In the past, the 3 Series has been called “the ideal performance-luxury coupe,” which means the 4 Series has some serious shoes to fill. Luckily it does that in spades. The 4 Series, specifically the 428i, should be on anyone’s short list for a sporty daily driver that is as fun to drive as it is practical.
There are two versions of the 4 Series: our 428i test model and the 435i. The 428i is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder that makes 240 horsepower and 255 pound feet of torque.
The 435i comes equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder that makes 300 horsepower and 300 pound feet of torque. It should come as little shock that both engines are on the list for Ward’s 10 Best engines of 2013.
The 4 Series comes standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. A 6-speed manual is a no-cost option we wish more people would select.
Rear-wheel drive is standard, while xDrive all-wheel drive tacks $2,000 on to the price. Our 428i test model featured all-wheel drive and the automatic transmission, as well as the Dynamic Handling package. That $1,000 option includes variable sport steering and the adaptive M suspension.
There is a little button to the left of the shifter that allows you to select between Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ driving modes. Sport tightens up the suspension and steering, while Sport+ turns off the traction control, allowing you to become one with the car.
We selected Sport+, enabled manual control of the 8-speed automatic and took to the back roads of Eastern Massachusetts, and the 4 Series responded in kind. Steering was responsive and taut, and acceleration from the turbocharged 4-cylinder was brisk. Torque is decent when revs are low, but let the tachometer rise into the 4,000 range, and the engine comes to life.
Strangely, the added gears (there for improved efficiency) make for a cluttered performance driving experience. Typically, you downshift once or twice to get into the desired gear for going into a turn. With 8 gears, you may have to go as many as 3 gears down to get to the desired ratio. This can become tiresome.
As future transmissions contain more and more gears, “manual” shift modes may require hitting the “+” or “-“ paddle to actually jump the transmission two gears so the driver actually feels like a shift is being made.
Our 428i also has engine stop-start capabilities. This feature cuts off the engine rather than letting it idle at a stop light. It is incredibly responsive and starts the engine again when you lift your foot off the brake. By the time your foot is halfway to the accelerator, the engine has started again.
That feature, along with the 8-speed automatic, helps the 428i achieve 23 mpg city and 35 highway. Our all-wheel-drive xDrive coupe is rated at 22 city, 33 highway, and we found 25.8 mpg through a week of driving. The 6-cylinder 435i returns 22 city and 32 highway.
The 6-cylinder engine is more powerful but nose-heavy. The weight savings offered by the 4-cylinder engine makes for a more fun ride. Basically, the 428i is the best of both worlds.