BMW 4 Series Convertible review

The M440i Convertible is a hefty car: some 1,890kg or around 120kg more than the hard-top. That’s perhaps a touch disappointing given BMW’s made big claims about the soft-top roof reducing overall weight, but it’s inevitable a long two-door is going to require shoring up with girders and cross-bracing when the fixed roof is binned. 

Is it a bit of a pudding then?

That’s a tad harsh. Because the M440i Coupe itself is heavy, the extra mass hasn’t had a catastrophic effect on how the 4 goes down the road. The latest version is considerably longer and wider than the old 4er, as BMW seeks to increase cabin space, widen the tracks and answer the latest safety demands, but once you accept that even with the thick end of 370bhp, this is no sports car, then the 4 Series Convertible settles astutely into the role of swift sun-seeking cruiser deluxe. 

Is the M440i engine a good one?

With this world-class 48-volt assisted turbo six providing the propulsion, performance barely feels blunted. BMW claims 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and a top whack limited to 155mph, and it’s difficult to see how you’d justify needing the M4’s extra performance when there’s 369lb ft of torque on tap and a sublimely matched eight-speed gearbox metering it out on your behalf – while also returning close to 40mpg on a cross-country cruise. 

It’s a fabulous powertrain, and a great match for the cabrio life. While we haven’t tested the lesser engines in the Convertible yet, experience from the 3 Series and 4 Series Coupe suggests a 420i will do the job astutely. 

Does the Convertible drive worse than the Coupe?

The steering wheel feels stable in your hands, and the mirror doesn’t quiver. BMW’s chassis-stiffening measures have worked. The ride too – all M440is run on adaptive suspension with Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Adaptive modes – feels ever-so-slightly slackened off for the soft-top versus the coupe. That fits the bill nicely. This isn’t a sports car that encourages you to really lob it about. It’s not a Mazda MX-5. What it’s got is bags of stability and grip, and a sense of planted sure-footedness.