Grand in all but name

Don’t be confused by the model designation. A car that is this gorgeous, practical and great to drive is hard to fault

Stephen Smith

Price: R1 312 696

Engine: 3,0-litre, 6-cyl, turbopetrol

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 285 kW@ 5 800 r/min

Torque: 500 N.m 1 900-5 000 r/min

0-100 km/h: 4,7 seconds*

Fuel consumption: 8,20 L/100 km*

Top speed: 250 km/h

CO²: 187 g/km

Rivals: Audi S5 TFSI Sportback, Mercedes-AMG C43 coupé

+ top-notch cabin; cracking good looks; comprehensive standard features; belting performance in the M440i

- the grille polarises; why does it have 'Gran' in the name?

I'm not sure why certain car manufacturers insist on dropping letters from words in naming cars, but it has become something of a trend ... one that doesn't always make a great deal of sense. Take the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé. For some reason, they've slipped the abbreviation of grandmother in there ...

References to elderly relatives aside, the latest extension to the 4 Series line-up is as striking as it is practical and pleasurable to drive. The aesthetic changes made to this second-generation model are focused on that massive kidney (or a pair of lungs, to my eyes) grille that stretches from the bonnet to just above the tar and is framed by slim LED headlamps. The coupé profile is accented by a shadow line, while the darkened, slender taillamps mirror those in the front. Alloy rims are 18-inch on the four-cylinder models and 19-inch on the M440i pictured.