By Nauman Farooq
When BMW introduced the 4 series back in 2013, many understood that BMW has split the 3 series in two parts, with the 3 carrying the sedan, Touring (wagon), and Gran Turismo (GT) models, while the two-door offerings – such as the coupe and convertible – will become the new 4 series.
But, like what BMW did with the 6 series before, they decided to give the 4 series a four-door variant. It is called the Gran Coupe (GC), but it shares most mechanical, and its platform with the 3 series – so what’s the point?
Well, I spent a week in one, to figure that out!
Styling: BMW likes to refer to the 4 series GC as a four-door coupe, and while the C-pillar is much more raked in the Gran Coupe than on a 3 series sedan, the two cars do look rather similar.
The big change is with the cargo area, the 3 series has a trunk lid that opens, while the 4 series GC has a slanted hatch. Advantage here is you can load and unload things more easily, so it is not only a little bit more stylish to look at, but also more practical!
Interior: Step inside, and sitting in the front seats, there is really no difference between the 4 GC and the 3 series – same seats, same dashboard, same gadgets, etc. Sit in the back seat, and there is a bit less headroom, thanks to the sloping roofline.
In general, being in a 4 GC is almost exactly like being in a 3 series, not only from the looks but also the comfort level. So, as far as I can tell, you’ll pick one over the other just because one looks slightly different!
Powertrain: While the 3 series is available with a diesel engine, and three tunes of petrol motors, the 4 GC has no diesel option (in Canada) and just two petrol engines. The one you’d want is the 440i which has a turbocharged inline-six cylinder motor. The one I got on test (430i), however, had the turbocharged 2.0L inline-four cylinder motor, which produces a respectable 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is smooth and quick. How quick is this vehicle in 430i GC trim? The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is covered in 5.9 seconds, and top speed is electronically limited to 240 km/h – that is quite pleasing.
Driving Dynamics: With the 2.0L motor, the 430i GC performs well, but if you’ve driven a few performance cars, this won’t excite you. In this spec, it gives you respectable performance while consuming just 9.3L/100km of fuel (figure based on my test cycle, 130 km city driving + 170 km of highway driving).
The ride and handling is -as you’d expect- to be very similar to any 3 series, and it is. That means, a good chassis for comfort and handling, while not overly impressive in either area. However, I have always said that the 3 and 4 series are the best all-round vehicles on sale, and this 430i GC is no different – because, while there are cars that can be more comfortable or better handling in this category, none do everything as well as a whole.
However, an area they can certainly improve on is cabin noise, there is just not enough sound insulation against road noise. Maybe they’ll address that with the new 3 and 4 series, coming in 2020!
Pricing: The 430i GC has a base price of $52,150 (plus all the usual dealer fees and taxes). Not cheap, and the equivalent 3 series will save you some money!
Verdict: I haven’t come across a BMW I didn’t like, they are all well built, and offer good performance. Personally, my choice of BMW in this class is the 328i Touring, but if you’re looking for a four-door car with a bit more style, than the Gran Coupe might just be the right car for you.