Overview Premium-priced, niche-market European sport hatchback with AWD
Pros Good power, excellent handling dynamics, it’s not a sport-ute
Cons Pricey, thirsty
Value for money Fair
What would I change? M Performance package should be standard, make more safety options standard equipment
How would I spec it? 428i xDrive Gran Coupé ($49,000 to start)
Suspending my confusion over BMW’s new numeric naming convention — why this four-door hatchback is labeled a 4 Series (the even number supposedly designating a two-door coupe) and not a 3 Series (odd number to be used for four doors), not to mention the Bavarian automaker’s seeming obsession with adding a niche model to an already fully served compact range of cars and sport-utes, let me just declare my unbridled joy with the 435i xDrive Gran Coupé.
2015 BMW 435i xDrive Gran Coupé
Brian Harper, Driving
Look, it’s not yet two months in and I am already sick of winter. And this one is nowhere close to being as soul-destroying as last year’s Polar Vortex, which turned Canada into one giant popsicle for what seemed an eternity. But below-seasonal temperatures combined with too many timid motorists crawling along at a snail’s pace at the first sign of a snowflake have had a negative effect on my psyche. The all-wheel-drive 435i xDrive Gran Coupé, bless its mechanical soul, has mitigated the blahs with sporty handling and abundant power courtesy of its evergreen and turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine. Behind the wheel, I am inured from winter’s buzzkill.
Just to make it perfectly clear, the superior dynamics of this car were experienced in full winter conditions. No, there wasn’t a Snowpocalypse, just a light but continual fall of fluffy white stuff — occasionally mixed with freezing rain — that overstayed its welcome during most of the time I had the Gran Coupe. Aided by a fresh set of Pirelli winter rubber, though, the Bimmer tracked beautifully. Grip was always there and the numerous safety devices BMW builds into this model (dynamic stability and traction controls, cornering and dynamic brake controls, etc.) were not overly aggressive in their actuation.
Small caveat: I have been testing a lot of sport-utes over the past couple of months. And not to disparage them in any way, while most could handle the same sort of winter conditions with equal competence, they just don’t offer the same driving satisfaction as a properly sorted out European sedan.
2015 BMW 435i xDrive Gran Coupé
Brian Harper, Driving
With the Gran Coupé, BMW is doing what it used to do better than almost all other automakers — make an Ultimate Driving Machine, only this one can handle all four seasons. Yes, the all-wheel-drive and 300-horsepower turbo 3.0L six-powered versions of the 3 Series, regular 4 Series, X3 and X4 will provide an almost identical vibe. That said, I had a chance to test both an X4 and a Gran Coupé back-to-back last May. As would be naturally expected given its lower height and centre of gravity compared with the X4 sport-ute, the Gran Coupé is the better handler of the two, with less body lean when cornering and a generally more planted feel. Interestingly, there’s not much difference in weight. The 435i xDrive tips the scales at a hefty 1,869 kilograms, compared with the X4 xDrive35i’s 1,932 kg.
In the case of the 435i xDrive tester, a lot of the car’s feel comes from its optional ($1,900) M Performance package. This includes the Adaptive M Suspension — with a focused sporting setup and electronically controlled shock absorbers — which adjusts the damper mapping to the road surface and driving situation at hand. Also part of the package is the M Sport brake system with aluminum fixed calipers (four-piston at the front, two-piston at the rear) and dinner plate-sized discs. The package elevates an already driver-focused car to an even higher level.
2015 BMW 435i xDrive Gran Coupé
Brian Harper, Driving
Also, using Driving Experience Control, one can change the car’s characteristics to either a sporty or comfortable setting. Accelerator pedal progression, engine response, power steering feel and response thresholds of the dynamic stability control system are all altered. The system also interacts with the eight-speed Steptronic transmission and the optional Dynamic Damper Control. Drivers can select their desired mode – Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ at the push of a button.
Even in Eco Pro mode, though, don’t expect exemplary fuel economy from that sweet-sounding in-line six. I averaged 16 litres per 100 km of premium unleaded in mostly suburban usage, a figure made much worse by the winter driving conditions.
Inside, there’s plenty of legroom and headroom up front, not as much for taller passengers in the back seats, who might find their heads brushing up against the roofliner. The hatchback does allow for a positively commodious trunk area — 17 cubic feet (480 litres) with the 40/20/40-split rear seats upright. With the seat backs down flat, load capacity increases to 45.9 cu. ft. (1,300 L).
2015 BMW 435i xDrive Gran Coupé
Brian Harper, Driving
The dash layout is all but identical to anyone familiar with late-model compact-sized BMWs — sporty and functional but not overly fancy. Oh, it’s not completely spartan; there are features such as M doorsill finishers, an M leather steering wheel and an M driver’s footrest. And the driver and front passenger can plunk their butts into the comfy and supportive leather-covered sport seats.
In addition to superior driving dynamics, the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé delivers a high level of motoring comfort.
I’m still not convinced of its need, except for those people who really do prefer the convenience of a hatchback rather than a 3 Series with a trunk. (The 4, derived conceptually from the 6 Series Gran Coupé, sports a far better looking and more aerodynamic profile, though.) And, as a substitute to, say, a compact sport-ute from one of the premium German brands, it comes with an equally premium price. The 428i xDrive starts at $49,000; opting for the extra zip from the 3.0L turbo six adds $5,900 to the tab. On top of that, my 435i xDrive tester was kitted out with a full measure of comfort and safety options, carrying with it a sticker of $65,645.
At that price, the list of winter-ready alternatives is long indeed. But the list of those vehicles that are as capable, comfortable and dynamically hot-wired to the driver as the 4 Gran Coupé — especially when the weather is less than delightful — is far shorter.
2015 BMW 435i xDrive Gran Coupé
Brian Harper, Driving
The Specs
Type of vehicle All-wheel-drive compact sport/luxury four-door hatchback
Engine Turbo 3.0L DOHC in-line six
Power 300 hp @ 5,800 rpm; 300 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,300 rpm
Transmission Eight-speed manumatic
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires P225/45R19 front, P255/35R19 (optional)
Price (base/as tested) $55,600/$65,645
Destination charge $2,095
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy (L/100 km) 11.0 city, 7.8 highway
Standard features Dual-zone automatic air conditioning, heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, heated outside power mirrors and headlight washer jets, power windows, tilt/telescopic steering column, auto stop/start, automatic bi-xenon headlights, speed-sensitive windshield wipers with rain sensor, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, multi-function M Sport leather steering wheel, power front sport seats with adjustable side bolsters and thigh rest, AM/FM/CD audio system with nine speakers and USB audio integration, iDrive system with 6.5-inch display, four-function on-board computer
Options Premium Package ($4,900) includes alarm system, universal remote control, Comfort Access, rear-view camera, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, lumbar support, front and rear park distance control, adaptive headlights, navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, harman/kardon sound system; M Performance Package ($1,900) includes 19-inch M light alloy wheel, Double Spoke, M sport brake, adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering; ConnectedDrive Services Prof with ARTTI package ($500) includes BMW Online, advanced real time traffic information, Concierge and Remote Services, internet, BMW ConnectedDrive Services package; head-up display ($1,500), metallic paint ($895), Speed Limit Info ($350)
