You have to go back decades to find a time when BMW’s small sports coupe that eventually became the 3-Series didn’t have a straight six-cylinder engine. That configuration has long been synonymous with the brand, but that situation is being challenged these days with four-cylinder engines finding their way into all manner of cars including BMWs.
So, it’s no surprise that BMW still sells a six in what is now known as the 4-Series coupe, as well as the 3-Series sedan. We recently drove the M440i xDrive, which means it was the six-cylinder coupe with numerous “M” performance enhancements (not to the level of the M4) and all-wheel drive.
One cannot overstate the level of smoothness and refinement this engine configuration delivers. That is not unexpected, given a straight six is inherently well-balanced, and BMW has had some practice at it. The 3.0-litre unit here is turbocharged and generates 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm, so it pulls hard at almost any engine speed above idle, and makes this a seriously fast car. Like, it’s rated for 0-to-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, and will do the quarter mile in the 12-second range.
This power unit has a feature we are starting to see a bit more of – a 48-volt mild hybrid system. It’s not like it will let you run around town in EV mode, but it adds 11 hp at low rpm before the turbo kicks in, and allows stop-start capability at rest. The end result is a very satisfying feel that comes closest, in our experience, to equating with the linear acceleration of an electric car.
The power goes out through an 8-speed full automatic transmission. It’s not a dual-clutch unit, but we had no gripes as to how quickly it shifted, up or down, manually or left to its own devices. Sadly, a manual box is not offered. The xDrive gets the power to all four wheels, all the time, with a bias towards the rear wheels.
Inside, there are no surprises, other than that the rear seat is surprisingly usable by actual grown adults, thanks to the 440’s long wheelbase. Up front, the two leather-clad seats are multi-adjustable and very supportive, for all-day comfort. The fit-and-finish is impressive, with high-quality materials throughout. And, the iDrive user interface is easy to decipher and use, something that couldn’t be said in its original configuration. We couldn’t figure out how to turn the A/C system off, but on the plus side, there are actual buttons for your favourite radio stations! So, all is good inside.
As you might expect, there are a few optional “packages” available for the M440i, and our tester had a couple of them, containing a few features (adjustable lumbar support, head-up display) that one might have expected a $64,450 car to already have. The Premium Excellence Package at $9,095 seems to be a grab-bag of mostly minor features that BMW felt they could leave off the base model to control its cost, knowing that most buyers will check that box on the order form, so as to have the likes of Harman Kardon audio, wireless charging, metallic paint and Driving Assistant Pro. So, to most buyers, the starting price is essentially $73,545.
The other package on our tester was the $4,950 M Enhanced Track Package, and this is where the chassis hardware gets seriously upgraded. There are performance summer tires wrapped around 19-inch wheels, but they weren’t on our tester because BMW had sensibly equipped it with 18-inch winter tires. Additionally, there is Adaptive M Suspension, which adapts to the driving style of the driver. It will automatically switch modes, even using data from the navigation system to see that a series of curves are approaching. The M Technology Package includes larger (by 26mm) front brake rotors and an engine oil cooler. There are also the M Sport Brakes with red calipers, and the M Carbon Exterior Package. Collectively, these features would seem to be worth much more than $4,950, making this package quite a bargain, in our view.
Out on the open road is where the M440i should spend its life, but unfortunately, being city dwellers and in the middle of what passes for winter on the West Coast (cold rain), we didn’t get more than a few chances to exercise it. We won’t pass judgment on the car’s ultimate cornering capabilities, given its rubber, but in overall handling, it felt a bit heavy up front, which of course it is with all the xDrive hardware up there, and there might have been some understeer detected. Also, the steering felt a little detached, the brakes felt a bit touchy on initial application, and the pedal stroke was quite “long,” not unusual for a BMW. As a consequence, we are of the opinion that the M440i is more of a great GT coupe than an actual sports coupe for the true enthusiast. Its forte is chewing up the kilometres of secondary highways, while providing capable if not razor-sharp cornering on twisty roads. The appropriately-equipped 2-Series is much more of a sports coupe.
We don’t usually get too deep into a car’s design, as it’s such a subjective topic, but this time we will. The latest generation 4-Series coupe (G22 for the cognoscenti) has undergone a program of making it much more conservative appearing. Gone are the sharp creases at door handle-height, and the fake vents behind the front wheels. In their place are very subtle creases in the body metal that only hint at previous 4-Series coupe styling touches. In dark grey with black wheels (of an attractive design nullified by the black paint), our tester looked at first glance large enough to be a 6-Series, and was nearly invisible on the road. That might be an asset at extra-legal speed, but not so much down at the golf club where you might want to impress your friends.
Have we forgotten anything? Nope – we are still going to comment on the grille. We are among the very many reviewers who consider it to be excessively large, and don’t like it at all. This car is far from the only one with a very questionable grille design – there are a couple of others in the luxury car class we can think of – but that doesn’t excuse BMW’s designers, who have just gone down the wrong road here.
Grille aside, the M440i is an interesting progression for the long-standing Bavarian favourite. It’s heavier, bigger and softer than even its brother, the 3-Series sedan, making it a more mature, luxurious grand tourer with many sporting capabilities. At that, it has few equals.
Specifications
- Base MSRP: $64,450
- Price as tested: $78,495
- Type of vehicle: Front-engine, AWD 2-door coupe
- Engine: 3.0L DOHC Turbo I-6
- Power: 382 hp
- Torque: 368 lb-ft @ 1,800-5,000 rpm
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
- Tires: 225/40R19 front, 255/35R19 rear
- Curb weight: 1,804 kg
- Acceleration, 0-100 km/h: 4.5 sec.
