BMW 4 Series review - Practicality, comfort and boot space
The 4 Series is practical enough, although some optional equipment can prove to be expensive
If you’re buying a two-door coupe or convertible, then practicality probably isn’t going to be high on your agenda. The beauty of the 4 Series, however, is that while it’s capable of providing plenty of driving fun, it’s also an adept, comfortable cruiser.
The 18-inch wheels of the M Sport trim offer the best ride, so it might be best to avoid the larger 19-inch alloys if your priority is just to enjoy coasting around. BMW does like to tempt you with expensive options, and the Comfort Pack is available for around an extra £1,000 - including items such as an automatic tailgate opening function, a heated steering wheel and BMW’s Comfort Access system. You can upgrade to the Plus Pack version which adds electrical adjustment for the front seats.
Size
The 4 Series is longer and wider than its 3 Series counterpart, measuring 4,768mm and 1,852mm respectively, although it sits a full 52mm lower at 1,383mm. The Mercedes C Class Coupe is 72mm shorter than the 4 Series, 42mm narrower and 25mm taller, so just in terms of basic dimensions it doesn’t appear to be a match for the hunkered down appeal of the BMW.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
The driver and front passenger will find plenty of space to make themselves comfortable. In the back, things are a little different with two well-bolstered seats that, while fine for younger occupants, probably aren’t the best for adults on longer journeys. In fact, we found that rear foot space is also at a premium, particularly if the front seats are set to a low position.
Boot
With boot space totalling 440 litres the 4 Series offers decent practicality and actually trumps the Mercedes Coupe by a good 40 litres, although it can’t quite match the Audi A5’s 450 litres of luggage space. The centre section of the rear seats in the 4 Series usefully folds flat, so it is possible to create further room for longer items.
