2021
BMW M4

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$74,700
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New 2021 BMW M4
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • Coupe
    Starts at
    $71,800
    16 City / 23 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded I-6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • Competition Coupe
    Starts at
    $74,700
    16 City / 23 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded I-6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4

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Expert 2021 BMW M4 review

bmw m3 competition sedan bmw m4 competition coupe 2021 european model oem 17 angle  exterior  front jpg
Our expert's take
By Brian Normile
Full article
bmw m3 competition sedan bmw m4 competition coupe 2021 european model oem 17 angle  exterior  front jpg

Competes with: Audi RS 5, Lexus RC F, Mercedes-AMG C63

Looks like: We’re really doing this, huh, BMW?

Powertrain: Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder; 473 horsepower and 406 pounds-feet of torque in base models, 503 hp and 479 pounds-feet in Competition models; six-speed manual (base only) or eight-speed automatic transmission; rear- (base, Competition) or all-wheel (Competition) drive

Hits dealerships: March 2021 for base and RWD Competition models; summer 2021 for AWD Competition

BMW announced the redesigned 2021 4 Series coupe in June 2020, while its 3 Series sedan sibling’s updates were announced earlier — much earlier, in fact, when it debuted at the 2018 Paris Motor Show as a 2019 model. But we’ve had to wait until now to see the full-bore M3 and M4 performance versions, which aren’t to be confused with the M340 and M440 models (high-performance, if not highest performance, cars).

Related: 2021 BMW 4 Series: More Power, More Tech, More Grille, Just … More on the 4

Of note for manual-transmission enthusiasts, the M3 and M4 will be the only variants of the redesigned 3 Series and 4 Series in the U.S. that offer manual transmissions, BMW confirmed to Cars.com. That should come as welcome, if expensive, news to stick-shift enthusiasts who bemoaned the automatic-only approach when the German automaker announced both cars’ redesigns.

The 4 Series’ debut included a lot of talk about its front styling, particularly the massive grille openings in BMW’s signature kidney shape. Until now, the 3 Series had avoided such controversial styling …

Exterior

… but that’s no longer the case, as the M3 also has a gaping maw. According to BMW, it’s “designed to feed the massive amounts of air needed for fulfilling the cooling requirements under the most rigorous conditions.” Large intakes on either side of the grille provide air to both cars’ coolant radiators and brakes. Slim vertical intakes at the edges of the front bumper, meanwhile, are part of BMW’s Air Curtain system, which is designed to reduce drag and improve fuel consumption.

Both the M3 and M4 are 4.6 inches longer than their predecessors, with 1.8-inch longer wheelbases than the previous M cars. Width and height grow a smidge on each car, up less than an inch all around. Flared fenders help accommodate wide tires and the wider front track, which is up 1.5 inches on both cars. Up front, the tires are about 10.8 inches wide, while the rears are 11.2 inches. Wheel size is staggered, with 18-inchers up front and 19s in back as standard equipment; Competition models have 19s and 20s, respectively.

Front- and rear-bumper aerodynamic bits join with aggressive side sills to create a ring of gloss-black aero around each car, a nod to the first-generation E30 M3. Slim LED headlights are standard, and both adaptive LED lights with BMW’s Laserlight and dark-accented Shadowline headlights are optional.

Standard on the new M3 and M4 is a roof made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, or CFRP, though a moonroof (and a steel roof surrounding it) is a no-cost option. More carbon fiber is available as part of the M Carbon Package, which gets new front intake inlays, rear diffuser, mirror caps and a rear spoiler — the final item in CFRP. The Shadowline Package adds darkened exterior accents and is optional on the base M3 and M4; it’s standard on Competition versions, but BMW says it can change them back to body-color elements for shoppers who don’t want the look.

Interior

New M sport seats in Merino leather feature M-specific perforations and model badging. For the first time in the M3 and M4, seats also can be had with ventilation. Those in search of a racier look can opt for the M Carbon front bucket seats, which still offer power adjustment but shave 21 pounds. The buckets can also be set to a lower seating position than the sport seats; they feature additional bolstering and can accommodate a racing harness instead of the standard shoulder belt.

More carbon fiber is available inside as an option, replacing the standard aluminum trim. It also adds carbon-fiber inlays to the steering wheel and, on Competition models, adds carbon-fiber shift paddles. The steering wheel and gear selector are each wrapped in leather, and the engine stop-start button and steering-wheel-mounted M mode selector buttons have red accents.

