2021 BMW M440i

It is not simply a 3-Series sedan with two doors and offers a desirable blend of luxury and performance. It faces competition from the likes of Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 Coupe, Audi S5 Coupe, and Lexus RC 350. 

The 2021 BMW M440i will be available in a single trim configuration only and will help the prospective buyers to go for it without much thinking. The good thing is that xDrive will be provided as standard which is usually reserved for high-end BMW models. Despite being a performance-oriented model, you’ll get a practical and comfortable cabin experience. It is one of those cars which can strike a good balance between ride and handling without compromising on either of them. 

Which trim should you buy? 

As there is only one trim configuration to choose from, you need to go for it without thinking twice. It is packed with many desirable features and comes with an xDrive system as well which provides better control in varying driving situations. It offers creature comforts like a multi-zone climate control system, power front seats with 2-way power side bolsters, a memory system for driver’s seat and external mirrors, a keyless entry, a Live Cockpit Plus system, leather-wrapped M sport steering wheel, and many more. It gets an aggressive design language, comfortable interiors, and a peppy powertrain to keep you happy. 

The 2021 BMW M440i is equipped with a 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 cylinder engine producing about 382 hp and 364 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which is sleek and performs just as intended. It comes with an xDrive system as standard, meaning all the power is transferred to all four wheels and helps with better traction on different types of surface conditions. 

Overall, the power to weight ratio of the car is very good and it offers brisk acceleration without any delay. However, the turbo needs to kick in first to let you enjoy the full performance. To compensate for that delay, the BMW M440i comes with a 48V mild-hybrid system which helps with e-boost and improves efficiency too. The performance is good in routine urban conditions and the engine does not stress out in maintaining higher speeds on the highways. 

The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 coupe is the most powerful of the lot and offers marginally higher firepower than the BMW M440i. However, the M440 XDrive performs slightly better than it in the acceleration tests. The Audi S5 coupe offers very identical performance as the M440i despite being less powerful than it. The Lexus RC 350 is the least powerful car in comparison and takes about 1.5 seconds more for a 0-60 mph sprint compared to the BMW and Audi cars. 

How does the 2021 BMW M440i handle?

The 2021 BMW M440i xDrive is definitely an improvement over its predecessor and performs better than it. The lower center of gravity owing to a lower ground clearance helps with better handling. Also increased rear track and wheelbase help with better control over the car in spirited driving situations. The body roll is also bound to be a minimum around the corners. 

The M-Sport suspension provides good ride quality over different road surfaces and the rear spoiler helps to keep the car planted at higher speeds. While the handling is good the steering fails to deliver good driver engagement. It feels numb and artificial. It is accurate and works just as intended but the direct feel is missing and we missed the previous BMW cars in this regard. 

2021 BMW M440i xDrive Braking Performance 

A car that goes fast needs to stop even more effectively and all that momentum needs to be stopped within the shortest distance. As per some reported data, the 2021 M440i is equipped with 15.0-inch rotors at the front end and 14.6-inch rotors at the rear end. Like many other BMW models, the brakes on the M440i xDrive are also confidence-inspiring and linear in operation. The anti-lock braking system and all four brakes work simultaneously to bring the car from 60 mph to a complete halt in about 109 feet. It cannot be considered as best especially when it is equipped with larger rotors than its competition. 

*reported data 

The 2021 BMW M440i XDrive is the second bulkiest car off the lot and that hampers its braking performance to some extent. The Mercedes-AMG C 43 coupe is the heaviest and offers a similar stopping distance despite being equipped with smaller rotors at both ends. The Lexus RC 350 loses the braking performance test and offers a higher stopping distance of 112-feet, which is more than other cars. It is followed by Audi S5 Coupe with 111-feet of stopping distance. 

All the coupes’ in the competition are built for performance and we don’t expect them to be super fuel-efficient. However, some of them surprise us with commendable fuel efficiency. The 2021 BMW M440i offers 21 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg in combined driving conditions. With a fuel tank capacity of 15.6-gallon, it can travel up to 359 in the city, 515 miles on the highway, and 421 miles in mixed driving conditions. We believe that the 48V mild-hybrid system definitely helps with better fuel efficiency.

The BMW M440i and Mercedes-AMG C 43 coupe are the most fuel-efficient cars in the lot. However, the Mercedes-AMG C 43 coupe is the range king with 435 miles owing to its larger fuel tank of 15.4 gallons. It is followed by BMW M440i with 421 miles, Lexus RC 350 with 366 miles, and Audi S5 coupe with 352 miles, in mixed driving conditions. The Lexus RC 350 is equipped with a larger engine and is least fuel-efficient, followed by Audi S5 Coupe with 23 mpg in mixed conditions. 

The interiors of the 2021 BMW M440i can definitely be one of its USPs. The cabin feels luxurious and the materials used inside bleed quality. In addition, the light color theme used by BMW promotes the feeling of roominess inside the cabin. The dashboard is minimalistic with all functions within the easy reach of the driver. The infotainment screen sits on the center of the dashboard and a large driver information display is present in the instrument console. The aluminum inserts in the trim panels look modern. The front seats are comfortable and provide easy entry and exit from the cabin. 

The rear seats are just okay and not recommended for long journeys as the passengers in there might just feel a bit cramped. The M440i is also practical for daily usage and offers multiple storage places across the cabin to store your stuff. You also get access to various desirable features like a multi-zone climate control system, keyless entry, power front sport seats, leather-wrapped M Sport steering wheel, rear window defroster, and many more. Despite being a performance-oriented car, luxury has not taken a toll on this car and we really appreciate the comfort of the cabin. Only a few cars can come close to the M440i in terms of interior design. 

