2018 BMW 4 Series Test Drive

Source:motortrend.com

The BMW 4 Series was introduced four years ago and the time has come for the mid-cycle refresh, considering that on average, a vehicle in sport coupe class is replaced after either seven or eight years. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high for this refresh, while expectations are also going through the roof. That being said, you would expect a heavily modified 2018 BMW 4 Series, but the changes are slight and difficult to notice.

Exterior and Interior Design

Source:motortrend.com

At the front end, you can see new standard LED headlights, which come with more angular accent lights and barely noticeable changes on the front apron. Furthermore, there are new LED taillights, a revised rear apron, and new wheel design are also included, but that is all when it comes to the exterior.

The biggest change in the cabin includes the available virtual instrument panel and tile-based infotainment interface. The steering wheel, dash stitching, and trim finishes have gone through some subtle changes as well, but those revisions usually go unnoticed. The main screen of the iDrive infotainment system is dividable into three parts, and one of those brings music controls, the other one destination and map, and the third one is a communication tile.

We also need to mention cargo capacity as the coupe’s trunk comes with 15.7 cubic feet, which is pretty good for this class. The convertible only has 13.1 cubic feet of cargo, but the usability is reduced due to the mechanisms for folding the top.

Body Styles and Engine

The 2018 BMW 4 Series is available in the coupe, convertible and four-door Gran Coupe body styles. There are two engines to choose from for each version – a 2.0-liter turbocharged DOHC I4 that produces 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and a more powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 that generates 320 horses and 330 lb-ft of torque. These units are connected to either a six-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Features

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The coupe version has a lot of standard equipment such as 18-inch wheels, auto-diming mirrors, power adjustable sport seats, a sunroof, automatic climate control, SensaTec synthetic leather upholstery and a premium Harman Kardon audio system together with a rearview camera.

You can add interesting features with the Premium package and the M Sport package. The former offers heated front seats, an updated instrument panel, a navigation system with traffic and emergency telematics. On the other hand, with the higher trim, you get different exterior aerodynamics and cosmetic elements, a sport suspension, high-performance tires, a sport steering wheel and the vehicle’s top speed increases.

BMW feels generous, so for 2018 4 Series, you can also acquire the Executive package which adds adaptive headlights, automatic high beams, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system and an automated parking system. Moreover, the Track Handling pack can also be purchased which includes updated brakes, an adaptive suspension, and variable sport steering. There are some other extra features such as Apple CarPlay, a wireless charging pad and a heated steering wheel, to name a few.

The Drive

Source:edmunds.com

The model with six cylinders is really potent, and you can accelerate quite effortlessly, whereas the unit and exhaust noise is pleasant to the ear. Even if your 2018 BMW 4 Series has a four-cylinder engine, it is still enough for most of the drivers, so both choices are excellent. Overall, the new 4 Series felt confident and stable, with good handling, just like it is the case with its predecessor.

Because of the adaptive suspension, the road imperfections are not felt in the cabin, especially if you choose the Comfort mode. Even if you opt for the aggressive Sport+ mode, you will not pay attention to the bumps on your way. Whichever body style you select, you will have no problems with the road and wind noise because of deadening materials. The seats provide great support, and you can drive this car for hours without feeling fatigue.

2018 BMW 4 Series Price

The starting price of the base 2018 BMW 4 Series is $43,195, but it depends on the engine, transmission and features. With few added options it can easily grow up to $60,495.