The instrument panel is a 12.3-inch fully digital display, and to its right is a 10.25-inch touchscreen that operates the latest version of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

Powertrain and Acceleration Times

Base models of both cars get BMW’s S58 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder that debuted in the X3 M and X4 M SUVs. It’s good here for 473 horsepower, 48 hp more than the last M3 and M4, and 406 pounds-feet of torque. Shoppers can pair that to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Base models are rear-wheel drive only, and the manual is the only three-pedal setup in any 3 Series or 4 Series for the U.S. market. (That’s not the case globally, as you can still get a manual 3 Series overseas).

Upgrade to the M3 or M4 Competition, and the six-cylinder pumps out 503 hp (59 hp more than the last Competition) and 479 pounds-feet (73 pounds-feet more), but it only pairs with the eight-speed automatic. At launch, the Competition will only be available as a rear-drive model, but an AWD version — a first for the M3 and M4 — will follow. That AWD system offers three driving modes: 4WD (which is to say, AWD) for regular driving, 4WD Sport for more enthusiastic occasions, and a 2WD mode that offers true RWD driving but also turns off the stability control. Competition models also get an additional transmission oil cooler to improve the car’s ability to cool down during hard driving.

BMW says base models will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds with the manual, while the automatic-equipped Competition can sprint to 60 in 3.8. That sounds conservative; in our measured testing of the 2020 M340i at a drag strip, we managed to do 0-60 in 3.89 seconds — in a car that weighs roughly the same but is rated at 382 horsepower, or 91 to 121 hp less than the true M cars.

Top speed in both base and Competition cars is limited to 155 mph but can increase to 180 mph if buyers opt for the optional M Driver’s Package, which unlocks the extra 25 mph and provides you with BMW driver training.

The M3 and M4 have BMW’s traditional selectable drive modes — and an electrically controlled exhaust that changes tune depending on mode — plus M modes. The M modes include Road for basic driving; Sport, which dials back electronic interventions; and, if buyers add the M Drive Professional option, Track. Track has a complicated activation process, so drivers are less likely to turn it by accident on the road because, as its name implies, it’s for track driving. All driver assistance systems are turned off when Track is activated.

The M3 and M4 come standard with an adaptive suspension and, with the M Drive Professional system, add M Traction Control, which gives the cars’ electronic stability system 10 stages of adjustment.

M Drive Professional also adds what BMW calls the M Drift Analyzer which, as you might have guessed, analyzes your drifting. BMW says it “records the duration, distance covered, line and angle of a drift with a rating shown on the Control Display.” A lap timing function is available, too, and you can further analyze recorded data via an iPhone app.

Safety

Standard safety technologies include BMW’s Active Driving Assistant suite of safety features — things like forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-centering assist — as well as automatic high beams and front and rear parking sensors.

An optional Driving Assistance Professional Package is available on Competition models and adds features like adaptive cruise control, BMW’s hands-free semi-autonomous Extended Traffic Jam Assist feature, blind spot collision avoidance and evasive steering assist.

A 360-degree camera system and self-parking are available as part of the optional Parking Assistance Package.

We cannot generate a video preview. See the full review to watch it.

Pricing and Release Date

Including the $995 destination fee, the base M3 starts at $70,895, or $3,400 more than the last-gen 2018 M3. The M4, meanwhile, starts at $72,795 ($2,650 more than a 2020 M4). Upgrading to the Competition version of either car adds an extra $2,900, bringing prices to $73,795 for the M3 and $75,695 for the M4. AWD versions of the Competition will be … more than that, though BMW hasn’t said how much yet.

Rear-drive base and Competition cars will be available in March 2021, according to BMW, with the AWD version to follow sometime in the summer.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Road Test Editor
Brian Normile

Road Test Editor Brian Normile joined the automotive industry and Cars.com in 2013, and he became part of the Editorial staff in 2014. Brian spent his childhood devouring every car magazine he got his hands on — not literally, eventually — and now reviews and tests vehicles to help consumers make informed choices. Someday, Brian hopes to learn what to do with his hands when he’s reviewing a car on camera. He would daily-drive an Alfa Romeo 4C if he could.

2021 BMW M4 review: Our expert's take
By Brian Normile

Competes with: Audi RS 5, Lexus RC F, Mercedes-AMG C63

Looks like: We’re really doing this, huh, BMW?