All the cars in the comparison can seat up to four passengers. The BMW M440i xDrive offers much better legroom across the second row and higher cargo capacity as well. The Lexus RC 350 offers the least legroom across the second row. The AMG C 43 coupe offers good second-row headroom and legroom but offers the least cargo capacity. The BMW M440i and Audi S5 coupe offer the same cargo capacity. Some of the standout interior features are:

• Multi-Zone climate control system 
• Rear window defroster
• Remote access and keyless entry 
• Leather-wrapped M sport steering wheel 
• SensaTec upholstery
• Aluminum tetragon interior trim 

What’s there in the 2021 BMW M440i xDrive to keep you entertained? 

The 2021 BMW M440i xDrive is equipped with an intuitive to use iDrive 7.0 infotainment system. It consists of an 8.8-inch central infotainment screen which offers high resolution. For driver information, it is equipped with a 5.1-inch display in the instrument cluster. The whole system is programmed to be operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad controller. 

The system also lets you access the navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, and freely programmable bookmarks. For smartphone connectivity and seamless app usage, the infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. For a memorable musical experience inside the cabin, the M440i XDrive is equipped with a 10-speaker HiFi sound system and a 205-Watts digital amplifier. Some of the standout features of the infotainment system are: 

• Apple CarPlay 
• Android Auto 
• 8.8-inch central touchscreen display 
• iDrive touchpad controller 
• SiriusXM with 360L 
• Navigation system 

The 2021 BMW M440i definitely looks distinctive in the sports coupe segment. The front facia imbibes two sleek LED headlights with typical daytime running lights. The on-the-face kidney bean-styled front radiator grille might be over the top for some but actually looks better than expected. The front bumper is also designed aggressively and does not look out of place. The side profile is just like any other coupe but is devoid of many strong character lines and just a single line passes below the door handle. 

The 18-inch alloy wheels with the red or blue colored brake calipers look sporty as well. The side profile is smooth and consistent in design The rear profile consists of two modern-looking LED tail lamps that blend well with the overall design language. The rear spoiler on the trunk helps in improving the aerodynamics and providing sufficient downforce at high speeds. The dual trapezoidal exhaust outlets look unique and accentuate the modern design of the car. 

The BMW M440i sits on a longer wheelbase and offers decent ground clearance. It is also longer and wider than its competition. A longer wheelbase helps with better stability at high speeds. The Lexus RC 350 comes with the highest ground clearance and shortest wheelbase. A shorter wheelbase helps with higher maneuverability. The Mercedes-AMG C 43 coupe offers the least ground clearance which aids with a lower center of gravity and better handling. Some of the standout exterior features are: 

• Power folding and heated side mirrors
• Rear spoiler 
• LED headlights and tail lights
• 18-inch alloy wheels 
• Signature kidney bean front grille 

The 2021 BMW M440i is based on the new 3-Series platform and shares many safety features with it. The NHTSA has not tested the M440i yet and we don’t expect to be tested any time soon. However, BMW cars have a reputation of being safe and we expect the same from the BMW M440i as well. It gets many advanced safety and driver-assistance features to ensure the safety of its occupants. Some of them are an anti-lock braking system, automatic high beams, adaptive brake lights, airbags, an active driving assistant, a rearview camera, and many more. Some of the standout safety features of the BMW M440i xDrive are: 

• Impact sensor for disconnection of battery and fuel pump
• LATCH system 
• Antitheft alarm system 
• Frontal collision warning system
• Active blind spot detection 
• Lane departure warning 
• Rear-view camera
• Automatic locking retractors

2021 BMW M440i xDrive vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 coupe 

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 is the closest rival to the BMW M440i in terms of interior features and a comfortable cabin. It comes with higher power output and offers very similar performance as that of the BMW M440i despite being heavier. It also offers a better range owing to its larger fuel tank. However, it lacks in the cargo capacity department and the BMW M440i simply looks more aggressive than it. So the final choice is ultimately in your hands.

2021 BMW M440i xDrive vs 2021 Audi S5 Coupe 

The BMW M440i is a more modern and sassy-looking coupe among the two. The BMW M440i xDrive offers more firepower than the Audi S5 coupe while their performance is very similar. The Audi S5 coupe is less fuel-efficient and offers less range than the M440i. However, it offers the same cargo capacity as that of the M440i but can’t match the legroom across the second row. If we have to choose one between these two coupes, it would be the BMW M440i 

2021 BMW M440i xDrive vs 2021 Lexus RC 350 

If you are looking for something different outside the German territory then you can have a look at the Lexus RC 350. It is a modern-looking package and definitely, its Japanese styling stands out from any angle you look at it. However, the BMW M440i is a better performer and offers better fuel efficiency as well. It also offers more comfortable seating and cargo capacity as well. If you want more power from the Lexus coupe then you need to opt for the F trim which is more expensive than the 350. The Lexus RC 350 also can’t match the BMW M440i in terms of creature comforts that it offers.

The BMW M440i is definitely a big leap in comparison to its predecessor. It offers thrilling performance and a long list of desirable features as well. It also offers decent fuel efficiency, thanks to its 48V mild hybrid system and a good cargo capacity for its segment. It also comes with a decent amount of safety and driver-assistance features. However, it lacks the driving engagement of the previous generation BMW cars and we sincerely hope that BWM works on it, to make this spectacular car even more perfect. All said we won’t mind recommending it to you for the value and fun it offers in the coupe form.