BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe article highlights:

• I drove a 2022 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe on the roads around the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin Road America track after riding in an M4 Competition on the track
• It’s not quite as fast as the M4, but the M440i Gran Coupe is still appreciably quick and offers more practicality, road comfort, and style
• There are some cheaper premium four-door ‘coupes,’ but the 2022 BMW M440i Gran Coupe strikes a good balance between performance and luxury, making it one of the best 4 Series models

There’s no denying that the current BMW M4 is a capable performance car, especially in Competition trim. But besides its (functional) grille, BMW’s most extreme 4 Series has one noticeable downside: it’s the most extreme 4 Series. That’s great for chasing lap times, not so great when dodging potholes in traffic. However, there is another 4 Series that offers nearly as much real-world performance in a comfier and arguably more stylish package: the 2022 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe.

The 2022 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe isn’t a ‘real’ coupe but it is a real sports car

Understanding the 2022 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe’s long name requires some decoding. Firstly, the ‘M440i’ part means it’s an M Performance model, one step below the full M4. Second, ‘xDrive’ is the name of BMW’s all-wheel-drive system. And despite its naming convention, a BMW Gran Coupe isn’t actually a coupe. It’s really a four-door sedan with a rakish, coupe-like roofline. Ironically, that makes the M440i Gran Coupe the only 4 Series model that isn’t a coupe.

It might not be a coupe, but the 2022 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe has all the necessary hardware of a solid sports sedan. It’s virtually identical to the related M340i, so it has bigger brakes, a wider track, extra chassis bracing, an active locking rear differential, and stiffer versions of the lift-related shocks. M Sport adaptive dampers remain optional, but variable-ratio steering is standard.

While the adaptive shocks are a $700 stand-alone option, they’re also part of the $2400 Cooling and High-Performance Tire Package. The 2022 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe I drove had that package, which also adds 19” wheels, performance tires, slightly bigger front brakes, and an extra radiator.

BMW packs the M440i Gran Coupe with luxury as well as performance

As you can likely tell by my test car’s MSRP, it had more than one option package. In addition to the performance package, the 2022 BMW M440i Gran Coupe I drove had the $1750 Premium Package, $700 Parking Assistance Package, and $1700 Driving Assistance Professional Package. And that’s on top of the $550 San Remo Green Metallic paint, $350 SensaTec dashboard covering, and $875 Harman Kardon surround-sound system. The red calipers were a no-cost option; blue ones are standard.

Going in order of price, the Parking Assistance Package adds ultrasonic parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a parallel-parking feature. Meanwhile, the Driving Assistance Professional Package is essentially BMW’s Level 2 ADAS suite, including adaptive cruise control. Finally, the Premium Package gives the 2022 BMW M440i Gran Coupe a heated steering wheel, heads-up display, adjustable ambient lighting, heated front seats, and gesture control.

But these are just the options. On the standard safety front, the 2022 M440i Gran Coupe has automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, frontal collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The sedan also has a 10.25” center touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as well as a 12.3” digital gauge cluster. The $58,200 base price gets you a rear spoiler, moonroof, sport steering wheel, sport seats, extra exterior aero trim, open-pore wood interior trim, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, and wireless charging. Plus, iPhone owners can use their phones as keys.

What’s it like to drive?

Although it’s technically a mild hybrid, BMW didn’t give the 2022 M440i xDrive Gran Coupe that system for fuel-economy reasons. And the Gran Coupe’s exclusive active air-flap system and special undertray don’t appear to help much, either. The M440i actually gets slightly worse fuel-economy ratings than the equivalent M340i, Roadshow notes. Though to be fair, it’s not like the M4 sips fuel.

No, what the mild-hybrid system does is fill in the gaps in the turbocharged engine’s torque and horsepower curves. And it does so with aplomb. I honestly couldn’t feel it working, it’s that smooth. So is the engine, for that matter, as well as decently responsive. The automatic is, too; it’s also crisp and very responsive, especially in Sport Plus mode.

Plus, while the engine’s subdued at low revs, as the RPMs climb, a satisfyingly deep growl barks from the exhaust. And though you don’t have to rev the inline-six much to get decent acceleration, its horses really wake up once you climb into the rev range. Based on MotorTrend’s experience, the engine’s subdued low-RPM nature likely stems from the AWD system. The traction benefits are worth the slight initial sleepiness, though.

This is the more practical, everyday M4—and it fixes the grille with style

On paper, the BMW M440i Gran Coupe isn’t as powerful or as fast as the M4 Competition I experienced at Road America. But then, it’s not supposed to be. And despite what others have said, at least in Gran Coupe trim, the M440i is decent fun on a back road. Yes, the steering could use more feedback, but it’s well-weighted and accurate, even in Comfort Mode. Furthermore, even in Sport Plus mode, the ride is surprisingly compliant. Yes, the M4 is a great sports car, but as a daily driver, the M440i is superior.

What I did notice, though, was how much better the BMW M440i Gran Coupe’s grille looks. Because the M440i doesn’t need as much air for cooling and power purposes, it doesn’t need the M4’s big grille. Also, especially in this color combination, the grille just…works. It feels better integrated, somehow.

Speaking of looks, as illogical as the Gran Coupe’s name is, its style is undeniable. Plus, while it doesn’t have a ton of rear visibility, it has significantly more rear headroom and legroom than the M4. Combined with the extra set of doors, that makes the BMW M440i Gran Coupe more practical.

And while I’ve often criticized BMW interiors for some oddly cheap materials, this car addresses all my past gripes. There are still one or two hard plastics, but they still feel premium and solid, not cheap or flimsy. The seats are comfortable and supportive without being over-bolstered and the open-pore wood is so satisfying to touch. And all the displays are crisp, clear, and informative.

Is the 2022 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe worth buying?

In short, the 2022 BMW M440i Gran Coupe offers most of the M4’s performance with more style and everyday usability. And even my test car is about $5500 cheaper than the base 2022 M4. It’s more practical than the regular 4 Series, too. Little wonder, then, that MotorTrend found the Gran Coupe “more compelling” than the standard coupe.

None of this is to say that the BMW M4 is a bad car. It isn’t, especially on a racetrack. However, most people don’t regularly drive on a racetrack. If what you want is a reasonably-fast, cool-looking car for commuting and the weekend, the Gran Coupe is, to paraphrase MT, a compelling option.

It’s also kind of a niche product because there aren’t many fastback-roofed sedans out there at this price point. The M440i is more expensive than the Mercedes CLA, for example, but cheaper than the four-door CLS Coupe. For those on a budget, the 2022 Kia Stinger GT2 is a solid option, but it’s slightly less powerful, and AWD models don’t get a limited-slip differential. Arguably the closest rival is the 2022 Audi S5 Sportback, but it too is down on horsepower. And it falls slightly behind in driving fun, MT claims.

Regardless, to me, the 2022 M440i xDrive Gran Coupe is sort of like a BMW-style Porsche 911 GTS. It’s not the fastest or cheapest 4 Series, but it’s arguably one of the best-balanced models in the lineup. And if I’m driving on a street, not a track, I want balance over outright speed.

Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.