2025 BMW 4 Series review

When did the BMW 4 Series become a really good looking car?

When it was revealed, the buck-toothed grille was the subject of derision online. But now, combined with its new-look headlights and the candy red finish of our tester, it makes for a seriously sharp front end.

Throw in a classically beautiful profile, the subtle ducktail shape to the bootlid, and the sinewy detailing in the tail lights, and the updated 4 Series turns heads like few other cars for the same money.

There’s more to the 2025 4 Series than a prettier face. It was recently treated to a comprehensive interior overhaul in line with the broader BMW range – more screens, fewer buttons – and there’s a slimmer range of variants to pick from.

Pricing has also been hiked.

It’s not a big seller, but the 4 Series is a significant car for BMW. The brand has a reputation for offering sporty two-door models spun off from the more practical 3 Series blending a comfortable daily drive with the sort of rear-drive dynamics that inspired the Ultimate Driving Machine tagline.

The new 430i does nothing to damage that reputation.

How much does the BMW 4 Series cost?

The BMW 4 Series isn’t what you’d call cheap, especially after a recent price hike. But it still undercuts its biggest rival, the Mercedes-Benz CLE.

To see how the BMW 4 Series stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.

What is the BMW 4 Series like on the inside?

The 4 Series has been given the same dual-screen treatment as the broader BMW range.

The dashboard is dominated by a single piece of curved glass that looks thoroughly modern, running the latest BMW operating system, although the fundamentals will be familiar to anyone who’s driven the pre-facelift car.

In a world dominated by SUVs and crossovers, it’s refreshing to drop down into a car rather than clamber up into it.

The seat in the 4er can be set right down on the floor for an old-school, sporty feeling, and there’s enough adjustment for tall drivers to stretch right out. The blend between support and bolstering is exceptional in a sporty daily driver.

Everything you touch feels high quality. The chunky steering wheel is lovely to hold, and there’s a reassuring solidity to the door grabs and transmission tunnel. Even the stubby little gear selector thunks into position with a satisfying click, and the infotainment dial is like turning an expensive watch bezel – you taking notes, Mercedes-Benz?

When we first used it, the new touchscreen tech in BMWs had too many layers. Turning on the heated seats took three button presses – now it takes two. It’s a step in the right direction; although using buttons in the last 4er was easier again.

Once you’re dialled into how the touchscreen is set up, the tech in this BMW is excellent. All the animations look lifted from the silver screen, and the fundamentals like the wireless Apple CarPlay connection work as they should.

Hey BMW voice prompts work well, allowing you to fiddle with everything from the sunroof to the air conditioning, but there’s still something odd about talking to your car with others on board as passengers.

Storage spaces abound, and a wireless phone charger slots in beneath the dashboard. The combination of this wireless charger and CarPlay made my iPhone 15 Pro so hot it shut down though, which I’ve seen in other BMW models.

Rear seat space is exactly what you’d expect from a two-door car of this size.

The front seat backs fold forward and the base slides electrically to leave space kids to easily clamber through, although taller adults will need to do their pilates before taking the gap on.

Once back there, you get way more legroom than you’d expect. Headroom is naturally impacted by the coupe roofline, but the generously sculpted two-seat bench isn’t a torture chamber.

ISOFIX points and top-tethers feature on both seats, although getting a kid into a child seat back there would take some serious flexibility. Air vents and a fold-down central armrest round out the amenities.

To see how the BMW 4 Series stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.

What’s under the bonnet?

No, you don’t get a 3.0-litre inline-six. BMW gave up trying to match the numbers in its badges with the displacement of its engines a long time ago – but on paper, the 2.0-litre engine in the 430i packs plenty of punch.

To see how the BMW 4 Series stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.

How does the BMW 4 Series drive?

There’s a real polish to everything the 4 Series does.

Prod the reflective crystal start button and the turbocharged engine fires with a velvety growl, before settling into a near silent idle. BMW is known for its engines, and even the four-cylinder ones are polished in the way you’d expect of an old-school inline-six.

