• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Tesla Owners Stung by Capitalism
  • Mercedes Updates GLE Models for 2024 Model Year
  • First Look: Mazda’s Bigger, More Luxurious New CX-90
  • GM Net Income Rises for Q4 But Falls for Full Year 2022
  • GMC Launches Production of Hummer SUV; Needs Until 2024 to Fill Outstanding Orders
  • Vehicle Sales Up for January Despite Ongoing Challenges
  • Bidding Adieu to Bugatti’s W16 Engine
  • Ford “Significantly” Raising Production of Mustang Mach-E While Reducing Prices “Across the Board”
  • Week Ahead: Numbers, Numbers and More Numbers
  • The Rearview Mirror: All That the Name Implies
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R 4x4 Super Crew
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
    • First Drive: 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
    • A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
    • A Week With: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Suburban Z71
    • A Week With: 2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport
    • A Week With: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4Matic
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > reviews > A Week With: 2021 BMW M440i xDrive Coupe

        A Week With: 2021 BMW M440i xDrive Coupe

        It wears the M badge, but it's not quite up to spec.

        Larry Printz
        Larry Printz , Assistant Managing Editor
        March 04, 2021
        2021 BMW 440i xDrive front
        The 2021 BMW 440i xDrive gets a little wider and longer for the new model year.

        There was a time when driving a BMW with an M badge was a rarified treat. But just as Mercedes-Benz has done with AMG, the M badge is now plastered across half of the line-up.

        The M stands for Motorsport of course, and signifies you’re getting a BMW that hardcore enthusiasts will love. But given the M440’s $12,900 premium above the already-spendy $45,600 BMW430i Coupe, you have to wonder if the M actually stands for money.

        Regardless, it’s time to see if the M440i xDrive Coupe is deserving of its hallowed M badge.

        Overview

        Until recently, the 4 Series was known as the 3 Series Coupe, which is basically what it is, as the 4 Series uses 3 Series engines, and its interior is similar. The newest iteration of the 4 Series Coupe has grown a bit, 5.2 inches longer, 1 inch wider, 0.4 inches taller with a 1.6 inch-longer wheelbase and 1.4 inch-wider front and 1.2 inch wider rear tracks than the previous 4 Series Coupe. It also looks significantly larger.

        2021 BMW M440i xDrive rear
        Approach the 4 Series Coupe from behind, and it’s hard not to be impressed, with its smooth aerodynamic shape and flowing lines.

        Exterior

        If you first approach the 4 Series Coupe from behind, it’s hard not to be impressed, with its smooth aerodynamic shape and flowing lines. Its sophistication is impressive, even seductive. It’s lovely two-door shape calls to you, ready to steal your heart. Then you walk to the front of the vehicle, and all enthusiasm vanishes.

        BMW’s PR minions call its freakishly oversized grille striking, and they’re right. But a third eye in the middle of your forehead is striking as well. Yet you wouldn’t call it attractive – and this front-end execution certainly isn’t.

        Interior

        Thankfully, the interior is a far different story. The instrument panel seems to be directly lifted from the 3 Series. The test vehicle was tarted up with the $3,700 Executive Package, which included some options you’d expect as standard equipment given the M440i’s base price, such as a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, ambient lighting, a head-up display and LED headlights.

        “… BMW’s PR minions call its freakishly oversized striking, and they’re right. But a third eye in the middle of your forehead is striking as well …”

        But the cabin’s premium ambiance is unmistakable, and a very good place to spend some time. The leather seats, a $1,450 option, are firm, yet comfortable with enough legroom in the rear seats to bring along some guests, as long as front seat occupants make some accommodation. Cargo space is sufficient, with the 12 cubic-foot trunk able swallow

        2021 BMW M440i xDrive side
        The silhouette of the M440i is sophisticated and seductive, almost stealing your heart.

        all that was required.

        Powertrain

        What makes this car so sublime is its powerplant, a smooth turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 augmented by a 48-volt hybrid system that generates 382 horsepower through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The difference from the 430’s 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4 cylinder is noticeable, running 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds versus 5.5 seconds for 430i xDrive Coupe.

        Safety and Technology

        BMW equips the 440i with an impressive roster of standard driver-assistance safety gear, including lane-departure warning with steering correction; frontal collision; pedestrian warning with braking function; blind-spot detection; rear cross-traffic alert; rear collision preparation, automatic high beams; and speed limit information.

        2021 BMW M440i xDrive interior
        The interior of the new M440i offers an unmistakable ambiance.

        Optional goodies include Driving Assistance Professional Package which adds Active Cruise Control, lane-keeping assist with side-collision avoidance, front cross-traffic alert and emergency-stop assist. A Parking Assistance Package includes a panoramic 3D surround-view camera. Another new option, a drive recorder, uses the cameras of the various driver assistance systems to record video footage, which can be watched on the center console. It stores up to 40 seconds of video, automatically recording up to 20 seconds in the event of a collision.

        An 8.8-inch center touchscreen infotainment display and a 5.1-inch instrument cluster display are standard, and it can be upgraded to 10.25 inches and 12.3 inches respectively. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are standard. Wireless charging is a $500 option.

        Driving Impressions

        2021 BMW M440i chartOne stab of the throttle and there’s little doubt that you’re in an M. There’s a strong, smooth surge of power. Thanks to the mild hybrid system, the M440i feels particularly lively off the mark. And the cabin is noticeably quiet.

        However, those expecting a true, hardcore M driving experience may be disappointed. Yes, the M440i handles sharply, but its electric power steering and compliant suspension don’t impart that hardcore fun-to-drive feel you’d expect of a car wearing the M badge. This is more a fast grand touring car than a true died-in-the-wool M, despite various M upgrades made to the car. And its all-wheel-drive system ensures that won’t be much on the way of tail-happy antics when carving through corners.

        Wrap Up

        While the BMW M440i xDrive is a fine grand touring car, it’s not hardcore enough to be a true BMW M, and it has a grille only a mother could love. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a great choice, it is, as long as you’re not fooled by the M badge it wears.

         

        2021 BMW M440i xDrive wheel2021 BMW M440i xDrive cockpit2021 BMW M440i xDrive taillight

         

         

         

         

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published
        2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8 best front

        A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8

        Jan. 25, 2023

        A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

        Jan. 20, 2023
        2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate best

        A Week With: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate

        Jan. 18, 2023

        What Are You Looking For?

        See More
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: