BMW 420d Coupé, road test (engine, design, equipment, price and verdict)

Diego G. Moreira 15 December 2014 8 min.

BMW 420d Coupé, road test (engine, design, equipment, price and verdict)

BMW has completely changed the naming of its coupés, which now have their own name within the different series that name its cars. The BMW 2 Series and the BMW 4 Series are two clear examples of coupés that now have their own identity, but there are more changes to BMW’s coupés.

We have tested the BMW 4 Series Coupé with the typical two-litre diesel engine and 184 CV (420d). A coupé that is somewhat more refined in its behaviour, though with an engine that stands out for its performance and low consumption. We have captured this test in a video for those who prefer to watch rather than read, and we have also condensed it into a single (longer) section covering all the parts of our road tests.

Engine and performance

Under the bonnet of our 420d lies a four-cylinder, two-litre diesel engine that now delivers 184 CV; it is the entry-level diesel unit and very appealing in terms of price and power. Although it is the familiar two-litre engine, it has changed compared with previous generations and also offers more power and a generous 380 Nm of torque at just 1750 rpm.

The power delivery is noticeable from just over 1,500 rpm and stretches up to 4,500, pulling relentlessly and with good response from low revs. That said, there is room for improvement in the refinement of the engine and its noise.

The engine comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the typical BMW feel, precise and with short throws. First gear is short, while the rest have quite long ratios, which is ideal for achieving low consumption.

Handling and consumption

The standard suspension fitted to our 4 Series Coupé struck us as somewhat soft, seeking ride comfort more than the dynamism we are used to from the German brand, although on challenging roads it does its job.

It is a fun car; we cannot forget that it is rear-wheel drive and has 184 CV with a turbo, making it a very interesting car on the road, although the ESP quickly steps in if anything is not under control.

On the road or motorway, it is a very comfortable car with a high level of ride comfort and one that absorbs bumps and poor asphalt properly, something helped by the 50-profile tyres, once again geared more towards comfort and limiting the dynamic side.

Several driving modes are available as standard: ECO, Normal and Sport

There are several driving modes that affect the engine response and the weight of the steering, although optionally they can also modify the suspension response. As standard you can choose between: ECO, Comfort and Sport.

If you are after sportier driving, a suspension with sportier settings is your best option, along with lower-profile tyres. For those looking for a comfortable coupé with good performance, this is an interesting middle ground.

The steering is good, as always very direct and with a rather firm feel. The brakes, meanwhile, do their job properly.

The consumption is where it surprises most: on the motorway it achieves figures such as 4.7 litres per 100 km at the legal speed limit, while on country roads it makes do with 4.5-5 litres per 100 km, and in the city the figure rises to 6 litres per 100 km.

Sporty exterior design and an interior identical to the 3 Series

On the outside, its sporty front end stands out, with large bumpers and LED daytime running lights, as well as the air intakes on the sides. The 17-inch alloy wheels are standard, and at the rear we again see LEDs in the lights.

As befits a good coupé, the frameless windows stand out, with an interior that changes little from the 3 Series in terms of design. The sober yet high-quality air typical of BMW interiors is still present. The fit and finish is good and the soft-touch materials deliver what we expect in a coupé of this segment.

A typically BMW interior, sober but high quality

The driving position is low, with standard leather seats that do not offer much lateral support. Visibility from the driver’s seat is good, and in terms of comfort, the seats are comfortable and there is a central armrest (although it does not slide).

The instrumentation is simple but has everything important, with a comprehensive on-board computer, and optionally we can have the head-up display that projects the information onto the windscreen. We were struck by the fact that the interior light did not have the usual map-reading lights as standard, nor lights in the sun visor mirrors.

This BMW 4 Series Coupé is a four-seater, the rear seats offer more than enough space in terms of width and foot room, although headroom is tight for anyone taller than 1.75 metres and access, like any coupé, is awkward.

It has air vents for the rear seats and a central armrest, as well as a recess between both seats. However, there are no door bins at the sides.

The boot has a capacity of 445 litres and is quite usable; on the left side there is a deep recess for small items and on the right side the first-aid kit. It has no spare wheel but does have a puncture repair kit under the boot floor, as well as the typical fire extinguisher (an extra).

In terms of storage, it has small door pockets but a main glovebox of a decent size and several compartments on the centre console for leaving things; the cup holders are hidden under a tray. However, there is not much space in the rear seats for leaving items such as a mobile phone or a small bottle of water.

Equipment, safety, standard and optional

Within the equipment, as always we review the safety features fitted as standard on any BMW 4 Series Coupé: front, side and curtain airbags, stability control, hill-start assist, active head restraints, among other items.

The rest of the standard equipment consists of: leather seats, dual-zone climate control, radio with six speakers and controls on the centre console, Bluetooth and USB ports, bi-xenon headlights with LEDs, light and rain sensor, among other items.

From here we can control the whole multimedia system and navigation

Within the long list of extras, items such as the Professional Navigation system (2,952 euros) stand out, very comprehensive in its functions with 3D mapping, access to Google Panoramio at the destination and Street View, among other functions.

Also worth highlighting are the comfort boot access (699 euros), which lets us open it just by passing a foot under the rear bumper, and the reversing camera (497 euros), among other items, as well as a long list of driver assistance systems.

BMW 4 Series Coupé prices

The BMW 4 Series Coupé price list is as follows (prices without promotions):

-BMW 420i Coupé 184 CV 39,350 euros
-BMW 420i xDrive Coupé 184 CV 41,950 euros
-BMW 428i Coupé 245 CV 44,350 euros
-BMW 428i xDrive Coupé 245 CV 46,949 euros
-BMW 435i Coupé 306 CV 55,650 euros
-BMW 435i xDrive Coupé 306 CV 58,250 euros
–BMW 420d Coupé 184 CV 42,350 euros
-BMW 420d xDrive Coupé 184 CV 44,950 euros
-BMW 425d Coupé 218 CV 45,850 euros
-BMW 430d Coupé 258 CV 51,450 euros
-BMW 430d xDrive Coupé 258 CV 54,050 euros
-BMW 435d xDrive Coupé 313 CV 60,650 euros

Our car started at 42,350 euros, although the price, adding some extras such as the navigation system, automatic tailgate opening or the rear-view camera, rose to around 46,500 euros.

Personal assessment and opinion of the BMW 4 Series (420d)

The 420d with its 184 CV is a very well-balanced engine between performance and consumption

A new name, cosmetic changes, and some changes in handling towards comfort, but without a doubt the 4 Series with this diesel engine is a very well-balanced car. It does not lack power, it responds strongly, consumption is low and it is also a fun car to drive.

It is a comfortable coupé on the road and a good travelling companion, with enough boot space for suitcases and consumption that encourages you to hit the road.

It is a four-seater with enough space, although in the back, because of the design, headroom is not abundant, though a person of average height can travel in it without problems. Inside, there is a high-quality dashboard with good fit and finish and a sober finish typical of BMW.

The standard equipment is comprehensive for what we can demand of a coupé in this segment; it does not forget the bi-xenon headlights, alloy wheels, leather or the dual-zone climate control, although as always it has a long list of extras to set it up to our liking.