Powertrain: Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder; 473 horsepower and 406 pounds-feet of torque in base models, 503 hp and 479 pounds-feet in Competition models; six-speed manual (base only) or eight-speed automatic transmission; rear- (base, Competition) or all-wheel (Competition) drive

Hits dealerships: March 2021 for base and RWD Competition models; summer 2021 for AWD Competition

BMW announced the redesigned 2021 4 Series coupe in June 2020, while its 3 Series sedan sibling’s updates were announced earlier — much earlier, in fact, when it debuted at the 2018 Paris Motor Show as a 2019 model. But we’ve had to wait until now to see the full-bore M3 and M4 performance versions, which aren’t to be confused with the M340 and M440 models (high-performance, if not highest performance, cars).

Related: 2021 BMW 4 Series: More Power, More Tech, More Grille, Just … More on the 4

Of note for manual-transmission enthusiasts, the M3 and M4 will be the only variants of the redesigned 3 Series and 4 Series in the U.S. that offer manual transmissions, BMW confirmed to Cars.com. That should come as welcome, if expensive, news to stick-shift enthusiasts who bemoaned the automatic-only approach when the German automaker announced both cars’ redesigns.

The 4 Series’ debut included a lot of talk about its front styling, particularly the massive grille openings in BMW’s signature kidney shape. Until now, the 3 Series had avoided such controversial styling …

Exterior

2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4

… but that’s no longer the case, as the M3 also has a gaping maw. According to BMW, it’s “designed to feed the massive amounts of air needed for fulfilling the cooling requirements under the most rigorous conditions.” Large intakes on either side of the grille provide air to both cars’ coolant radiators and brakes. Slim vertical intakes at the edges of the front bumper, meanwhile, are part of BMW’s Air Curtain system, which is designed to reduce drag and improve fuel consumption.

Both the M3 and M4 are 4.6 inches longer than their predecessors, with 1.8-inch longer wheelbases than the previous M cars. Width and height grow a smidge on each car, up less than an inch all around. Flared fenders help accommodate wide tires and the wider front track, which is up 1.5 inches on both cars. Up front, the tires are about 10.8 inches wide, while the rears are 11.2 inches. Wheel size is staggered, with 18-inchers up front and 19s in back as standard equipment; Competition models have 19s and 20s, respectively.

Front- and rear-bumper aerodynamic bits join with aggressive side sills to create a ring of gloss-black aero around each car, a nod to the first-generation E30 M3. Slim LED headlights are standard, and both adaptive LED lights with BMW’s Laserlight and dark-accented Shadowline headlights are optional.

Standard on the new M3 and M4 is a roof made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, or CFRP, though a moonroof (and a steel roof surrounding it) is a no-cost option. More carbon fiber is available as part of the M Carbon Package, which gets new front intake inlays, rear diffuser, mirror caps and a rear spoiler — the final item in CFRP. The Shadowline Package adds darkened exterior accents and is optional on the base M3 and M4; it’s standard on Competition versions, but BMW says it can change them back to body-color elements for shoppers who don’t want the look.

Interior

2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4 2021 BMW M4

New M sport seats in Merino leather feature M-specific perforations and model badging. For the first time in the M3 and M4, seats also can be had with ventilation. Those in search of a racier look can opt for the M Carbon front bucket seats, which still offer power adjustment but shave 21 pounds. The buckets can also be set to a lower seating position than the sport seats; they feature additional bolstering and can accommodate a racing harness instead of the standard shoulder belt.

More carbon fiber is available inside as an option, replacing the standard aluminum trim. It also adds carbon-fiber inlays to the steering wheel and, on Competition models, adds carbon-fiber shift paddles. The steering wheel and gear selector are each wrapped in leather, and the engine stop-start button and steering-wheel-mounted M mode selector buttons have red accents.

The instrument panel is a 12.3-inch fully digital display, and to its right is a 10.25-inch touchscreen that operates the latest version of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

Powertrain and Acceleration Times

Base models of both cars get BMW’s S58 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder that debuted in the X3 M and X4 M SUVs. It’s good here for 473 horsepower, 48 hp more than the last M3 and M4, and 406 pounds-feet of torque. Shoppers can pair that to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Base models are rear-wheel drive only, and the manual is the only three-pedal setup in any 3 Series or 4 Series for the U.S. market. (That’s not the case globally, as you can still get a manual 3 Series overseas).

