2022 BMW 4 Series

Spun off from the 3 Series almost a decade ago, the BMW 4 Series recasts the 3’s mechanical pieces into sportier coupes and convertibles. Freshly redesigned last year, for 2022 the model adds back its four-door hatchback Gran Coupe, which took a hiatus last year and shares its body with the all-electric i4.

Aimed at cars like the Audi A5, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Lexus IS and RC, the 4 Series only directly matches the Audi body-style for body-style, but its coupe and convertible variations also do battle with less luxurious performers like the Ford Mustang and more overt sports cars like the Porsche 911. Even the base-model 430i offers effortless power, lots of luxuries and a classic gran turismo feel, but it’s the car’s looks that get most of the attention, for better or for worse, thanks to its gigantic grille.

The Grille, as fans and detractors alike refer to it online as if it were the Hope Diamond, is as big as a stream locomotive cowcatcher and observers either like or loathe it. After a year it seems less controversial than when it first appeared but it’s still a constant subject of discussion. Drivers can’t see it from the inside though, where 3 Series’ logical and luxurious interior is replicated almost identically. It’s a shame that The Grille gets all the attention because the 4’s handsome, muscular lines reflect its athletic driving personality.

With three engines and rear- or all-wheel drive (AWD) to choose from, the 4 offers variations from mild to wild, each showcasing willing, beautifully-engineered drivetrains. The entry-level 255-horsepower 430i ($46,795 including destination fees) and the much faster 382-horsepower M440i ($57,695) don’t have quite the same playful personalities that BMW coupes of a generation ago and the 4’s variable-assist steering could have more feedback, but even the smaller engine offers an engaging drive. The 4 is a lovely place in which to spend hours carving up twisty mountain roads.

The M4 ($72,995) offers a 473-horsepower punch, a standard manual transmission, and an even lairier 503-horsepower, automatic-only competition version for maximum motion. This year there’s also a convertible option for the M4 Competition, though it starts at a towering $87,295 and the extras on the M4, including competition seats, carbon-ceramic brakes and lurid paint colors, can really add up. 

All 4s run BMW’s easy-to-use iDrive 7 infotainment system and offer decent levels of active-safety gear, but they make adaptive cruise control and a $1,700 option. The 4 offers much of the glamour of BMW’s more expensive 8 Series and compelling performance, while the new Gran Coupe offers more practicality than its 3 Series parent. Those interested in a slightly purer Munich machine but don’t really need a capacious back seat might want to check out the new-for-2022 2 Series.

Performance: 14/15

The base-model 430i is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 255 horsepower and 294 pound-feet of torque. M440i models use BMW’s 3.0-liter “B58” turbocharged inline-six, delivering 382 horsepower and 364 pound-feet of torque, assisted by a new 48-volt mild-hybrid system that sharpens its responses. Both use a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. 430i models are rear-drive by default, but coupes and convertibles can be had with AWD. M440i’s are AWD but the two doors can be had with rear-wheel drive.

Rear-drive models are more reactive handlers and a little more fun to drive, but most drivers will find the non-M 4 Series cars engaging, eager and fun. The steering follows driver commands to a tee, but doesn’t offer that much feedback and the suspension on the 430i seems tuned more for comfort than razor-sharp reactions, but there’s plenty to like and even the base model produces plenty of speed. Forbes Wheels recently sampled 2022 430i and M440i Gran Coupes back to back, and you can read that story for a deeper dive into the differences between these two powertrains and how they perform.

The M4 adds lots of power and more tenacious handling, as you’d expect from a proper M car. Power comes from the higher-performance “S58” 3.0-liter inline-six, making 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque driven through a six-speed manual. It makes wonderful noises while rocketing to 60 mph in just under four seconds and offers plenty of extras for track-day warriors including competition seats and lap recorders. The 503-horsepower, 479 pound-foot M4 competition is even faster. For more on the M4 Competition and its M3 companion, click here.

Fuel Economy: 14/15

For a performance coupe that only drinks premium gas, the 4 Series returns decent fuel economy. The 430i returns an EPA-rated 25 mpg city, 34 highway and 28 mpg combined, with AWD models falling 1 to 2 mpg in each measure. In 700 miles of real-world use, however, we found the 430i convertible’s combined rating closer to 30 mpg. M440i’s use more fuel, and rare rating at 22 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 combined. These numbers are even with or better than the A5 and C-class and much better than Lexus.

