“THAT’S an awesome set of wheels,” my golf partner said enviously after I had swept into the club car park.
“I bet it’s great fun to drive, too. And I love the look of the cabin,” he added as he peered inside the BMW 4 Series Coupe.
“Yep, it’s a beauty,” I replied, grinning from ear to ear, having already enjoyed the premium German marque’s machine for a few days.
The car I had on test was the rear-wheel-drive 420d M Sport and its stunning road presence was certainly matched by the driving experience.
The high-quality interior and on-board tech as well as the potency of the mild-hybrid diesel engine all added to the enjoyment.
The front-end features an imposing, upright kidney grille with chrome detailing dramatically framed by a dynamically creased bonnet, contoured headlights and deep air intakes.
In contrast, the profile is sleek, with slender pillars, long doors, frameless windows and a flowing roofline.
The rear is almost as striking as the front, with design details to emphasise the width and low centre of gravity.
It incorporates slim, darkened, full-LED rear lights and large, dual-branch tailpipes, while I particularly liked the smart spoiler running across the boot lid.
The four-seat cabin is very driver-focussed and the test car’s black leather upholstery with blue stitching, along with a dark headliner, made it feel both upmarket and sporty.
I also loved the intricate silver and black Aluminium Tetragon finishing and use of chrome detailing across the dash and in the centre console.
A family of four should be able to travel in real comfort and the sizeable 440-litre boot is made more practical by the 40:20:40-split/folding back seats.
A key tech highlight is the BMW Live Cockpit Professional that features a 10.25in centre console touchscreen, through which you can control most infotainment and car systems, and a superbly informative and adaptable 12.3in digital instrument display.
Best of all is BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant, who you can say “Hello BMW” to and then get the likes of sat nav directions to a restaurant, alter the climate control or listen to your choice of music.
If you’re familiar with Amazon Echo in the home, it’s a bit like that but on the move – very clever stuff indeed.
There is also intelligent sat nav with traffic information, concierge services and emergency call, and full smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Priced from £43,095 on the road, the 420d M Sport also comes with the likes of three-zone automatic air con and heated front seats, cruise control with braking function, parking sensors and reversing camera, and lane keeping aid.
The test model also had a number of optional extras that pushed the price to about £52,000.
These included the likes of a sprint function for extra bursts of speed and a sportier soundtrack, as well as enhanced braking and suspension.
Then there was a head-up display, gesture control for the touchscreen, wireless charging as well as comprehensive electric seat adjustment.
Additional driving assistance features included adaptive cruise control, active lane guidance, forward cross traffic alert, active side collision protection, wrong-way warning, and 3D and surround camera views.
But what impressed me most was the performance and road manners of this BMW – with rapid acceleration, sharp braking, wonderfully responsive steering and sporty but comfortable suspension.
There are also various drive modes that add to the fun – Eco Pro, Comfort, Adaptive and Sport. I particularly enjoyed the latter two.
Adaptive responds to the motorist’s input and driving conditions, while Sport gives added oomph and stiffens up the steering and suspension.
Power comes from a super-smooth and quiet 2.0-litre diesel, with 48V mild-hybrid technology, mated to a seamless eight-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Developing 190hp, the 420d does the 0-62mph sprint in just 7.1 seconds and tops out at 149mph, while averaging 57.6 to 61.4mpg, with CO2 levels of 121 to 129g/km.
Quite simply, this BMW was a joy to drive whether around town, out on country roads or cruising on the motorway – a real treat for the enthusiastic motorist.
