2023 BMW M4

　　

2023 BMW M4 Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　BMW makes some of the most exhilarating luxury sport coupes and sedans on the market, and the M4 is a solid example. It's powerful, capable and loud, and it struts around with muscular looks and a polarizing grille. It's the high-performance model in the 4 Series lineup and the coupe version of the M3 sedan. The Competition models were introduced for 2022, and they pack additional performance and can be equipped with all-wheel drive.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 BMW M4 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$247/mo  for M4 Base

　　M4 Base

　　2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M) - $74,700 MSRPCompetition 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $78,600 MSRPCompetition xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $82,700 MSRPCompetition xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $89,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　For 2023, BMW introduced an even more capable M4 model, the CSL. The CSL is a rear-wheel-drive, track-focused version of the M4 that pumps out 40 more horsepower than the Competition model and is 240 pounds lighter. BMW made a number of modifications to reduce weight such as removing the rear seats and installing lightweight components like carbon-fiber bucket seats, carbon-ceramic brakes, a titanium exhaust system and forged light-alloy wheels. Reduced sound deadening cut more weight, and the CSL's roof, hood and trunklid are made out of carbon fiber.

　　To further enhance performance, the CSL has a lowered ride height, a more rigid chassis, a track-tuned adaptive suspension, a unique traction control system and ultra-high-performance tires. It also sports an electronically adjustable exhaust system. The M4 CSL is limited to only 1,000 units worldwide and starts at $140,895 — roughly double the cost of a base M4 model.

　　As impressive as the M4 is, there are a few rivals to consider. You might check out BMW's redesigned M2 or the smaller, driver-centric Porsche 718 Cayman. There is also the mid-engine American sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's in-depth review of the M4's performance, tech and more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the M4 drive? The new BMW M4 packs one magnificent engine. There's copious amounts of power from just off idle until redline, and turbo lag is fairly minimal. Competition models like our test vehicle get a slight bump in power along with some other small upgrades. In zzdcar' testing, the M4 Competition blasted from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and covered the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds at 122.7 mph. That's on par with the latest Chevrolet Corvette and Mercedes-AMG C 63 coupe.

　　Our test car had the automatic transmission. It shifts crisply and reacts quickly when you need a downshift during aggressive driving, but it also works great for commuting around town too. The optional carbon-ceramic brakes (also on our test car) are fade-free even under hard driving. Our test car stopped from 60 mph in 106 feet, which is a little shorter than average for this class.

　　The standard adaptive suspension does a good job of keeping the car planted when you're hammering around turns, but we found the firmest setting to be a bit too stiff on the street. Our main complaint is the steering. While it's an improvement over the last M4, it lacks the level of feedback and precision you'll find elsewhere.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the M4? As with any performance car, comfort is a relative term. The M4 Competition's ride is firm, but it's better tuned and more compliant than some of BMW's other M Competition models. The standard adaptive suspension manages most situations well, absorbing impacts without rattling your teeth. Its stiffest setting is too much for public roads, but it's easy to dial it back. Noise and vibration are low for a performance car. It's not whisper-quiet, but the M4 is more refined than its burbly exhaust might suggest.

　　Our test vehicle had the optional carbon-fiber bucket front seats. These snug, lightweight seats are thin on padding and have a small bump in the seat bottom that fits between the driver's legs. BMW's designers presumably added it to boost lateral support when cornering, or maybe because they just thought it would look cool. But our shorter drivers (under 6 feet tall) found it bothersome. Consider sticking with the standard M4 seats.

　　The climate control system works fairly well, though we found it runs a bit on the warm side. The controls are mostly easy to use, though the lack of a dedicated sync button to equalize both sizes of the dual-zone system seems like an oversight.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below