2nd BMW 4 SERIES

Subtle updates keep Coupé’s driving thrills intact, but BMW is eclipsed by hi-tech A5

THE BMW 4 Series is a sportier proposition than its 3 Series saloon sibling, so in an effort to increase fun from behind the wheel and response to the driver’s inputs, BMW has altered this facelifted 4 Series’ chassis settings.

Cars on both the passive dampers and adaptive dampers now feature a stiffer set-up that, BMW says, doesn’t compromise ride quality. Our car was fitted with the £515 adaptive dampers, and in the standard Comfort mode the BMW coped well with torn roads and even vicious bumps in the surface. The chassis feels compliant and more absorbent than the Audi’s, which was fitted with standard suspension, and ramping the system up into the Sport setting further improved body control at the expense of a little compliance.

Here the 4 Series feels tauter and planted in faster turns on smooth roads, although the firmer damping means it can be knocked off line a little more by a mid-corner bump. While it’s more direct in this setting, the steering weight is ramped up to the point where it feels artificially heavy. It’s much nicer in Comfort and feels better matched to the suspension on the road, plus there’s more comfort on offer for no real penalty in cornering ability. You’ll only notice a little more roll on the move.

No matter what mode you’re in, the 420d’s 187bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine is keen to pick up. At the track the BMW sprinted from 0-60mph in 7. 2 seconds, helped by strong traction off the line from the car’s xdrive four-wheeldrive system. This was two-tenths faster than the front-drive Audi – although we’re confident that the A5 quattro would be closer to the BMW.

The 420d was also quicker in-gear thanks to an extra ratio in its eight-speed automatic box. It shifts quickly and smoothly, but it’s not quite as sharp or responsive to a pull of the paddle as Audi’s dual-clutch unit. This showed between 30 and 70mph through the gears, where the A5 was four-tenths faster.

Inside, like the styling and chassis developments, BMW has taken an evolutionary approach with some very subtle updates. The firm’s latest idrive infotainment system features, while there’s the option of a new digital Multifunction Instrument Display to match the A5’s Virtual Cockpit. It’s not quite as convincing, though.

Quality is good, with soft-touch plastics lining the dash featuring some imitation double stitching to make it look like leather. All of the interior controls feel solid, while the driving position is more natural than the A5’s. However, the cabin just doesn’t feel quite as classy or as hi-tech as the Audi’s.