Sunday Drive: BMW 440i gets an ‘M’ upgrade for 2022
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- An exterior view of the BMW 440i.
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- An exterior view of the BMW 440i.
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- An exterior view of the BMW 440i.
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- An interior view of the BMW 440i.
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- An interior view of the BMW 440i.
Over the years, we have had the opportunity to drive many different vehicles in the BMW line, from the X1 to the extreme i8 supercar, which, yes, was one of the best weeks we have ever had with any vehicle. So, it was only fitting that we have some time with what the folks at BMW have dubbed their latest “Ultimate Diving Machine,” the Gran Coupe.
After a complete redesign of the 4 series BMW in 2017, they added one more design to the group a year later, dubbing it the Gran Coupe. This is basically a take on the two-door coupe with the addition of an extra set of doors to make the rear seat more accessible as well as more than 4 inches in length. The trunk still functions like a hatchback and gives the Gran Coupe more space and options in the moving-stuff-around department.
The first thing we had to do was look up the definition of Gran Coupe, and, quite frankly, there is no real definition of the term. “Gran” is defined as the mother of your father, and “coupe” is defined as a closed two-door version of the larger sedan of the same model. But hey, this is the auto world, so why not add something completely different?
And now, four years later, BMW is again changing the definition of a Gran Coupe by making almost 6 inches longer, an inch wider and more than 2 inches taller. However, with all the growth, they have dropped the coefficient of drag by 0.01 to 0.28, making it even sleeker and quicker.
This time out, we were pleased to receive the top-of-the-line M package from BMW with the larger of the two engines: a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with a twin scroll turbocharger attached that would propel the Gran Coupe to 60 in a mere 4.4 seconds. This version of the 440i would produce 382 horsepower with 369 foot-pounds of torque compared to the smaller 2.0-liter power plant that got a very nice 255 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of torque, getting it to 60 in 5.8 seconds.
With the second generation of the 440i, the BMW has added its 48-volt mile hybrid technology to the sedan that, in effect, will add an instant 11 horsepower to the drive, making any sort of turbo lag completely forgotten.
Some great and fun features that come via the awesome 8-Speed Steptronic Transmission include paddle shifters and a launch control, no matter which engine is under the hood. We also found that when you’re cruising along and want more power, a quick one-second pull on the left paddle will switch the BMW into the lowest gear possible for the current speed and change everything to the sportiest mode available.
This one option alone made driving the Beamer much more fun, as it added an instant injection of power without having to manually switch all the systems. Be assured that there was always more than enough power to keep this sedan moving. It kind of got to be more of an addiction after a week than anything else.
Our test ride came with several package upgrades that, in the BMW world, add up very quickly but are additions that we would like to have on any new vehicle. The Essential Package had keyless entry, park distance control and one year of SiriusXM Radio included in the base price.
The Premium Package added lumbar support to the front seats along with heating, a must in Utah winters. It also included ambient lighting that allowed us to change the light colors inside the BMW at night as well as a full-color heads up display, which is always a great addition ($1,750).
A Parking Assistance Package came with active parking distance control, a rear camera and a surround view camera that would help any time we were parking in a tight space and especially when we were backing into a slot ($700).
The largest upgrade was the M Package, which pretty much gave the 440i a complete injection of fun and abilities that come at no other level in the BMW family. It is well worth the $2,500 price tag!
We found the back seat of the Gran Coupe to be slightly cramped in its headroom space. This, however, would not be much of a problem for us as empty nesters. It would only be a concern on those few occasions when we needed to have another couple in the back seat, and then only on longer journeys.
The interior of the BMW is so finely designed, it becomes an assault on the senses from the moment one enters the cabin. It is set up not only to make the driving experience as engaging as possible but also to give the passengers a unique and comfortable ride and engage their senses also.
The beige leather-clad seats and doors compliment the dashboard, which is inset with wood and chrome accents. We have to give the designer an A on their part with the 400i.
Both the infotainment and driving cluster are now full HD LED screens and are customizable in many different ways, again providing more for our senses to take in.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both part of the package and can be used through Bluetooth instead of having to connect your phone with a cable. There is also a wireless charging pad located on the center console, allowing devices to be charged while driving.
The M440i Gran Coupe makes for an extremely enjoyable ride and handled exactly as we would have expected from the “Ultimate Driving Machine.” We were in no way disappointed in that department.
Base price: $58,200
Destination charge: $995
Price as driven: $67,250
