Automotive
In the luxury segment, convertibles remain the desired type of vehicle, with only a select number of models to choose from. BMW has continued to be a brand that always delivers a decent convertible with some performance availability, which is found in my latest review vehicle, the BMW M440i Convertible.
The latest BMW 4 series does well to sustain its placement as a desirable luxury convertible with a respectable injection of performance by way of its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder, producing 386 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. My nicely optioned test vehicle comes in a rear-wheel-drive setup, while BMW’s well-praised xDrive all-wheel-drive system remains available. Sending power to a quick but smooth-shifting ZF 8-speed automatic transmission gives the BMW M440i convertible a direct feeling for its power delivery out the rear wheels. Most of how the M440i convertible drives is much of what I’ve experienced in the past, only slightly refined in the addition of the 48-volt mild hybrid system, adding a bit of power over previous years and adding to the overall efficiency to muster out 27 mpg in the city and as much as 33 mpg on the highway. Zero to 60 mph takes place in 4.3 seconds in my tests, which is considerably quicker than BMW’s estimate of 5 seconds.
In true BMW fashion, the M440i Convertible feels as if it is laying down a bit more power than BMW claims, which isn’t a bad thing considering how much fun you can have with such a vehicle if you so ever choose to disable traction and stability control and enable the Sport Plus drive mode. The M440i Convertible isn’t shy about hanging the rear end out in some fun oversteer action, partly thanks to its M Sport differential. Most of how the M440i Convertible handles and feels out on the road inspires confidence, even with the slightly heavier curb weight over its coupe counterpart. The fixed-rate dampers do well in exuding a compliant ride that nicely balances smoothness with a sporty edge, which can also be said about the steering feel in both the Comfort and Sport drive modes.
The cabin of the BMW M440i Convertible fits the proper luxury mold for its abundance of soft-touch surfaces, perforated leather seats, and accented stitching throughout. There’s a welcoming presence of technology as well, featuring BMW’s iDrive 8.5 infotainment system fed through a high-resolution 14.9-inch touchscreen. The system may take a while to become accustomed to its layers of functions and a long list of system features and icons. The integration of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto appears to work well and only adds to the somewhat intricate but fast-responding system with a welcomed redundancy of controls. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster has multiple configurations and a somewhat interesting mapping function that doesn’t exactly display the mapping in much usable detail.
Seating areas up front have a large amount of adjustability making them convenient for people of most sizes with the heated seats having decent level of support and comfort even on long trips. The back seats remain to be on the small size where you must be conscious of who you allow to seat in such an area as useable leg room is highly dependent on the front seats being adjusted far forward.
The convertible top, which is operable at speeds up to 31 mph, opens and closes quickly and does an excellent job of isolating you from the outside environment. In my observation, the BMW M440i Convertible has one of the quietest cabins with the top-up in its class.
While the front-end styling of the BMW 4 Series remains an objective subject, the subtle active grille tweaks, color combinations, and decent proportions all make it more agreeable to the eyes, even if it’s still an acquired taste for a select few. Overall, there’s a welcomed classiness about the BMW M440i Convertible, which you tend to pay good money for with how the latest pricing is structured. As such, my nicely equipped test vehicle comes to $78,345, which includes a $995 destination charge ($72,250 starting price). Such a price is rather healthy and something to consider even when you compare the lower-trimmed BMW 430i Convertible that I reviewed a few months ago at a price of $67,000 ($58,700 starting price). BMW seems to slightly undercut the Mercedes pricing for a comparable Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet starting at $75,800 while the lower trim Mercedes 300 4MATIC Cabriolet starts at $66,450.
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