The M4 models are much thirstier, gulping down 16 mpg city, 23 highway and 19 mpg combined and the convertible losing 1 mpg in its combined rating. The M4s are ahead of Cadillac’s Blackwings, about even with the V8 Lexus RC-F, but not as fuel-efficient as the Mercedes-AMG C43 or Audi S5. On the other hand, they’re also faster.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 12/15

The 4 Series has not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, it shares its structure with the 3 Series, which earns high marks from both agencies. It also earns a five-star rating from the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), an E.U. agency that performs similar tests to those agencies.

The 4 Series can be equipped with a large array of standard active-safety features, and forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and forward collision warnings, blind spot detection rear cross-traffic alerts and a driver fatigue alert are standard. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go, extended traffic jam assist, lane keep assist, evasive steering and forward cross-traffic alerts are part of a $1,700 package.

Comfort & Room: 12/15

The front seats of the 4 Series coupe and convertible offer lots of room even for tall drivers, but in typical two-door fashion, the back seat is cramped. That said, the 4 Series coupe has an appreciably larger back seat than some of its competitors, with a little more room than the C-class and Mustang coupe and convertible and much more than the confining Lexus RC. Audi’s A5 has a little more room back there, however. The Gran Coupe offers frontal room similar to the 3 Series, but a little less rear headroom, but comes with huge cargo space advantages.

The regular 4 Series seats are firm like most BMWs but very supportive. Most drivers won’t have trouble getting comfortable although the side bolstering is a little aggressive. The optional sport seats in the M4 are much more about keeping you planted on a track than making day-to-day life easy. They’re not uncomfortable once you’re in them, but getting in and out can be an awkward dance.

Infotainment: 14/15

For 2022 BMW has made the previously optional 10.3-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital driver’s display standard on all 4 Series models. The gauges and visuals look good and the center stack run’s BMW’s familiar iDrive 7.0 interface. Drivers can control it via the touchscreen, steering wheel or a rotary dial on the console. The system is comprehensive and user-friendly, without too much of a learning curve. For those who prefer cellphone interfaces, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Navigation is also included as a standard feature, but curiously the formerly available wireless charging pad has been deleted this year. 

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

As most coupe and convertibles buyers would expect, cargo space is limited on the two-door versions, particularly the convertible. Although BMW’s switch from a retractable hardtop on the previous-generation 4 Series to a conventional soft top on the current one did help, the trunk is still tiny. The coupe offers 12 cubic-feet of storage and the convertible just 9, although that doesn’t compare too badly to other two-door models.

What the two-doors restrict, the four-door Gran Coupe opens up. The hatchback Gran Coupe offers much more cargo volume than the 3 Series sedan. The Gran Coupe packs in 16.6 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a vast 45.6 cubic-feet with them folded. That’s 10 cubic-feet more than the Audi A5 Sportback, 5 more than the Kia Stinger and three times most sedans like the 3 Series. Like the A5, the seats fold in a flexible 40/20/40 setup.

Style & Design: 6/10

From the front wheels back, the 4 Series is muscular and taut, although how much traditional BMW identity is present in the shape is up to the beholder. There are elements on the Nissan GT-R but also echoes of other BMW designs, particularly the larger, swankier and more expensive 8 Series. The interior is clean, logical, and handsome in traditional BMW ways.

But there’s also The Grille. Two and a half years after it was initially seen at the 2019 Frankfurt show, it seems less shocking, but it still splits opinions. Some hate it, some actually really like it, few seem fanatically devoted to it. It’s less overt on the 430i, but even so, a child seeing our test car at a local Cars & Coffee compared it to “an angry Capybara.” (Another thought it was the coolest car on hand.) On the M4 The Grille is even larger, but somehow it fits the car’s in-your-face personality a little better than on the standard 4s.

Is the 2022 BMW 4 Series Worth it? Which 4 Series is the Best Value?

Among the two-door 4 Series models, the rear-drive M440i Coupe is the one we’d choose. It starts at $57,695 including a $995 destination fee but brings the intoxicating power of the B58 inline-six. We’d probably also opt for the $1,700 driver assistance package and one of the more interesting optional $550 colors. The rear-drive, $46,195 base-model 430i Gran Coupe would be our choice among the four doors, and we’d leave off the dynamic handling and M Sport packages for a purer driving experience. 

For coupe buyers who really don’t care much about back-seat space, the new-for-2022 2 Series Coupe also offers a compelling alternative. It’s but is built on the same basic architecture but is lighter, smaller and offers the same (non-M) powertrains for less money. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the BMW 4 Series?

The BMW 4 Series costs more to insure than most of its competitors. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $3,008, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $2,342 for the Audi A5, $3,307 for the Infiniti Q60, $3,091 for the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and $2,404 for the Lexus RC. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.