2019 BMW M4

Since the BMW M4 is at the pinnacle of the 4 Series lineup, it has a steep starting price tag of MSRP $69,150, without options. The base M4 gets M performance suspension, an active rear-differential, heated power-adjustable sports seats, and an 8.8-inch BMWs’ infotainment touchscreen with 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround system. 

BMW has kept it relatively simple with just one trim for the M4 with both Coupe and convertible body styles available. Standard in both of them is the same 3.0L twin-turbo inline-6 engine that is also found in the 4 Series lineup, mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. Engine power and torque output in the base M4 is 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, and the Competition Package produces 444 hp. The limited one-of 500 M4 CS model produces 454 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, with the seven-speed dual-clutch as its only transmission.

The interior of the M4 is based on the less-sporty two-door 4-series Coupe and 3 Series four-door sedan. The standard theme is an all-black scheme and to spruce things up, BMW also offers two-tonne interior options like Sonoma Beige, Silverstone, and Sakhir Orange. And besides M-badged sport seats, the 2019 M4 gets M Performance suspension, an active rear differential, and standard 18-inch alloy wheels which can be upgraded to 20-inches with the Competition Package. For an extra $1930, there’s an Executive Package that gets clever driver assistant features like Headlight Control, Icon Adaptive Headlights, Traffic Sign Recognition, and others.

Besides the Competitive and Executive Package, the 2019 M4 also gets an optional M Driver’s package that increases the top speed up to 173 MPH. The top speed gets automatically activated once the 1,250-mile run has been completed. It also includes a one-day class for professional racing driving with your M car.

Which trim should you buy?

Since BMW does not leave you with any trim choice as such, the option comes down to whether you want the M4 in Coupe or Cabriolet style. As far as the Coupe is concerned, the 2019 M4 is a pretty capable vehicle. It is lighter than the M4 Cabriolet with a fixed carbon-fiber roof and is cheaper than the limited edition CS model. 

The M4 has a shorter wheelbase than the long M8 that makes the former sportier, compared to the luxury grand tourer i.e the M8. The M4 is more driver-focused than anything else, and If you’re searching for an authentic BMW M sports car, the M4 fits the one. 

Since performance is the name of the game, BMW has tuned the M4’s engine to get the maximum power output. The 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six engine, dubbed as the S55 engine, produces 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque in the base M4. With the Competition package, engine power increases to 444 hp, but torque remains the same. The six-speed manual transmission is a standard offering, with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. 

With the manual transmission, the BMW M4 is a fraction of a second slower than the DCT option.The 2019 BMW M4 can reach from 0-60 MPH in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 155 MPH. But with the 7-speed DCT and Competition package, it can do the same in 3.9 seconds on its way to a limited speed of 174 MPH. 

But with AWD, and a 444 hp V6, the Audi RS 5 gets quicker acceleration figures. The Lexus RC F is comparatively slower in this competition, despite a high revving V8 engine with peak power of 467 hp @ 7,100 RPM. The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Coupe AMG gets a V8 engine, but it is marginally slower than BMW M4 by a fraction of seconds. 

How well does the 2019 BMW M4 handle?

As much of a track vehicle the M4 is, it feels equally at home on the school run. Ride quality with M Sport Suspension is firm enough for sporty applications and is equally soft for everyday driving. The electronically steering assist does numb the steering feel, compared to the previous 3 Series Coupe, but that’s what BMW calls progress. The engine note is at best mediocre, but when revved hard, it will turn heads. 

Despite all of that, the 2019 M4 still retains the benchmark status of a luxury Coupe car. The lack of proper steering wheel feedback is substituted by razor-sharp handling that will leave you excited to go for a drive. And on top of that, with some of the most incremental updates, this current M4 model is the best that BMW has produced. The base Coupe is explosive enough, and the Competition Package makes it all the more lucrative.

2019 BMW M4 Coupe Braking Performance

The BMW M4 has the largest set of brakes not only in the 4 Series lineup but also amongst its competition. The 15-inches brake rotors at the front and 14.6-inches at the rear help the BMW M4 come to a standstill from 60 MPH in just 112 feet. For an additional $7,500, BMW will also equip the M4 with similarly sized Carbon Ceramic brakes. Aside from that, there are standard 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, brake assist system, cornering brake control, and electronic brake distribution. 

Alongside bigger brakes, the M4 also weighs less than most of its competition that helps during immediate braking situations to stop earlier. The Lexus RC F weighs 300 lbs more than the M4 but its brakes are smaller which hampers its de-acceleration capabilities. The Mercedes-AMG faces the same fate as the RC-F, and it is also the heaviest in the class with a curb weight of 4,109 lbs.

Performance vehicles seldom boast of great fuel economy, but by changing the engine from a V8 to a V6, the mileage figures in the BMW M4 have definitely improved. With the manual gearbox, EPA estimates that the M4 has 18/25/20 MPG for city/highway/combined. With the 7-speed DCT option, mileage figures see a marginal drop to 17/23/19 MPG in city/highway/combined situations. With a 15.8-gallon fuel tank, the 2019 M4 can do 316 miles in combined conditions, but provided you have resisted the urge to constantly floor the paddle, you can do 395 miles on the highway. 

Both the 2019 Lexus RC F and 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe can hold the most amount of fuel at 17.4 gallons. But both the RC F and AMG C 63 Coupe get V8 engines, which makes them less fuel-efficient than the BMW. The Audi RS 5 is the only competitor to the M4, for it has EPA ratings of 27 MPG on the highway, compared to the M4’s 25 MPH. Thus the RS 5 will do the longer distance in this competition. 

