Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe for sale: everything you need to know

Gran Coupe is BMW-speak for what many manufacturers like to describe as a “four door coupe” - usually a hatchback or a saloon with a sloping roofline to kid you it’s something much sportier. BMW has gone for the hatchback approach, but being a BMW, it’s got better claim than most to offering a genuinely sporty driving experience.

The latest Gran Coupe arrived in 2021 with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, though you can also buy the BMW i4, which is effectively a 4 Series Gran Coupe with electric power. Whichever model you go for, it’s a stylish alternative to a regular BMW 3 Series saloon.

You might consider the 3 Series itself an alternative to the Gran Coupe, but from other manufacturers, cars like the Audi A5 Sportback, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Volkswagen Arteon, Genesis G70 Shooting Brake, and even the Tesla Model 3 might tempt you.

Should you buy a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe?

A regular two-door coupe doesn’t work for everyone, even if you’ve got an eye for style - which is where the 4 Series Gran Coupe comes in. Nearly as swoopy to look at as its two-door equivalent, the Gran Coupe features four proper doors and is much more adept at carrying people in the back seats. In other words, where a regular 4 Series might not work as a family car, the Gran Coupe is easier to justify.

It splits the difference between the 4 Series Coupe and a 3 Series saloon for boot space, and is arguably more practical than the latter too, thanks to its hatchback boot access. From the front seats, it feels just like the coupe, with a driver-focused layout and, in later models, standard fitment of BMW’s impressive curved infotainment and driver display screen.

It’s much like the two-door car to drive too, with a sporty feel regardless of engine, a well-balanced rear-wheel drive layout (or rear-biased all-wheel drive with the M440i xDrive), and smooth and powerful engines. Or, if you opt for the i4, electric power, and one of the most satisfying electric cars to drive on the market.

Relatively high prices mean tax and insurance aren’t as affordable as they might be, while the 4 Series is new enough that long-term reliability is as yet unknown. But buying a used one at least means saving several thousand on the purchase price.

The Audi A5 Sportback is the nearest equivalent to the 4 Series Gran Coupe. It’s less sporty to drive but its styling is less divisive than the BMW’s, and its cabin has a more restrained look too. Mercedes has no direct alternative but the smaller CLA may fit the bill, while the Volkswagen Arteon could be an option too.

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What’s the best used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe model to buy?

As an all-rounder the 420i is hard to beat, with plenty of performance and impressive economy figures too - though if the price difference is minimal between the 420i and 430i, then there’s certainly no harm in going for the latter. The M440i meanwhile is a bit of an under-the-radar performance car - and don’t rule out the all-electric BMW i4, which we’ve reviewed separately.

Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe fuel economy and performance

• BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 420i: The range kicks off with a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol making 184PS through a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox. 0-62mph takes 7.9 seconds and combined economy is up to 41.5mpg.
• BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 430i: With a more powerful version of the 2-litre petrol developing 245PS, the 0-62mph time drops to 6.3 seconds, and economy is only slightly lower at 40.4mpg.
• BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 420d: The 2-litre turbodiesel produces 190PS, good for 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and combined economy of 56.5mpg.
• BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe M440i xDrive: Topping the range is a 3-litre turbocharged petrol, with 374PS, all-wheel drive, and a 4.7-second 0-62mph run.

What used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe trim levels are available?

Like other models in the 4 Series range, the Gran Coupe is split between M Sport variants (which encompass the 420i, 430i and 420d engines), and a range-topping M440i. The latter’s equipment is heavily based on M Sport trim but adds a few extra styling elements and some mechanical changes unique to its more powerful engine.

• The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe M Sport gets a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, M Sport styling and suspension settings, Alcantara and Sensatec seat trim, LED headlights, the BMW Live Cockpit Plus curved display (in later models, earlier cars have separate displays), sports seats, a sports leather steering wheel, automatic climate control, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.
• The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe M440i has similar equipment levels to the M Sport, but gets 19-inch alloy wheels, Vernasca leather trim, ambient lighting, gloss black exterior trim replacing chrome elements, dark headlight housings, M adaptive suspension, and an M Sport differential.

Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe dimensions and boot size

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4783mm
• Width: 1852mm (without mirrors), 2073mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1448mm

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe’s boot size is:

• 470 litres
• 1290 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)

Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe road tax

New pricing of over £40,000 means that all 4 Series Gran Coupes attract a VED surcharge, taking your annual bill to £570 for the car’s second to sixth years on the road. The all-electric BMW i4 avoids this punitive charge.

How much is it to insure a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe?

The 4 Series Gran Coupe range starts at insurance group 30, for a 420i M Sport, and rises to group 40 for the M440i xDrive. Earlier Audi A5 Sportbacks actually start from group 24, but otherwise both should be similar to insure, as the Audi also has group 30-40 ratings for most models.

Read our full BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe review