LOOKS 

The headline of the 2021 redesign of the BMW 4-series is its front end, specifically the massive kidney-style grille that has divided aficionados sharply. Some love it, some absolutely hate it, and it’s getting a lot of attention either way.

Personally, I think it’s a bold statement that makes the 4-series stand out in the luxury segment and a smart move by BMW.

The stunning overall exterior design of the 4-series got me a ton of compliments when I was driving this vehicle. People said it looked real fast even when sitting still, which is true.

The interior of the 4-series is also beautifully designed, giving a vibe of luxury and speed. But you’ll need to treat the back seat like a storage area, as no human being will be sitting there if anybody of significant height is up front. There is also limited trunk space.

On the plus side, seating was very comfortable.

My test vehicle featured a beautiful Portimao Blue paint scheme, plus black leather seating with blue stitching on the interior. Controls and design on the infotainment system were top notch, attractive and easy to use.

Power folding and heated side mirrors are featured, and the Premium package includes a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, lumbar support, heated front seats, ambient lighting, head-up display, and more.

HOW’S THE RIDE?  

Depending how high you go up in the 2021 4-series lineup, you can get some serious power in your ride. For example, in the M4 top trim level, horsepower tops out at 503 and torque at 479 lb.-ft. But that will come at a premium price, of course.

The 430i xDrive Coupe I tested was on the lower end of the 4-series scale, at 255 horsepower and 294 lb.-ft. of torque.

It featured a 2.0-liter twin turbo 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine, paired with an 8-speed Sport automatic transmission. The leather-wrapped sport steering wheel featured paddle shifters for shifting gears on your own.

My test vehicle featured xDrive, the BMW version of AWD, and featured an adaptive M suspension. Some versions of the 4-series offer rear-wheel drive.

Getting moving quickly is not a problem in the 4-series. Even on the lower end of the spectrum, I averaged about 5.5 seconds in my testing of 0-to-60 times. (Jump up to the M4 and that number is closer to 4 seconds).

The entire 4-series lineup, to varying degrees, offers a responsive and punchy performance on the roadways.

Words cannot fully convey the fun that can be had driving a vehicle like the 4-Series. You really have to experience it to truly understand. The way you get moving, and keep moving, and can maneuver, is truly a joy and something that will make you want to drive this car even if you don't have anywhere to go. Take a passenger with you so they can enjoy it with you.

 
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY  

The 2021 4-series offers an impressive tech system called iDrive 7.0 that is easy to use both by touch and voice commands. The navigation system always gets you where you need to go without issue, it’s easy to connect a phone and stream phone calls and music to the vehicle, and voice commands worked extremely well for me in all scenarios. The center dial to control the system is also extremely easy to use.

In the center of it all is an 8.8-inch touchscreen displaying all key information. A high-quality sound system and HD radio are featured, and satellite radio is offered for one-year with no fees.

The Connected Package Pro features real-time traffic, on-street parking info in select cities, and BMW remote services. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are also included.

Among other tech features include Bluetooth, rear view camera, the option for wireless phone charging, available Wi-Fi hotspot, and an available Harman Kardon surround sound system.

On the safety side, you get a good amount of safety features for a smaller car like this.

It features automatic high beams, seat mounted front side impact airbags, knee airbags for driver and front passenger, LED headlights with cornering, front collision warning, and an Active Driving Assistant feature that offers forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. These are all great features that will help to prevent most accidents from happening.

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers of the 2021 BMW 430i XDrive Coupe are 24 city/33 highway/27 combined. In my real-world experience, those numbers held up, as I averaged 27 mpg.

These numbers are strong hold up very well against the competition in this segment from Mercedes, Lexus, Audi and Infiniti.

PRICE
The 2021 BMW 430i xDrive Coupe that I tested was priced just over $60,000; and its base price starts about $48K.

Starting prices across the BMW 4-series lineup range from around $47K all the way up to nearly $72K for the M4 trim level. These are some of the higher starting prices in the segment, but it’s a BMW and that’s to be expected. The quality of the driving experience will motivate many to expand their spending.

There is a no-charge maintenance program included for the first three years, or 36,000 miles — which covers oil changes, vehicle checks, air filter, spark plugs and brake fluid.

Warranties include a 4-year/50,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty, 12-year/unlimited mileage rust perforation limited warranty, and a 4-year unlimited mileage roadside assistance program.

BOTTOM LINE 

The BMW 4-series is a tremendously well-designed, powerful and fun ride for those who want to focus on the pure enjoyment of driving with a machine that best captures the experience.

The only hesitancy for some may come from the controversial grille redesign, but I find it to be an attractive look, and people should really be focused on performance and not aesthetics.

If you end up with a 4-series in your driveway, you’ll look forward to hitting the road each day.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.