2016 BMW M4

The M4 coupe is only offered in one trim with an electronic rear differential and optional adaptive suspension. This trim is priced at $66,350. Some of the features are 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlamps, a performance exhaust system, power-folding auto-dimming heated side mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, leather upholstery, an 8.8" touch screen with iDrive infotainment system, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. There is also a feature-oriented Executive package and a Competition Pack which slightly bumps the power output of the Turbo V-6.

We Recommend

There is no other trim to choose from but the best is to go all out and equip the Competition Pack instead of the Executive pack. As a performance-oriented car, the extra power is the better option compared to interior technical bits.

The 2016 BMW M4 is powered by a 3.0L turbo inline-4 engine that delivers 425 hp with 406 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission. A DCT gearbox is available as an option as well. The car comes with a rear-wheel-drive system. The manual is the preferred gearbox over the DCT.

The engine gearbox combination works brilliant and gear shifts are very precise and quick. The engine has a broad powerband which makes it an easier car to drive longer especially with the manual. The DCT gearbox is also very smooth. In terms of handling, the M4 goes along as you intend it to cruise in the city, and is ready to set the streets on fire as well. The BMW M4 zooms past the 0-60 mph mark in 3.6 seconds. The quarter-mile takes 11.8 seconds, just under 12 seconds. The car’s rated top speed stands at 156 mph.

When compared to the rivals, the M4 is the quickest off the lot. The rivals trail by a few milliseconds. The Corvette takes 3.7 seconds, the Cadillac takes 3.8 seconds, and the Merc takes 3.9 seconds to hit the 60 mph mark. In terms of quarter-mile, the AMG C63 is the quickest, taking 0.2 seconds less than the BMW’s 11.8 seconds. The Mercedes also has the highest top speed as well.

The BMW M4 returns 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, with the combined efficiency at 20 mpg. The DCT M4 stands at 19 mpg combined, with a lower highway efficiency of 24 mpg. This car comes with an automatic engine start-stop as standard. The fuel capacity stands at 15.8 gallons with the combined range at 316 mpg.

The M4 offers the least range in these four cars. The maximum range is offered by the C63 AMG in the city at 324 miles, whereas the most highway range is offered by the Corvette at 536.5 miles. The Merc is also the most fuel-efficient car and has the best city economy. The Cadillac is the least fuel-efficient car. The Corvette has the most tank capacity.

The BMW M4’s interiors are similar to the standard 4-Series, with the usage of better quality material and a better fit and finish. There is a good usage of carbon fiber and aluminum for the trims. The controls inspire confidence, and it’s just the magic that this interior does. The dash has been very well laid out, with no cluttering of any sort. As expected, there’s an abundance of BMW M badging all inside the car.

The M4’s cabin is spacious, and the front sport seats are comfortable. These offer excellent bolstering as well, and the support offered is top-notch. The rear seats are even better, with great headroom and legroom for cars of the class. Visibility is not a problem in the M4: there’s an abundance of it.

The Corvette can seat only two people. It gets the most legroom in the front row as well. The M4 has the most headroom and shoulder room at the front. At the back, the shoulder room and the legroom are not exactly great, but they’ll suffice just fine. The AMG C63 has the best rear seating space. The Corvette has the most cargo capacity of 15 cu-ft. The BMW offers a decent cargo space of 11 cu-ft. Some interior features are:

• Cruise control
• Heated 10-way power front seats
• Leather upholstery
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Fold-down rear seatbacks

How intuitive is the 2016 BMW M4’s infotainment system?

The 2016 BMW M4’s infotainment system sports an 8.8-inch display screen. Standard features on this system include a navigation system, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, HD radio, satellite radio, USB audio input, auxiliary audio jack, BMW’s iDrive interface, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with a CD player. Salient infotainment features include:

• HD radio
• Navigation
• BMW iDrive
• CD player
• USB/Aux input
• 16-speaker Harman Kardon system

The M4 coupe looks similar to the standard 4 Series, but there’s an added layer of M customization all around the car. The car’s exterior has been tastefully done. The car’s design is based on the 3 Series, which translates to a lot of similarities in that direction. At the front, there’s the split signature kidney grille of the BMW line-up sitting in between the mean-looking headlamps.

The front also gets an all-aluminum hood and front fender, with a carbon-fiber-reinforced roof that helps with weight reduction. The black-out 18-inch alloy wheels enhance the car’s sporty appearance. At the rear, the bumper has been redesigned to match the front bumper and the look is finished with the quad pipes set up for the exhaust.

The cars are very close to each other in terms of dimensions but there are some subtle differences. The C63 is the longest among them and has the most height as well. The Corvette’s width of 73.9 inches is just 0.3 inches wider than the BMW, at 73.6 inches. The wheelbase of the Mercedes C63 at 111.8 inches is one inch more than the BMW M4’s wheelbase of 110.7 inches. Some exterior features on the BMW M4 are:

• Adaptive headlamps
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Sport Body Kit
• Carbon-fiber reinforced roof
• Performance exhaust system
• Power-folding auto-dimming heated side mirrors

The 2016 BMW M4 comes well-equipped in terms of safety features. The car has not been safety rated by the IIHS and the NHTSA, and nor has the standard 4 Series. Standard features on the car include anti lock brakes, traction and stability control, airbags, active front knee protection, and the BMW Assist system. This includes emergency services and remote services. Optional safety features include rear view and top-down cameras, front and rear parking sensors, and some driver assistance features. High-performance carbon-ceramic brake discs are also optional. Some standard safety features are:

• Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology
• Active Knee Protection
• Traction control
• Acoustic safety-belt warning
• LATCH attachment for child-restraint safety installation
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Lane Departure Warning (opt)
• Blindspot Monitoring system (opt)

The 2016 BMW M4 is one of a kind. The BMW M4 does not let you down in terms of performance and handling, and its decent interiors are sure to deliver a comfortable and enjoyable experience while driving. The technology is pretty advanced, and works seamlessly. The car gets decent safety features, but we’d expect the optional driver assistance systems to be a part of the standard package. All in all, if you are looking for a good-looking luxurious sports compact car, the BMW M4 is a good option to go for.