The BMW M4 is based on the 4 Series with few unique touches that help it differentiate from the rest of the lineup. Unique stitching in light blue, dark blue, and red on both the steering wheel and seat belt makes it known that this is a proper M car. The 2+2 seating arrangement means that the M4 can accommodate 4 people. The front row has a generous space of 42.2-inches of legroom and 55.3-inches of headroom. But the rear seat can accommodate small adults for it gets just 33.7-inches of legroom space and the headroom is restricted by 36.1-inches due to the sloping roof. 

Asides from that, the M4 cabin uses premium materials and like every BMW car, there’s a healthy mix of soft and hard-touch material with great attention to detail. However, the base M4 does not get a full-leather option, instead, it gets standard leather and clothed seating. However, there is an extended Merino leather option that is available in Silverstone, Sakhir Orange with Black, Black, and Sonoma Beige for a price of $950 each. Also standard with the M4 is Carbon fiber trim with chrome inserts. 

However, the interior of the 2019 BMW M4 feels a bit dated especially when compared to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe, and Audi RS 5. The BMW M4 still has analog instrumentation screens and a smaller infotainment screen. The Lexus RC F also suffers the same fate as the BMW M4. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated and power-adjustable front seats with memory functions
• Heads-up display
• Heated steering wheel
• Carbon fiber interior with black chrome highlights
• Merino leather upholstery and door trim

What’s there to keep you entertained in the 2019 BMW M4 Coupe?

Standard on the 2019 BMW M4 dashboard is an 8.8” BMW I-Drive Infotainment system which is intuitive and easy to use. It also comes with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround system, rear-view camera, on-board navigation system, US port, AM/F, radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio with one year of free subscription. 

However, the 2019 M4 does not get Android Auto, and the available Apple CarPlay comes with a one-year subscription free. The 2019 M4 also misses out on the WiFi feature, and wireless charging is an added option. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• Apple CarPlay compatibility with a one-year subscription
• iDrive system with on-board computer and touchpad controller,
• Sirius XM satellite radio with a one-year free subscription
• Harmon Kardon Sound System 

The 2019 M4 is based on the 4 Series Coupe design. But unlike the regular 4 Series, the M4 stands out with subtle M4 badging behind the front wheels, and a subtle trunk spoiler. The carbon-fiber roof saves a lot of weight, which is available only in the M4. The rear fascia is properly complemented by four tailpipes under a molded bumper alongside an integrated LED tail light cluster. Standard on the M4 are 18-inch wheels, but with the Competition package, they can be updated to 19-inches or 20-inches. 

The dimension of the BMW M4 is on par with most of the compact luxury Coupe. Since it shares most of the underpinnings with the 3 Series sedan, the 2019 M4 has a length of 184.5-inches and rides on a 110-.7-inches of wheelbase. The M4 is marginally taller than the regular 4-series model with a height of 54.4-inches and is also two inches wider than the 430i model. With 4.7-inches of ground clearance, the M4 is a ground hugger and at the same sportier to look at. 

The 2019 BMW M4 has a curb weight of 3,635 lbs with the manual gear transmission, and that makes it lighter than the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe. The latter is the heaviest in the class too with 4,109 lbs, followed by the Audi RS 5, which with an all-wheel-drivetrain weighs at 3,968 lbs. The Lexus RC F with its 5.1-inches of ground clearance makes it the high-rise sports Coupe in this class.Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• LED headlights 
• LED fog lights
• Sports Exhaust system with quad tailpipes and chrome exhaust tips
• Heated ORVM’s
• 18-inch double-spoke alloy wheels
• Blacked-out Kidney grille

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has crash-tested the 2019 BMW M4. Even the 4 Series has not been crash-tested on which it is based. But that doesn’t mean BMW will have compromised the safety of their performance Coupe. The 2019 M4 is loaded with all the basic assistive features like ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, and Cornering Brake Control systems. Some of the standard safety features on the 2019 BMW M4 are:

• Pre-collision system
• Emergency braking preparation
• Emergency braking assist
• Rearview camera
• Rearview camera
• Parking assistant
• Surround-view camera
• Heads-up display
• Blind-spot monitoring system

2019 BMW M4 vs 2019 Lexus RC F

The 2019 Lexus RC F is the only other car in this competition that has an interior that feels equally outdated, as the BMW M4. The Lexus RC F also has the most soothing engine sound, courtesy of its V8 that revs up to 7100 RPM. But it is not as fuel-efficient and fast as the M4, but the Lexus costs almost $5,000 less than the German counterpart. 

2019 BMW M4 vs 2019 Audi RS 5

The 2019 Audi RS 5 is the only vehicle in this class that gets an All-Wheel-Drive platform and produces the most engine power and torque at 444 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. This helps it make the fastest Coupe in this competition. But all that excitement comes at a hefty price tag, for the Audi RS 5 is the costlier than the M4, with a starting MSRP price tag close to $75,000. 

2019 BMW M4 vs 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe

The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Coupe comes equipped with a V8 engine that produces 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. It is also the heaviest in the class and weighs more than the Audi RS 5 and BMW M4. This added weight hampers its acceleration figures, but not by a bigger margin. Interior is of the Mercedes-AMG is where it earned brownie points, for it is much ahead of the 2019 BMW. 

If you’re in the market looking for a modern sports Coupe that has the old-world charm of an analog instrument cluster, then the M4 might be your answer. The new V6 engine makes it fuel-efficient and coupled with precise handling and the availability of a manual gearbox makes the BMW M4 such a great buy. Throughout the years, BMW has made many incremental changes to the M4, and the 2019 version of the M4 is the best M4, as of now.