There's also a 435d xDrive that’s certainly fast, but also rather expensive to buy.

Unlike the 3 Series Gran Turismo, the 4 Series Gran Coupé handles just as well as the car on which it’s based. The steering is responsive and allows you to accurately place the vehicle on the road. It’s more involving than the A5 Sportback, which can be a little bit heavy at times and doesn’t offer much feedback. The 4 Series Gran Coupé also benefits from rear-wheel drive, but you can find models with four-wheel drive if you live in an area that experiences snow.

Aside from the fine handling, the ride – especially when equipped with adaptive dampers – treads the fine line between passenger comfort and body control. Where the standard suspension (particularly the standard M Sport suspension) can thump over bumps and potholes, the adaptive version can be set to Comfort, which takes the edge off the very worst jolts. Avoiding anything with 19in wheels helps as well.

<h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Find a used BMW 4 Series in the What Car? Classifieds here</a></h3>

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Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé 2014-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe hatchback?