Upgrade to the M3 or M4 Competition, and the six-cylinder pumps out 503 hp (59 hp more than the last Competition) and 479 pounds-feet (73 pounds-feet more), but it only pairs with the eight-speed automatic. At launch, the Competition will only be available as a rear-drive model, but an AWD version — a first for the M3 and M4 — will follow. That AWD system offers three driving modes: 4WD (which is to say, AWD) for regular driving, 4WD Sport for more enthusiastic occasions, and a 2WD mode that offers true RWD driving but also turns off the stability control. Competition models also get an additional transmission oil cooler to improve the car’s ability to cool down during hard driving.

BMW says base models will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds with the manual, while the automatic-equipped Competition can sprint to 60 in 3.8. That sounds conservative; in our measured testing of the 2020 M340i at a drag strip, we managed to do 0-60 in 3.89 seconds — in a car that weighs roughly the same but is rated at 382 horsepower, or 91 to 121 hp less than the true M cars.

Top speed in both base and Competition cars is limited to 155 mph but can increase to 180 mph if buyers opt for the optional M Driver’s Package, which unlocks the extra 25 mph and provides you with BMW driver training.

The M3 and M4 have BMW’s traditional selectable drive modes — and an electrically controlled exhaust that changes tune depending on mode — plus M modes. The M modes include Road for basic driving; Sport, which dials back electronic interventions; and, if buyers add the M Drive Professional option, Track. Track has a complicated activation process, so drivers are less likely to turn it by accident on the road because, as its name implies, it’s for track driving. All driver assistance systems are turned off when Track is activated.

The M3 and M4 come standard with an adaptive suspension and, with the M Drive Professional system, add M Traction Control, which gives the cars’ electronic stability system 10 stages of adjustment.

M Drive Professional also adds what BMW calls the M Drift Analyzer which, as you might have guessed, analyzes your drifting. BMW says it “records the duration, distance covered, line and angle of a drift with a rating shown on the Control Display.” A lap timing function is available, too, and you can further analyze recorded data via an iPhone app.

Safety

Standard safety technologies include BMW’s Active Driving Assistant suite of safety features — things like forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-centering assist — as well as automatic high beams and front and rear parking sensors.

An optional Driving Assistance Professional Package is available on Competition models and adds features like adaptive cruise control, BMW’s hands-free semi-autonomous Extended Traffic Jam Assist feature, blind spot collision avoidance and evasive steering assist.

A 360-degree camera system and self-parking are available as part of the optional Parking Assistance Package.

Pricing and Release Date

Including the $995 destination fee, the base M3 starts at $70,895, or $3,400 more than the last-gen 2018 M3. The M4, meanwhile, starts at $72,795 ($2,650 more than a 2020 M4). Upgrading to the Competition version of either car adds an extra $2,900, bringing prices to $73,795 for the M3 and $75,695 for the M4. AWD versions of the Competition will be … more than that, though BMW hasn’t said how much yet.

Rear-drive base and Competition cars will be available in March 2021, according to BMW, with the AWD version to follow sometime in the summer.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
12 years
Powertrain
4 years / 50,000 miles
Maintenance
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Certified Pre-Owned Elite with less than 15,000 miles; Certified Pre-Owned with less than 60,000 miles
Basic
1 year / unlimited miles from expiration of 4-year / 50,000-mile new car warranty
Dealer certification
196-point inspection

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Consumer reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0

Most recent

Fantastic luxury performance car

Luxury and outstanding performance. High quality leather and carbon fiber interior combined with 11.3 second quarter mile, outstanding handling and brakes. Best infotainment I've seen on any car. No other car in this price range matches it.
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Short time to date

So far, which admittedly is only a month and 800 miles, but so far, loving it. Traded in a Cadillac V Series (The true "V" series and prior to the Blackwing V Series) and I find the M4 Competition to offer a slightly more comfortable ride in the softest setting versus the Cadillac and roughly the same handling capabilities in the "sport" settings. Still getting used to BMW's steering though. Just something different with it and maybe once I get used to I'll trust the M4 even more than the Caddy?
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2021 BMW M4?

The 2021 BMW M4 is available in 2 trim levels:

  • (1 style)
  • Competition (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2021 BMW M4?

The 2021 BMW M4 offers up to 16 MPG in city driving and 23 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2021 BMW M4?

The 2021 BMW M4 compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2021 BMW M4 reliable?

The 2021 BMW M4 has an average reliability rating of 5.0 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2021 BMW M4 owners.

Is the 2021 BMW M4 a good Coupe?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2021 BMW M4. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

5.0 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
  • Comfort: 5.0
  • Interior: 5.0
  • Performance: 5.0
  • Value: 5.0
  • Exterior: 5.0
  • Reliability: 5.0

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