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In-depth reviews

BMW 4 Series review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

The 4 Series is practical enough, although some optional equipment can prove to be expensive

Practicality, comfort and boot space rating

3.8

How we review cars
RRP
£44,925 £69,040
Avg. savings
£4,338 off RRP*
Pros
  • Stylish
  • Good to drive
  • Comfortable
Cons
  • Some pricey options
  • Polarising grille design
  • No plug-in version
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If you’re buying a two-door coupe or convertible, then practicality probably isn’t going to be high on your agenda. The beauty of the 4 Series, however, is that while it’s capable of providing plenty of driving fun, it’s also an adept, comfortable cruiser.

The 18-inch wheels of the M Sport trim offer the best ride, so it might be best to avoid the larger 19-inch alloys if your priority is just to enjoy coasting around. BMW does like to tempt you with expensive options, and the Comfort Pack is available for around an extra £1,000 -  including items such as an automatic tailgate opening function, a heated steering wheel and BMW’s Comfort Access system. You can upgrade to the Plus Pack version which adds electrical adjustment for the front seats.

Size

The 4 Series is longer and wider than its 3 Series counterpart, measuring 4,768mm and 1,852mm respectively, although it sits a full 52mm lower at 1,383mm. The Mercedes C Class Coupe is 72mm shorter than the 4 Series, 42mm narrower and 25mm taller, so just in terms of basic dimensions it doesn’t appear to be a match for the hunkered down appeal of the BMW.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

The driver and front passenger will find plenty of space to make themselves comfortable. In the back, things are a little different with two well-bolstered seats that, while fine for younger occupants, probably aren’t the best for adults on longer journeys. In fact, we found that rear foot space is also at a premium, particularly if the front seats are set to a low position.

Boot

With boot space totalling 440 litres the 4 Series offers decent practicality and actually trumps the Mercedes Coupe by a good 40 litres, although it can’t quite match the Audi A5’s 450 litres of luggage space. The centre section of the rear seats in the 4 Series usefully folds flat, so it is possible to create further room for longer items.

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New & used car deals

BMW 4 Series

BMW 4 Series

RRP £45,195Avg. savings £4,338 off RRP*Used from £17,091
BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series

RRP £33,315Avg. savings £4,070 off RRP*Used from £11,495
Audi A6

Audi A6

RRP £39,640Avg. savings £7,364 off RRP*Used from £16,683
Audi A4

Audi A4

RRP £32,725Used from £13,295
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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