2021 BMW 4 Series Review

Name: 2021 BMW 4 Series Review
Brand: BMW

Price Range: $28,950 - $47,995

BMW 4 Series M440i xDrive Coupe Exterior

+63

Scratch beneath the surface of its ghastly front-end design, and you'll find that the BMW 4 Series is a comfortable and engaging sport coupe. Even in modestly powered 430i guise, this energetic two-door delivers punchy acceleration and playful but controllable handling. A few quirks prevent it from being perfect, but if you're looking for a well-rounded and exciting coupe, you'll find it in the 4 Series.Read full review

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2021 BMW 4 Series Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Even the base four-cylinder engine offers responsive acceleration
Sporty handling doesn't come at the expense of ride comfort
Intuitive iDrive infotainment system
Surprisingly roomy cargo area

Cons

About that front end ...
Flat hood makes it hard to place the front edge of the car
Dynamic Handling package adds brakes that are powerful but grabby
Standard sunroof means tall drivers who don't fit are out of luck

What's new

Fully redesigned 4 Series, with more technology and power
Convertible now uses traditional soft top
Kicks off the second 4 Series generation

Overview

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and no car embodies that spirit more than the redesigned 2021 BMW 4 Series. Essentially a two-door version of the BMW 3 Series sedan, the 4 Series coupe and convertible look sleek and sophisticated from the side and predictably sporty from the rear. Glance at the 4 Series head-on, though, and the sight of the bucktoothed grille might elicit a heave in your stomach, like watching a list of highlights from the Saw horror movie franchise. If nothing else, the 2021 4 Series might serve as an excellent case study for a new generation of car designers.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 4 Series 430i 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.98 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$168/mo

$163/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Being related to the 3 Series means the redesigned 2021 4 Series gains the same redesign changes of the 2019 3 Series, including more power, a stiffer chassis and new technology features. Even in its base 430i form, it's fun to drive thanks to its responsive four-cylinder engine, tight handling and well-tuned transmission. And that's before you start equipping it with all manner of available performance upgrades.

Overall, we think the 2021 BMW 4 Series is an excellent candidate if you're in the market for a sporty luxury coupe or convertible. Check out the categories of Expert Rating below for our full in-depth evaluation.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

8.0

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8/10

How does the 4 Series drive? The 4 Series packs a lot of punch even in 430i form, which is what we tested. Our test 430i coupe accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. For reference, the Lexus RC 300 took 6.2 seconds, as did the last-gen 430i. Our test car was equipped with the upgraded brakes of the Dynamic Handling package. They stopped the car from 60 mph in a very short 105 feet, but they were a bit grabby in casual real-world driving.

The steering is a little vague during truly spirited driving. It's a mild disappointment in a BMW, though the reality is that rivals aren't appreciably better in this regard. Handling is a 4 Series strength, with stable composure around tight bends and a seemingly high limit for traction control intervention. The eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly and always seems to be in the right gear, making this an easy car to live with.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the 4 Series? BMW continues to make some of the best front seats in the business. They are comfortable and feature multiple adjustments — including side bolster angle and thigh extension — that allow you to find an ideal sitting position.

Our test car had the available Dynamic Handling package, which adds adaptive suspension dampers. With it, the 4 Series' ride is surprisingly supple. If you're getting an M Sport-equipped 4 Series, the adaptive dampers are a must-have upgrade. Wind and tire noise is kept to a minimum, and the engine is quiet — a little too quiet for a sport coupe, we think.

The only real misstep is the climate system. We appreciate a tri-zone system in such a small coupe, but the automatic function bizarrely does not adjust fan speed. The sync function is also buried in a touchscreen menu. Of note: Ventilated seats are newly available, though our tester was not so equipped.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The 4 Series' cabin will be familiar to current BMW drivers but daunting to newbies. There are a lot of buttons, though most controls are grouped intuitively. There are a few puzzling layout quibbles — the charging pad is located in front of the cupholders, for example, so if you have cups in there, you can't reach your phone. The menus for the iDrive system are dense and take time to learn, but most commonly used controls are just a few clicks away.

There's decent legroom up front, but the compact dimensions and sleek roofline limit the usefulness of the rear seat. Tall drivers might have a challenge fitting perfectly up front since the standard sunroof cuts into the modest headspace.

Visibility to the sides and rear is excellent thanks to plenty of window coverage. The view out of the front is decent, but the flat hood makes placing the front of the car challenging and the sideview mirrors can modestly obstruct your view through left turns.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are part of the 4 Series' standard features list. Wireless connectivity worked flawlessly in our test car, and you can always charge with the four USB ports and optional charging pad. The navigation system is quite helpful, even returning Yelp reviews for non-residential destinations. One problem, though: The screen displays too much map information. Major streets are highlighted even as you zoom out, so if you have traffic enabled, prepare for a sea of red, yellow and green.

The voice controls are nearly flawless in recognizing spoken addresses and point-of-interest requests. The Harman Kardon audio system is darn good and worth the modest cost, delivering full and immersive sound.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The 4 Series coupe's cargo area measures 12 cubic feet, which is a little more than rivals. You'll find a couple pockets aft of the wheelwells to secure smaller items, and remote levers easily disengage the rear seats. But you still have to go inside to pull the seatbacks down, and you might have to move the front seats forward to completely fold them. There's good storage space inside, with plenty of cupholders and cubbies, plus side-panel cutouts and cupholders for rear passengers.

Fitting a car seat will be a challenge. Lower anchors are easy to find, though the top tethers require a little fussing. The bigger obstacle is manipulating a car seat into and through the small cabin.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The rear-wheel-drive 430i coupe gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined (26 city/34 highway), making it one of the most efficient vehicles in its class. We averaged 30.5 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, proving that these estimates are achievable in the real world. We're glad to see that the four-cylinder's fantastic performance doesn't come with a penalty at the pump.

Value

8/10

Is the 4 Series a good value? The cabin of the 4 Series looks more modern and upscale than before, with metal-like trim replacing some of the old model's matte black plastic. Switches and panels have a predictably superb fit, with no squeaks or rattles to speak of. The only aspects of the interior that feel downmarket are the thinly padded armrests and hard dashboard coverings.

Pricing for the 4 Series is average for a European luxury coupe. Though others provide better value overall, the 430i's breadth of options makes it feel more tailored to the buyer.

Bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranty coverage is good for four years/50,000 miles. This is average among the German competition, but the Lexus RC 300's powertrain warranty is more generous. BMW is the only manufacturer in this class with free maintenance for three years/36,000 miles.

Wildcard

8/10

The 4 Series is quite fun from behind the wheel. Most drivers will be happy with the amount of power on tap even from the 430i. Though the steering doesn't live up to BMW's storied past, the controlled and nimble handling makes the 4 Series a joy to drive on serpentine roads.

Styling is subjective, but we've yet to meet a person who didn't recoil at the sight of the 4 Series' front end. Though repulsive, the swollen grille gives the 4 Series' front end a unique character, while the back end is a little derivative. Too bad, because the divisive sheetmetal disguises a capable and well-rounded sport sedan that's satisfying to drive.

Which 4 Series does Edmunds recommend?

BMW purists might pass over any model without an inline-six, but the base 430i is plenty quick when you pin the throttle to the floor. Going with this less powerful model frees up some budget for options, and we suggest starting with the M Sport package. It adds worthy performance bits and a body kit that helps draw attention away from the gaping maw up front. Add the available adaptive suspension dampers, and you have a well-rounded coupe with a ride and handling profile that you can customize to your liking.

2021 BMW 4 Series models

The BMW 4 Series is a two-door coupe or convertible available in four trim levels: 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i and M440i xDrive. The 430i and M440i are rear-wheel-drive, and the xDrive versions (late availability) are all-wheel-drive. Standard feature highlights include:

430i
Standard features on the rear-drive 430i include:

Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (255 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque)
Eight-speed automatic transmission
18-inch wheels
LED headlights
Power-folding and heated mirrors
Sunroof (coupe only)
Auto-dimming mirrors
Push-button start
Power-adjustable front seats with driver memory settings
Simulated leather upholstery
8.8-inch touchscreen
10-speaker audio system
Navigation system
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality

The 430i also comes loaded with a comprehensive set of safety features, such as:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)

The 430i is available with a dizzying array of packages and stand-alone options features. Highlights include:

Convenience package

Keyless entry
Adjustable lumbar support
Ambient lighting

Premium package

Comfort package
Heated front seats
Heated steering wheel
10.25-inch touchscreen
Digital instrument panel
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)

