BMW 420d M Sport review
Best-selling version of the BMW 4 Series offers fun and frugality in equal measure
The BMW 4 Series is a compact executive coupe that’s essentially a three-door version of the BMW 3 Series saloon. It competes in a hotly contested section of the market, with talented rivals that include the Audi A5, Mercedes C-Class Coupe and Lexus RC.
The car’s styling is modern but simple, with enough sporty details in M Sport trim to set it apart from more basic models. Inside, the BMW 420d M Sport comes as standard with an 8.8-inch screen for its iDrive infotainment screen; pay an extra £295 and you can enjoy another screen behind the steering wheel in place of the traditional analogue dials. Overall quality is good, but it’s not as special a place to sit as the impressive interior of the Audi A5. Boot space is good, with 445 litres on offer.
Read our full BMW 4 Series coupe review here
M Sport sits above Sport in the two-tier BMW 4 Series range and brings plenty of standard equipment. LED headlights and rear lights, aerodynamic body styling and 18-inch alloys are exterior highlights, while leather upholstery, sat nav, DAB radio, BMW Online services, electrically adjustable seats with driver memory function and an M Sport specific instrument cluster are all included inside as standard. There are plenty of trim and alloy wheel options to choose too – it's worth having a play on BMW's configurator to see which combination you like best.
The 2.0-litre diesel version of the 4 Series is a big seller in the UK thanks to its blend of performance and economy. Combined economy figures of 62.8 and 65.7mpg for six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic versions respectively make for very reasonable fuel bills, especially considering the car’s 187bhp, sub-8 second 0-62 time and decent in-gear acceleration.
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On the road, it’s the performance combined with the 420d M Sport’s taut chassis that impresses. Despite steering that’s not quite as sharp as previous BMW coupes, the BMW 420d M Sport is more involving to drive than its Audi and Mercedes rivals, with near-perfect body control and a fantastic low-slung driving position. Despite the car’s sporty nature, it still boasts a ride that’s comfortable and compliant, though perhaps not as supple as that of the Mercedes C-Class coupe.
Verdict 4/5
