Item: BMW M4
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

Under the bonnet is a 503bhp, twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine, and power is routed to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. In our tests, 0-60mph took just 3.8 seconds.

M4 xDrive Comp M

Coupe

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.

The M4 is marvellously well equipped. As well as having one of the best infotainment systems in the business, it also gives you 19in alloy wheels up front and 20s on the back (in what BMW calls a staggered set-up), a leather interior, a carbon-fibre roof and heated seats. That said, the options list is eye-watering.

M4 Competition

M4 Competition 2dr Step Auto

m4-competition-2dr-step-auto

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Audi RS4 Avant

Audi RS6 Avant

Audi RS7 Sportback

Audi S4

Audi S6

Audi S7

BMW Alpina B3 Touring

BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupé

BMW M240i

BMW M3

BMW M4

Mercedes CLA 35 AMG

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG

Mercedes-AMG C63 S

Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door

Introduction

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The BMW M4 Competition looks rather expensive when compared with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/giulia/saloon/review/n17264">Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs5/coupe/review/n17286">Audi RS5</a>. The Competition is also the most potent incarnation of the M4 (in Germany, the starting price is quite a bit lower because the M4 is available in non-Competition specification with a manual gearbox).

The M4 Competition is also predicted to enjoy slower <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">depreciation</a> than the Quadrifoglio, while the RS5 is fractionally stronger than the M4 in this respect. As with all <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-performance-cars-2022/n23035">performance cars</a>, it'll be far from cheap to run: on our real-world test route, the M4 managed an&nbsp;average of just 26.3mpg.

Now, that fuel economy is&nbsp;not actually bad going by the standards of the class, but if&nbsp;you use the full might of the engine, you can expect it to plunge into the low teens. You’ll also need deep pockets to run an M4 as a company car. The&nbsp;high list price and hefty CO2 emissions places it in the top 37% band, so benefit-in-kind (BIK) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/company-car-tax-calculator">tax payments</a> will be substantial.

On the plus side (and befitting its lofty price), the M4 is marvellously well equipped. It has 19in alloy wheels up front and 20s on the back (what <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> calls a staggered set-up), a leather interior, a carbon-fibre roof and heated seats are just some of the key highlights.

That said, the options list is eye-watering, and most items are bundled into packs. For example, the Ultimate Pack gives you carbon-fibre exterior highlights, the M Carbon bucket seats, laser headlights, keyless entry, a heated steering wheel, a more advanced parking assistant function and additional safety kit.

The M4 hasn’t been crash-tested by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-euro-ncap-and-how-does-it-work/n14328">Euro NCAP</a>, but we suspect it would perform well. That’s because&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a>&nbsp;saloon – which it has a lot in common with – scored the full five-star rating when tested. As such, it has plenty of safety kit as standard, including&nbsp;automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-lane-support-systems-tested/n23797">lane-departure warning</a> system, a lane-keeping assist function, an attentiveness assistant and a warning for&nbsp;traffic crossing behind you.&nbsp;

In terms of reliability, we can tell you that&nbsp;BMW came a middling 13th (out of 30 manufacturers) in the brands league table of our 2021 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. For comparison, Audi came 18th and Mercedes was in joint 22nd place.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">&nbsp;here</a>

Many modern performance cars give you some control over their set-up, whether that's the ability to change the firmness of the suspension or tinker with the weight of the steering. The BMW M4 Competition takes that to extremes, though – with a button actually marked 'Setup' next to the stubby gear selector.

Pushing it brings up a screen on the infotainment system that lets you change everything from accelerator response and brake sensitivity to the speed of the gearshifts and the level of traction control intervention, all in small increments.&nbsp;The sheer number of potential configurations can be a little overwhelming at first, so it’s handy that BMW also includes a number of preset modes that work pretty well straight out of the box.

Once you get more familiar with all the options, you’ll appreciate being able to set everything up to your own taste. For example, you can leave the steering in its lighter Comfort mode while having the engine at its most responsive.

With everything in Comfort mode (the most relaxed setting) the M4 makes a comfortable and refined daily companion. Its turbocharged six-cylinder engine remains hushed and flexible, its eight-speed automatic gearbox shuffles smoothly through the gears, and, with its standard adaptive suspension, it floats gently over the ups and downs of a subsiding B-road with just a little brittleness over any sharply calloused sections.

Body lean is kept well in check in this softest setting, but if you really want to push on, the mid-way Sport or firmer Sport Plus modes are better for making the most of country roads. Both options help to anchor the car, as well as giving the steering a little more heft, so you can gauge your inputs more accurately without it feeling unnaturally heavy.

The steering itself responds in a more natural way than the light and hyper-alert set-up of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and is far more engaging than the slower and numb-feeling system in the Audi RS5.

In other words, it’s a good compromise, and one that allows you to place the car on the road very precisely. And that’s handy, because when you deploy all 503bhp horses, the M4 fires you up the road in an almost alarming manner.

On a cold and damp day at our test track, the M4 managed to slingshot itself from 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds – just a tenth of a second slower than a Giulia Quadrifoglio in dry conditions. It repeated that feat numerous times thanks to its consistently sharp eight-speed automatic gearbox.

