When the blue 440i coupe arrived it was dressed in some M-Sport attire. Big wheels, bumpers and sides-skirts all add to the sporty nature of the car. From every angle it looks exactly the same as any other 4-Series coupe wearing its gym clothes however the Eagle-eyed car enthusiast will notice that the 440i has bigger disk brakes and callipers than its siblings. Its only once you move round to the back that you will really know that it’s a 440i, because it has one exhaust on either side of the bumper.
Step inside and it’s pretty much identical to the 3-Series on which it is based. Now some people have been saying that the interior needs a bit of a refresh, yet I’m not one of them. I think it still looks good and I find the quality to be on par with the competition. I really like the high definition dashboard mounted screen, while the iDrive system is one of the easiest to operate. There are one or two things I will criticise, the instrument panel is dated and the steering wheel just feels far too big.
As for practicality, well it’s a two-door coupe so don’t expect rear passengers to bask in ample legroom space. As for those in the front, its roomy and the boot is quite large.
Now let’s get onto the really good stuff, the performance, something this car has quite a lot of. You see the 440i used to be called the 435i because it featured a 3.0-litre TwinPower turbo straight six engine. Now though it still features a 3.0-litre TwinPower straight six, however it's new, hence the new nomenclature.
This all-new aluminium motor known as the B58 develops 240kW and 450Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It is however the way in which this car makes use of that power that is the impressive part. The torque is available all across the rev range and the sound it makes reminds me of older 3.0-litre BMW models. Expect to embarrass many a naturally aspirated AMG-C63 and Audi RS5 because that’s what I did.
The 440i even put the previous 4.0-litre V8 M3 to shame. As for handling, well it’s a BMW so it’s pretty good. Throw it into a corner and it sits, its communicative, a drivers car. It is also jam packed with all the fancy driver aids we have come to expect these days. Adjustable driving modes, different traction control settings and a host of safety features such as Lane Keep Assist and active cruise control are available.
The 440i is a good looking car that you can use everyday, no matter the weather. It will take you to work in comfort and if driven with care, which is difficult, will return around 8.0-litres/ 100km. It will also satisfy the performance hungry driver in you. Is it an alternative to an M4 though?
Not at all, the M4 is a different animal, a savage both on the road and track type of animal. It’s loud and in your face. The 440i has a different battle, one coming from the Mercedes-AMG C43 and the recently launched Audi S5, both offer more power and four-wheel drive. Get the popcorn because this fight is going to be a good one.
