It's telling how much old-school BMW handling magic is missing from the 430i that it puts its best foot forward when simply left in Comfort mode. The ride is well damped, body motions are controlled, and the lower-effort steering is better matched to the coupe's light-on-its-feet dynamic feel. As in the also-new 3 Series that shares this platform, the 430i feels more solid and cohesively tuned than before, but it never reaches out and grabs the driver and goads them to drive harder.

If It's Not Sporty, Then Surely It's Comfortable ...

[Game-show buzzer!]The 430i isn't all that comfortable. On the freeway, a substantial level of tire noise and slap makes its way into the cabin. There is also a buzzy din that emanates from the front end, a sort of guitar-string tinnitus sensation of a too-direct connection between suspension components and the body structure. It's a curious trade-off for the decidedly uninvolving handling.

Neither is the 430i particularly luxurious. The cabin is classic BMW: businesslike, with a minimum of fussy detailing or extravagance. From a usability standpoint, that's great. The latest iteration of iDrive, BMW's knob-controlled infotainment setup, is simple and easy to use. On-screen menus are streamlined, and in each one, more detailed sub-menus are accessed via a simple tap to the right. The digital gauge cluster's configurability is controlled by a pair of buttons on the turn signal stalk and a scroll wheel on the left-hand steering wheel spoke. A row of HVAC controls sits above another row of audio presets and a volume knob to lend the cabin a whiff of familiarity and approachability.

As a bonus, the 430i's interior is roomy and brimming with practical elements. The trunk, for example, is big, and the rear seats can be folded nearly flat, opening up a huge pass-through to the interior. With the two rear seats up, there is a surprising amount of legroom for passengers back there. Headroom in back is tight but not as much as in other similarly sized coupes, and there's even a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders and rear-seat temperature and fan controls.

How About Them Coupe Dreams?

The thing is, ease of use and practicality aren't sexy. In a world where bells and whistles have been democratized to non-luxury cars, the BMW 430i's relatively plain cabin design isn't compelling enough. Mercedes-Benz's C-Class delivers wow-inducing cross-pollination between old-school luxury materials and modern design, while the Audi A5 pulls off the minimalist-German-car interior thing with more panache. Both of those coupes are quieter and more comfortable without giving up much, if any, sportiness to the 4 Series.

So as much as you'd think the heinous front-end styling would do the 4 Series in, it's the preponderance of asterisks that offer reason to pass it up. Just as the 430i's great coupe body is ruined by those grilles, its spacious interior is let down by a boring design, and the competent driving experience lacks sizzle or comfort. And then there's the cost. Our 430i's $46,595 MSRP was inflated to $59,220 by the $3,800 M Sport package (variable steering and a stitched-vinyl dashboard), $2,450 Dynamic Handling package (M Sport brakes and a sport rear differential), $2,300 Premium package, $500 wireless phone charging, $550 Mineral White paint, $1,450 brown leather interior, and $875 Harman Kardon sound system. That's a whole lotta cash for not enough flash or dash.

SPECIFICATIONS	2021 BMW 430i Coupe
PRICE	$46,595
LAYOUT	Front-engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE	2.0L/255-hp/294-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION	8-speed auto
CURB WEIGHT	3,600 lb (mfr)
WHEELBASE	112.2 in
L x W x H	187.9 x 72.9 x 54.6 in
0-60 MPH	5.4 sec (MT est)
EPA FUEL ECON	26/34/29 mpg
ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY	130/99 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.67 lb/mile
ON SALE	Now