When it comes to handling, the M4 takes a bit of time to learn. With so much front-end grip and rear-end traction, you have to chip away at the car’s limits before you feel truly confident to grab it by the scruff of the neck. Happily, once you get there, you’ll find it far more predictable than its predecessor.

When the rear wheels break traction in a corner, for example, the resulting slide is easy to manage because the differential locks up quickly and predictably. And, thanks to it’s clever 10-stage traction control system, you can fine-tune how much wheel-slip is allowed before the traction control cuts in. This is a big boon over the Giulia Quadrifoglio, in which the traction control has just two settings... On&nbsp;and Off.

The four-wheel-drive M xDrive model helps you deploy the M4’s power more effectively in less favourable conditions, adding an extra layer of reassurance when you’d prefer to maximise traction. Thankfully, the rear-biased system means it hasn’t neutralised the handling balance too much.

The 4WD Sport mode makes the M4 a little more playful, allowing the rear wheels to break traction when provoked and diverting less power to the front wheels. Alternatively, you can switch it to rear-wheel-drive only, although that will also turn off the stability systems.

We reckon the xDrive model is worth opting for if you plan to use the M4 all year round. It gives the car a&nbsp;dose of all-weather usability that makes the four-wheel-drive RS5 appealing to some buyers. The ability to dial down the system also allows you to have fun when conditions allow.

As standard, the M4 comes with steel M Compound&nbsp;brakes, and carbon-ceramic brakes are available as part of the M Pro Package. We’ve sampled the standard set-up, and while they can be a little grabby around town, we found them to be progressive, consistent and very powerful during spirited driving.

Indeed, the impressive performance of the standard brakes, combined with the predictability of the M4’s handling, allowed us to lap our test track (a 0.9-mile circuit designed to simulate a fast B-road) quicker than in any other performance car we’ve tested to date. Impressive.&nbsp;

Perhaps the only disappointment is the soundtrack that accompanies the M4's mighty engine. Sure, it’s loud and bassy and leaves you in no doubt that lots of power is being produced, but it's not the sort of evocative sound that you’ll find yourself accelerating hard just to listen to.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

m4-xdrive-comp-m

In the movies, sequels are rarely better than the original – but with the BMW M4 Competition&nbsp;performance car, the opposite is true.

The previous-generation M4 took <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> a number of revisions before it delivered the performance and handling it had originally promised, stretching the phrase "good things come to those who wait"&nbsp;to the limit.&nbsp;This current version got off to a much stronger start, though.

It's based on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/coupe/review/n62">BMW 4 Series</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;our What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2022-coupe-of-the-year/n23987">Coupé of the Year</a> – and is fitted with a&nbsp;503bhp twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine. The same engine is&nbsp;found under the bonnet of the ludicrously quick <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n20299">BMW X3 M Competition</a> SUV.

That deep well of power is routed to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and managed by a 10-stage traction control system. An&nbsp;adaptive four-wheel drive system – like the one you get on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m5/saloon/review/n184">BMW M5</a> super-saloon – is also available. Badged M xDrive, it promises extra traction for assured handling on wet and greasy roads.

You also get adaptive suspension, M performance brakes (carbon ceramics brakes are available as an option) and an electronic limited-slip differential to make sure the M4 corners just as well as it goes.

It’s a tantalising spec list, for sure, but it needs to be if the BMW M4 is to compete with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-performance-cars-2022/n23035">best performance cars</a> out there, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/giulia/saloon/review/n17264">Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs5/coupe/review/n17286">Audi RS5</a>.&nbsp;

Is it up to the challenge? That's what we'll tell you over the next few pages of this review, as we rate its performance, handling, interior quality, running costs and more.

And don’t forget, even if you’re not in the market for a 180mph BMW M4, we can still save you a good few quid on your next new car if you use our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It's a good place to find the&nbsp;best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/bmw">new BMW&nbsp;deals</a>.

In traditional BMW M-car fashion, the interior of the M4 Competition is not much different to the inside of the regular&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/coupe/review/n62">BMW 4 Series</a>&nbsp;– and&nbsp;that’s no bad thing. The 4 Series has one of the highest quality interiors of the coupé class and we reckon <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> has made enough detail tweaks for the M4 to make you feel like you’re behind the wheel of something rather special.

For example, you get heavily bolstered, supportive sport seats with integrated headrests, seatbelts in M Division colours, a bright red starter button, carbon-fibre trim, a sports steering wheel with contrast stitching and a pair of red M mode buttons. Plus, there’s a multitude of leather and interior trim finishes available.

And we mean a multitude. Interior colour schemes range from traditional black on cream to bright blue on day-glow yellow. We quite like the bolder colours, but we’ll leave it to you to decide if Valentino Rossi yellow has any place in your <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-performance-cars-2022/n23035">performance car</a>.&nbsp;

As you’d expect, the driving position is tuneable to the nth degree. Our test car came with stunning M carbon bucket seats (BMW predicts that more than half of buyers will opt for these). In their lowest&nbsp;setting, they basically place your bum on the floor of the car.