In town it lives in the shadows, barely raising its voice above a whisper as the eight-speed automatic transmission slurs from gear-to-gear, rarely getting above 2500rpm.

The steering is light and direct, and an excellent surround-view camera means there’s no excuses for scraped wheels or dinged bumpers. It’ll also park itself, pull out of a parking spot autonomously, and retrace its steps in reverse for 50 metres if required, so there’s no shortage of computer help here.

Ride quality is excellent over rough city streets. In Comfort mode, the adaptive dampers deliver a sporty but nicely insulated feeling from behind the wheel. You’re aware of potholes or sharp-edged bumps, but they never crash into the cabin.

Flicking into Sport sharpens everything up. The steering gets heavier, the ride becomes tauter, and the throttle gets sharper, so smaller inputs have a bigger impact.

Set up as such, this is an effective way to pick apart a country road.

That same polish that makes the 430i such an excellent commuter means it’s not a hard-edged sports car, but the front end does what you’d expect of it, and there’s a lovely rear-wheel drive balance to the car when you get on the power.

It’s not a lairy drift machine, but there’s something fundamentally right about the way the 4er is set up, and the 2.0-litre engine packs plenty of punch despite its diminutive displacement.

Revs build smoothly from just off idle, with minimal turbo lag, developing into a solid mid-range shove that squeezes you back in the seat.

It doesn’t have the titanic shove of the M440i with its stunning inline-six, nor the top end of the (significantly more expensive) M4 Competition… but it’s an engine that doesn’t mind being pushed, and makes some pretty good noises.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is standout. In Sport it holds gears longer than usual, and makes confident, snappy downshifts under brakes. It also removes the necessity for the paddles, which deliver snappy shifts and feel expensive.

Where the 4 Series is arguably most at home is as a grand tourer, though.

Noise suppression is excellent, the ride is beautifully settled at 100km/h, and the driver assists are brilliantly calibrated. The engine is ticking over barely above idle at a cruise, and sipped as little as 6.0L/100km at one point on a long drive.

It’s just a lovely place to spend long periods of time. There’s enough space in the boot for golf clubs, and the stereo is excellent… what more do you need in a GT?

What do you get?

On test here is the now entry-level 4 Series Coupe, following the axing of the 420i Coupe with the latest update.

BMW 420i Convertible highlights:

• M Sport Package
• 19-inch M light alloy wheels with run-flat tyres
• M high-gloss Shadowline package with extended contents
• Wind deflector
• Keyless entry and start
• Electric seat adjustment
• Vernasca leather upholstery
• ‘Luxury’ instrument panel
• HiFi sound system
• Connected Package Professional
• Wireless smartphone charger
• BMW Curved Display
  • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
  • 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen
• DAB digital radio
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Live Cockpit Professional
• Head-up display
• Heated steering wheel 
• Adaptive M suspension
• Air Collar
• Driving Assistant Professional 
• Parking Assistant Plus 

BMW 430i Coupe adds:

• M Sport brakes
• Power boot-lid
• M Sport seats with lumbar support
• Electric sunroof
• Front heated seats 

To see how the BMW 4 Series stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.

Is the BMW 4 Series safe?

The BMW 4 Series has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on tests conducted by Euro NCAP in 2019.

This rating applies only to models with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, including the 430i on test here.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist with active lane centring
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Adaptive cruise control

How much does the BMW 4 Series cost to run?

BMW Australia offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty on all its vehicles.

To see how the BMW 4 Series stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.

CarExpert’s Take on the BMW 4 Series

The BMW 4 Series is a seriously talented all-rounder.

You could happily drive it daily and revel in its refined dynamics, high-tech cabin, and comfortable ride.

It’s also properly handsome inside and out, and that will be enough for plenty of buyers.

Throw in the fact it’s still fun to drive when the going gets twisty – although it’s not the E46 3 Series Coupe reincarnated – and BMW is onto a winner.

The only question is whether you should try to dig deep and get your hands on the M440i xDrive with its sonorous six-cylinder engine. If you can, the more powerful engine elevates the car even further.

Interested in buying a BMW 4 Series? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

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