BMW M440i xDrive Cabrio: the right dose of everything

When the new BMW 4 Series (G22) was unveiled, one feature dominated the conversation: that huge front grille with an imposing double-kidney design. With the arrival of the new 4 Series Cabrio (G23), the spotlight has shifted to another talking point-at least for some people-the roof, which has now switched back to fabric.

And that really is the key change in this generation. BMW has ditched the previous car’s folding metal hardtop (and the one used on the last 3 Series Cabrio) in favour of a more traditional soft-top which, to my eyes, looks the more elegant solution.

Longer, wider and taller (and heavier, despite losing the metal roof…), the new BMW 4 Series Cabrio feels more “Grand Tourer” than ever. The question is whether that slightly blunts the sporty credentials of the model in this M440i xDrive Cabrio guise.

In outright output, only the new BMW M4 Cabrio (and the M4 Competition Cabrio) sits above this BMW M440i xDrive Cabrio within Munich’s line-up of open-top 4 Series models. The reason is the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, which produces 374 hp and 500 Nm.

That engine is exactly where my fascination with the M440i xDrive Cabrio begins-after all, BMW’s straight-six units are a cornerstone of the brand’s history.

I’m well aware that this type of engine is traditionally paired with rear-wheel drive, while the BMW M440i xDrive Cabrio-just as the badge spells out-comes with all-wheel drive. Even so, that detail quickly fades into the background once you hear the straight-six “sing”; it has character in abundance.

This version also benefits from a 48 V mild-hybrid system that can briefly “add” a further 11 hp.

All of it is handled by an eight-speed Steptronic Sport gearbox (featuring a new Sprint function for even more forceful bursts of acceleration). The result is 0–100 km/h in 4.9s and a limited top speed of 250 km/h-seriously strong figures for a “non-M”.

A sports car or a GT?

In a straight line, this M440i xDrive Cabrio is outrageous. The way it deploys its power to the road is striking, translating into a shove in the back that feels even more dramatic than the 374 hp figure suggests.

And it’s on fast, flowing straights where this convertible feels most at home. In corners there’s a mild tendency to understeer, although the standard M Sport differential and the adaptive suspension (an optional €504) do a solid job of keeping the car’s 1965 kg in check.

It’s remarkably easy to make swift progress in the M440i xDrive Cabrio. On a twisty road it can run with cars that carry far greater sporting intent, largely thanks to the traction on offer: you can “stamp” on the throttle once you’re past the apex without “fearing” the rear end will suddenly step out.

But the same trait that makes it so quick on a mountain road also stops it from feeling flawless. I’d have liked a touch more agility, and for the back end to feel a little more playful. That takes us right back to the start of this test and to the question of which “box” this convertible really belongs in.

And I’ve no doubt it should be understood-and enjoyed!-as a laid-back GT, even if, in this version, the 387 hp-and the sound-of the straight-six makes you want to think of it as something more overtly sporty.

The perfect “weapon” for a weekend escape

With the roof down and the wind as your soundtrack, the M440i xDrive Cabrio makes the most sense. Not so much as an “adrenaline generator”, but more as something that helps you slow down and savour the time, the road and the company.

You can do that even in mild temperatures, thanks to luxuries such as the wind deflector, heated seats (and steering wheel), and the Air Collar system-vents in the headrests that blow warm air (adjustable across three levels) towards the back of your neck.

The boot, at 385 litres (or 300 litres with the roof stowed), is hardly huge, but it’s spot-on for a “weekend escape”-in other words, two medium suitcases. Compared with its predecessor, the improvement is meaningful: the old model offered just 220 litres with the roof down and 370 litres with it up.

Rear-seat space, however, remains on the tight side. With the driver’s seat set to my position-I’m 1.83 m tall-there isn’t much legroom left for passengers in the back.

If you do tire of travelling “under open skies”, the good news is that the electrically operated roof takes only 18s to open or close, and the process can be carried out at speeds of up to 50 km/h. That’s another clear step forward over the previous-generation 4 Series Cabrio, which needed 32s and couldn’t operate above 15 km/h.

Sticking with the roof theme, BMW also deserves credit for the improvements in acoustic and thermal insulation.

That’s helped by the fact it isn’t a traditional fabric top. Under the cloth (available in two colours, black and anthracite silver) sit rigid panels-a solution BMW says delivers the best of both worlds: the strength of a metal roof with the visual appeal of a soft-top.

What about fuel consumption?

Driven at a relaxed “touring” pace, the straight-six in this M440i xDrive Cabrio can behave itself, returning around 8.5 l/100 km on the motorway. In town, that figure rises to close to 9.5 l/100 km.

Pick up the pace and consumption naturally follows suit: it’s very easy to see spikes of 14.5 or 15 l/100 km. By the end of this test, I’d recorded an average of 11.6 l/100 km.

Is it the right car for you?

The BMW M440i xDrive Cabrio is a head-turning convertible, yet it can also come across as genuinely classy. That description fits not only its exterior presence, but also its engine and drivetrain.

Of course, the BMW M influence brings added sporting responsibility-especially when you’ve got 374 hp under your right foot ready to be unleashed at any moment. But this M440i xDrive Cabrio is far more than a car for driving quickly or pulling tail-out slides.

More than ever, it’s a cruising GT, designed to deliver a rounded driving experience that hits several different notes.

Yes, the straight-six-its “musical note” and its “power and fire”, particularly in a straight line-is a huge part of the appeal, but it isn’t the whole story: the long bonnet, the fabric roof (especially when it’s folded away), the M seats that “hold” you in place, the superb Harman/Kardon surround sound system…

For all those reasons, I’ll finish where I started, echoing what I said in the title: this BMW M440i xDrive Cabrio delivers the right dose of everything. It satisfies when you want to push on along a mountain road and make the most of the 374 hp from this brilliant engine; it feels refined when all you want is to enjoy the sun and warmth; and it also manages to be elegant and comfortable on a longer weekend run.

It’s far from cheap, it has some options that could (and should!) be standard, and it doesn’t offer much space in the rear seats or the boot.

But if you’re looking for this sort of car, there aren’t many better choices on the market. And that alone goes a long way towards justifying the price BMW asks.

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