BMW 420d: Don’t judge competence by the face

There is no way to avoid or sidestep the much spoken about elephant in the room when it comes to the new BMW 4 Series; that grille!

A lot has been said since its debut last year and even the year before when it bowed as the Concept 4 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Looks got your attention right?

Not since the highly controversial Chris Bangle-styled E65 7 Series from 20 years ago has a BMW attracted so much attention as Head Designer Domagoj Dukec’s G22.

The comments that has accompanied it have varied; ugly; hideous, divisive, attention grabbling, distinctive and some lesser kind (read: unprintable) terms and definitions.

The main talking point of the new 4 Series.

Put simply, the German-born Croat’s attempt to hark back to the past by incorporating elements from the iconic 1930s 328 and the 3.0 CS from 1970s has certainly made an impact, but not necessarily in the way the BMW faithful were expecting when compared to the F32 that preceded it.

No amount of “hate mail” or online memes showing future BMW’s being consumed by the kidney grilles to the point of being nothing but a grille on wheels by 2050 has put Dukec off though, with the 46 year old adding more fuel to the fire by telling Britain’s Autocar last year that that the grille, now resplendent on the M3 and M4 to the ire of the M fans, “is at the heart of BMW”.

“We don’t want to polarise with every product, but the 4 Series is a very expressive car. In two or three years, I’m convinced this will be a really strong product on the road, and people, whether they love it or not, will see it as a car with a certain identity,” he said.

When the rear is best

As much as BMW fans are set to blast the G22 for years to come, similar to what Ford aficionados in the UK did when the Scorpio replaced the Granada in 1994, the merits of the new Four, once you look past that face, are easy to spot and none more so than on the model that has become the default 4 Series for many unable to the stretch to the M440i or M4, the 420d.

Rear of the 4 Series a lot easier on the eye than the front

With the exception of the grille and the thin angular headlights, the rest of the 4 Series is not only elegant, but when viewed from the rear, stylish and well-proportioned as a result of the distinct fastback appearance.

Thanks to our tester being the M Sport derivative, this silhouette came with added substance in the guise of the wider door sills and those optional 19-inch M Sport alloy wheels.

When inside…

The saying is a familiar one: once inside, you don’t have to look at it from the outside. As cruel sounding as this is, the interior of the 4 Series really lives-up to the saying as it exhibits a cocoon-type sensation full of aluminium inlays and in the case of our 420d, the rather impractical beige leather upholstery.

As clean and minimalistic as the cabin is, some foibles do persist in the feel of some of the materials, a (expected) complete lack of rear headroom and the workings of the 7.0 iDrive operating system that, in this writer’s view, lags somewhat behind the previous setup.

Interior looks and feels right, but the beige leather won’t be to everyone’s taste

The presence of a number of shortcut buttons around the rotary dial controller makes scrolling through the 10.25-inch display a bit easier though, while the optional Harman Kardon sound system didn’t miss a beat, literally.

Perched behind the M Sport steering wheel and looking at the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which forms part of the Live Cockpit Professional made up of the infotainment system, the biggest attribute of the 420d is how it feels on the move.

What about diesel?

Simply, the combination of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and eight-speed Steptronic gearbox makes the 4 Series standout in a way it looks simply cannot erode.

Outputting 140kW/400Nm, the oil-burner’s response is so immediate and intoxicating as the dollops of low-down grunt is accompanied by a subtle turbo whistle that never fails to put a simple on your face.

Badge that makes the difference

Smooth and refined with little diesel noise audible, the engine does have dark side though, that Sport button. Engaged, the response is perhaps too much with a strained tone at higher revs, although the response is akin to being electrocuted albeit in a nice way if ever there is such a thing.

It feels just right

For its part, the ‘box is slick and fast regardless of it being in Drive, in manual mode using the paddles or in Comfort and Sport. It is a fantastic combination that proves its popularity in the F32 is without a doubt warranted.

With the 19-inch wheels, the ride is on the firm side but not so that it becomes bone rattling when the surface changes. It is a largely comfortable setup which reaches its limitations when faced with badly patched sections as the M Sport suspension makes for a harsh ride when the surface becomes pimply.

Fantastically looking M Sport 19-inch alloy wheels.

Less of a worry is the steering which, even in Comfort, is pin sharp and accurate with a lovely feel on turn-in. As for consumption, the 420d recorded a best indicated figure of 6.5 L/100 km, well off of BMW’s highly optimistic 4.8 L/100 km claim, but still very impressive nonetheless.

Conclusion

As much as that face tries to spoil it, so the virtues of the BMW 4 Series prevail. The 420d, while nowhere near the level of its sportier siblings, proves why it has become the model that strikes the right balance between luxury, performance and economy.

The much loved BMW M badge

In fact, its biggest caveat is likely to be the price. At R888 916, which easily increases to over R1m with a few option boxes ticked, the 420d M Sport is on the expensive side and unlikely to be traded-in by current owners scorning at the looks.

However, those not opposing the façade are bound to be left impressed by what is still the model to have, preferably in Snapper Rocks Blue.

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