To the fore

Simon Davis takes to the wheel of BMW’S new 322bhp coupe

The formula for the BMW 4 Series is a simple one, really. Take one regular 3 Series, remove the rear doors for a sportier, coupe body style and slap a 4 Series badge on the back.

The 440i Coupe we have here, with the exception of the barnstorming M4, is the flagship model in the 4 Series line-up.

Looks and image

While it might be a familiar shape, there’s no denying the face-lifted BMW 440i is still an incredibly smart-looking car.

It cuts the right balance between muscular athleticism and reserved refinement, giving it a near-perfect Q-car appearance.

Open the door and lower yourself into the snug seats and you’ll find a cabin that oozes quality in that classic BMW fashion. Everything feels purposeful and solidly put together, while the controls all fall easily to hand. Hard, scratchy plastics are tough to find, with only a small amount adorning the lower reaches of the doors.

However, while the BMW’S interior might look the part, the seats fitted to our test car were on the firm side, which left us feeling rather stiff after an afternoon blasting around the German countryside.

Space and practicality

The driver and passenger will find head and shoulder room more than abundant.

While this might be a sports coupe, you’ll feel a long way from claustrophobic.

Aside from the rather unforgiving seats, complaints should be kept to a minimum in this department.

Yes, the 440i does have a set of rear seats, although you’ll find them close to useless when it comes to ferrying around anyone other than children. Stick to the 3 Series if you want properly usable back seats.

Boot space is abundant, with the 440i offering up a respectable 425 litres of storage capacity, more than enough to swallow a couple of suitcases.

Value for money

Prices for the 440i start at a considerable £43,430, meaning it isn’t a cheap car to buy.

That said though, it is only available in the M Sport trim, which does include a fair amount of goodies as standard, such as 18-inch alloys, M Sport suspension, satellite navigation, more aggressive body styling, leather upholstery and LED headlamps and tail lamps. A particular highlight is the 440i’s infotainment system, which is arguably one of the best currently on sale.

The dash-mounted display is incredibly fluid and very easy to read.

The head-up display that is included as part of the BMW Professional Plus package is also a nice touch, showing information such as speed and sat-nav prompts directly in the driver’s line of sight, and reducing time spent with your eyes off the road.