That's particularly handy for taller drivers who plan to take their high-ticket coupé&nbsp;to track days, providing enough room to fit behind the wheel while wearing a crash helmet. A head-up display is standard, placing plenty of information in your line of sight, and the 12.3in digital instrument panel can be set up in all manner of configurations.

The 10.3in centrally mounted infotainment touchscreen can also be operated by twisting and pressing a rotary controller between the front seats, which is much less distracting while you’re driving than prodding the screen. With its super-intuitive layout and responsive operating system, we much prefer it to the touchscreen-only system in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs5/coupe/review/n17286">Audi RS5</a>.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone mirroring, wireless charging, DAB radio, sat-nav, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a wifi hotspot and a gimmicky gesture control function all come as standard. It’s also handy that front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and a parking assistant function come as standard too, because the M4’s front and rear pillars are rather chunky and can obscure your vision when parking.

Staggeringly quick and one of the most visceral and engaging performance cars we’ve tested to date.&nbsp;

As well as having the performance to show purebred sports cars like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche Cayman</a> a clean pair of heels, the BMW M4 Competition is in another league when it comes to practicality.

Compared with the standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/coupe/review/n62">BMW 4 Series</a>, the only difference is its wider sports front seats. The optional M carbon bucket seats we tested give the driver and passenger more lateral support, yet still offer ample head and leg room for six-footers.&nbsp;

Getting into the rear seats involves squeezing through a relatively narrow gap, but that’s the same in all two-door coupés (if you want rear doors, take a look at our separate <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m3/saloon/review/n135">BMW M3</a> review). Once you’re in, though, you’ll find there’s actually more than you get in an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs5/coupe/review/n17286">Audi RS5</a>. There’s enough legroom for most passengers, but those over six feet tall will still need to cower slightly or put up with their head resting on the ceiling.&nbsp;

As for the boot, it’s comparable in size to the RS5’s. It benefits from being a relatively simple square shape allowing us to fit seven bags in the boot. It’s just a shame that you can’t drop the rear seats if you want to carry a longer load, as you can with the Audi.

m4-competition

This adds a switchable four-wheel drive system to the M4 Competition, allowing you to choose between four-wheel drive, four-wheel drive Sport and two-wheel drive. These come with 20in black alloy wheels, rather than black and silver on the standard model. 

M4 Competition M

m4-competition-m

Not only is the BMW M4 Competition staggeringly quick in a straight line, but it’s also one of the most visceral and engaging performance cars we’ve tested to date. We reckon keen drivers will enjoy the M-car’s broad performance window over its rivals, while the four-wheel-drive version bolsters its all-weather usability. Factor in its beautiful interior, impressive levels of refinement and a pair of usable back seats, and the M4 is a truly fantastic all-rounder.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Entertainingly agile handling</li> <li>Eye-widening acceleration</li> <li>Fruity exhaust note</li> <li>Punchy and characterful engine</li> <li>Great driving position</li> <li>Everyday usability</li></ul>

The best performance cars combine sports car-rivalling acceleration with&nbsp;engaging handling. However, they also retain the&nbsp;impressive everyday usability of the conventional saloons and estates on which they're based.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio currently sets the standard. However, the models from BMW's M division and Mercedes-AMG also tend to impress.

Performance car

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.

For a blend of&nbsp;rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for,&nbsp;the Audi TT is a brilliant option. But the Mercedes CLA offers plenty of style and substance to match, while the Aston Martin DB11 will give you serious performance.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

Sports

BMW M4 review

Fill out our 2022 Reliability Survey - and win a prize!

Jaguar I-Pace

Mercedes EQA

Nissan Ariya

BMW 4 series

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Honda HR-V

Ford Mustang

/news/complete-the-2022-what-car-reliability-survey-for-the-chance-to-win-a-prize/n15554

New car deals >>

site ribbon config

Read review covering BMW M4 boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

As well as having the performance to show purebred sports cars like the Alpine A110 and Porsche Cayman a clean pair of heels, the BMW M4 Competition is in another league when it comes to practicality.,Compared with the standard BMW 4 Series, the only difference is its wider sports front seats. The optional M carbon bucket seats we tested give the driver and passenger more lateral support, yet still offer ample head and leg room for six-footers. ,Getting into the rear seats involves squeezing through a relatively narrow gap, but that’s the same in all two-door coupés (if you want rear doors, take a look at our separate BMW M3 review). Once you’re in, though, you’ll find there’s actually more than you get in an Audi RS5. There’s enough legroom for most passengers, but those over six feet tall will still need to cower slightly or put up with their head resting on the ceiling. As for the boot, it’s comparable in size to the RS5’s. It benefits from being a relatively simple square shape allowing us to fit seven bags in the boot. It’s just a shame that you can’t drop the rear seats if you want to carry a longer load, as you can with the Audi.,

New car deals >>

BMW M4 review

Mercedes-AMG C63 S

BMW M3

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

What Car? has a buying service

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information