2022 BMW 420i Gran Coupe

By Alex Forrest

BMW nearly melted the internet last year when it released images of the controversially large front grille for some of its upcoming new vehicles.

This, the 420i Gran Coupe, is one of those new big-grille cars but like sunrises and live music, the perspective of seeing it unedited in real life can make a big difference to your view on it.

In BMW parlance, Gran Coupe means four doors. There’s also a 4 Series Coupe, which is the true coupe with two doors.

So with this car, BMW is having a go at straddling a few niches. It is seeking to blend some coupe styling elements with the practicality of four doors and a large hatchback. Don’t like the look of the big back end on the Gran Coupe? Just go for the 3 Series sedan, which has the same underpinnings.

All that outrage and discussion about the grille took attention away from the other aspects of the 420i which, like the grille, also make it stand out from the crowd.

One of those stand outs is the quick and intuitive infotainment system, which includes wireless renditions of both Apple Carplay and Android Auto. BMW has been ahead of the pack on this for some time, while other brands have required users to plug in their phones.

The interior of the 420i is equally easy to interact with, and is such a comfortable and engaging place to be that it will have you contemplating taking the long way around for all but your most urgent of journeys. 

At just over $85,000 drive away, the 420i Grand Coupe isn’t cheap by most peoples’ standards, but in the context of the 4 Series range, the 420i is the entry level variant. From here, the price goes up steeply as you select more powerful engines and tick more options boxes.