Executive package

Premium package
Adaptive LED headlights
Hands-free gesture controls for infotainment system

Parking Assistance package

Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the 4 Series and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Driving Assistance Professional package

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the 4 Series and the car in front)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Automated steering on the highway at low speeds

M Sport package

Convenience package
19-inch wheels (summer performance tires are optional)
Variable sport steering
Sport-tuned suspension
Aerodynamic body kit
Sport steering wheel

Dynamic Handling package

19-inch wheels with summer performance tires (non-run-flat)
Upgraded brakes
Sport differential (can enhance available traction)
Adaptive suspension dampers (automatically adjust to maximize ride comfort or handling stability)

Other notable stand-alone options include:

Upgraded brakes and adaptive suspension dampers from the M Sport package
Power trunklid
Ventilated front seats
Leather upholstery
Drive recorder
16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
Wireless charging pad
Neck warmers (convertible only)

430i xDrive
Aside from its all-wheel-drive powertrain, the 430i xDrive is identical to the standard 430i. All of the 430i's packages and optional extras are available on this trim level as well.

M440i (convertible only)
Sportier than the 430i, the M440i has:

Turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (382 hp, 369 lb-ft)
M Sport package (with 18-inch wheels)
Dynamic Handling package (minus adaptive suspension dampers)

Unless otherwise included, all of the 430i's packages and options are available on the M440i. You can also get:

Cooling and High Performance Tire package

19-inch summer performance tires
Adaptive suspension
High-performance brake and drivetrain cooling systems

M440i xDrive
The M440i xDrive is the same as the M440i but comes with all-wheel drive.

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2.5/5Average

#53 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the BMW 4 Series from 2008-2022.}

$824/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.56x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

18.8%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 BMW 4 Series.

5 (71%)

4 (23%)

3 (0%)

2 (0%)

1 (6%)

4.5

17 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 17 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

It's simple different

Luca C, 01/11/2021

2021 BMW 4 Series M440i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)

Beauty is an opinion... but for sure this is different. People complain about cars w/o personality... it has a lot, as exterior, interior, and the awesome powertrain. The M440i is fantastic to drive, ready, quick and efficient too. ---- After 1 year with the M440i, I confirm everything I said. Totally satisfied ---

Car of Dreams!

Bill Reed, 02/01/2021

2021 BMW 4 Series 430i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Wonderful sporty coupe with lots of electronics. I previously owed a 2017 2 convertible and it was great, but this is better! Excellent gas mileage, powerful engine; it is just a well made car all around.

M440i is a beast!

Dennis L., 02/07/2021

2021 BMW 4 Series M440i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Love the styling; and yes even the front grill. Handles great, very powerful smooth engine. Fit and finish is top notch. Always get stares from other drivers. The exhaust sound is aggressive and torque is smooth and pins you in your seat Test drove both the standard 430i and the M440i. No comparison. The M440i is in a class by itself.

The absolute most enjoyable and most reliable car

Mark Henderson, 03/18/2023

2021 BMW 4 Series 430i 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I bought my 2021 BMW 430i brand new. Was about $56,000 MSRP. I have never enjoyed a car so much as this vehicle! The infotainment system is like nothing else, and I mean nothing else whatsoever! The handling, the ride, comfort, you name it... it's literally a perfect car! After 34k miles, not one issue or complaint. If you are thinking about buying this model, just buy it! It comes …

See all 17 reviews of the BMW 4 Series

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2021 4 Series Highlights

Type:

Coupe

Trim:

430i

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$45,600
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$168/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the 4 Series models:

Active Driving Assistant: Bundles a number of driver assistance features, including a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.
Parking Assistant Plus: Steers the vehicle into a parallel or perpendicular parking spot with minimal driver interaction.
Extended Traffic Jam Assistant: Drives and steers the vehicle at low speeds while on the highway to reduce the tedium of driving in traffic.

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2021 BMW 4 Series Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 4 Series 430i 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.98 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which 4 Series does Edmunds recommend?

2021 BMW 4 Series models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

It's simple different

Car of Dreams!

M440i is a beast!

The absolute most enjoyable and most reliable car

2021 4 Series Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 4 Series 430i 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.98 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}