I thought the 4 Series Gran Coupe was pointless, I couldn't have been more wrong

Having enjoyed all the three days I had with the 330i M Sport back in 2019, the idea of the 4 Series Gran Coupe went just right over my head. The athletic 3 Series handled well thanks to the M Sport suspension. In the looks department, there wasn't anything to fuss about either - it checked all the right boxes for me.

And that was it. Until I caught the first glimpse of the 440i Gran Coupe, it checked boxes that I never knew were there. Despite always feeling that coupes should only have two doors, the 4 Series Gran Coupe with its sleek roof line somehow just works wonders.

BMW didn't just shave the roofline and call it a day

For starters, no, it isn't just a 3 Series with a sleeker roof line. Short of going for the M3, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is the only four-door that you can get with the new supersized kidney grille right now. And it actually fits the car's elongated body, sweeping lines and muscular shoulder lines really well.

There's one other small detail. While it doesn't scream right at you, the flushed door handles greatly enhance the visual appeal of the 4 Series Gran Coupe in their own subtle way. There's just something about the smoothed lines of the doors without bulging handles in the way.

You don't have to sacrifice practicality for style

Why would you go for a four-door, and then proceed to ruin the practicality with a low roof line right? Well, with the 4 Series Gran Coupe, it really isn't so.

Despite the sloping roof line that ends with a tapered rear end, there's much more boot space than you'll expect. The generous 470 litres of boot space is also easily accessed thanks to the liftback design that results in a large aperture, excellent for loading bulky objects!

While the sleek roof does encroach into rear head space, the 4 Series Gran Coupe's rear cabin space is almost comparable to a standard 3 Series. And we have its enlarged dimensions to thank for the roominess - it is now 143mm longer, 27mm wider and 53mm taller, and has a 46mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor.
 
Did someone mention performance?

If power is what you seek, you won't be disappointed with the M440i Gran Coupe. It is equipped with a 369bhp six-cylinder engine that produces 500Nm of twisting force, all of which are transmitted to all four wheels. Trust me, you don't really need much more power than this in the streets of Singapore.

Still, BMW has gotten everything thought out properly. Track widths have been increased by 50mm up front and 29mm at the rear, giving not just a purposeful stance, but improved handling as well. After all, what is all that power good for if the car can't handle well?

All variants of the 4 Series Gran Coupe also got model-specific geometry, mounting and tuning for their suspension, all for the sake of exceptional dynamism. The M440i xDrive Gran Coupe and 430i Gran Coupe M Sport Pro are also equipped with adaptive M suspension to offer all you need, from sporty driving to comfortable cruising.
 
Gran Coupe, grand tourer

While it was raining heavily during the short stint I had with the M440i, several things are clear - there is more than sufficient power for any sort of sane driving, the ride was comfortable and noise insulation was excellent as well - the makings of a great cruiser.

Don't just take it from me, my colleague who had the chance to drive the M440i Gran Coupe in Germany is equally pleased with the car - he found the car to be smooth and planted even when cruising at 200km/h on the Autobahn.