2026 BMW 4 Series M440i

Take the timeless blend of performance, practicality and efficiency offered in BMW's classic 3 Series sedan, lop off two doors, and you get the 2026 BMW 4 Series coupe. Similarly, lop off the roof and replace it with a power-folding top and you get the 4 Series convertible. Both coupe and convertible are becoming automotive anomalies, but the 4 Series remains a benchmark of the breed. With exquisite handling, ample thrust of up to 386 horsepower, and economy car-like fuel efficiency, the 4 Series is one of today's best-balanced cars. Just watch that you don't indulge too much in options — the quickly escalating price can make your eyes water.

Small luxury coupes and convertibles like the 4 Series are an endangered species, with most automakers claiming people prefer four doors to two. With the Audi A5 and S5 discontinued last year, that leaves the new Mercedes-Benz CLE and Lexus RC. The CLE brings typical Benz elegance to this sporty coupe/convertible segment. And if you act quickly, you might grab a Lexus RC before it's retired. The RC is more than a decade old, as reflected in its cabin design and control interface, but it still offers both a V6 and a snarling V8 engine. For a more thorough analysis of the 4 Series, read our Expert Rating.

With the 3 Series sedan due for a big update in 2026, we'd expect the 4 Series to follow with similar changes for the 2027 model year. Those changes are likely to include new styling and the return of a hybrid version, not just the mild hybrid assist complementing the current engines. For now, the 4 Series will likely carry over with minimal changes. That's OK because the 4 Series forges a sublime balance of comfort, handling and power, with turbocharged four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines that are both potent and efficient. You'll search a long time to find a six-cylinder, such as the one in the M440i, that makes nearly 400 horsepower and gets 30 mpg combined.