Of the entire BMW 4 Series lineup, it’s obviously the M4 that gets all the attention, what with its big schnoz and big power numbers. But for those who prefer something fast but a little more subdued and with a bonus helping of practicality, the 2026 BMW M440i Gran Coupe is the not-much-of-a-consolation consolation prize you forgot existed.
What's new for 2026?
Internal combustion power returns to the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe lineup for 2026. BMW seems to take an on-again-off-again approach when offering its sweet turbocharged "B58" inline-six under the hood, last doing so in 2024 with the M440i Gran Coupe Legacy Edition. After a break for the 2025 model year, the B58 is back for 2026.
And that's about it. The electric end of the 4 Series Gran Coupe lineup sees a few more upgrades, but it's being discontinued after 2026.
B58 or bust
We, the collective whole that is DoubleClutch.ca Magazine, have a great deal of seat time with the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, both gas and electric. It didn't take long for us to forget about the grille — the i4's familiar controls and touch points, excellent driving position, decent-enough range and fast-enough Level 3 charging, sprightly acceleration, and even its tail-happy nature were just some of the reasons it remained one of our favourite EVs since launch.
Introducing the B58—and everything else associated with an internal-combustion engine—enhances the recipe exactly as you'd expect. BMW's 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six puts out 386 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, sent to all four wheels via the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic. BMW quotes a zero-to-100 km/h run of 4.6 seconds—quicker than a dual-motor i4, but don't line up against an M60.
Driving impressions
As ever, the B58 remains a gem in the M440i Gran Coupe. It's a bit quieter here than I expected, waking up with less drama and fewer burbles owing to its more subdued nature. Around town, the inline-six 4 Series is quick off the line, closing gaps and beating yellow lights with so much as a light breath on the skinny pedal.
Give the B58-powered M440i the beans and it really wakes up. It certainly lends credence to the rumours of BMW sandbagging their power ratings, because the M440i just flies despite not being a "real" M car. It's always ready to boost. It always pulls hard. It's always in the right gear. You wanna go? You got it. The M440i just gets it done.
In fact, the M440i feels perhaps a tad too isolated than I remember. It rides well considering the rubber-band tires, and there's very little wind noise despite the frameless windows. But considering how vocal BMW straight-sixes are, the M440i is too quiet right out of the box; you'll do well to spec the optional M Performance exhaust. Also, its overly girthy steering wheel seems a touch number and overboosted compared to its siblings; dare I say the i4 has better steering feel?
And the rest
The rest of the 2026 M440i Gran Coupe remains familiar. The M Sport look is standard, the cabin is nearly identical to its 3 and 4 Series siblings, the iDrive infotainment remains easy-to-use and can still be controlled via a knob or touchscreen, and despite the sloping roof, practicality doesn't take that much of a hit. The back seats remain roomy enough for adults, and the rear liftback design remains a neat party trick allowing for more practicality.
The only pill you might find hard to swallow is the price tag. At $76,500 to start, the cost of entry to the 2026 BMW M440i Gran Coupe is almost reasonable, but this loaded-to-the-gills tester comes in at $94,550. That's within $2,000 of the starting price of a stick M3 sedan with zero options. To the right buyer, that trade-off into something still-quick but more subdued may be worth it.
But then comes the next decision, between the 2026 BMW M440i Gran Coupe and a comparably priced i4. Just don't take too long to act on that realization.