BMW 4 Series Convertible RENTAL

The car formerly known as the 3-Series Convertible. In 2013, BMW rebranded its two-door C-Class coupe rival as 4-Series, and now the similarly two-door’d convertible has followed suit. Like its predecessor, the 4-Series uses a three-piece folding hard-top instead of a simpler though less secure fabric roof. That’s bad news for weight – the 4-Series convertible tips the scale a couple of hundred kilos heavier than its equivalent coupe – but good news for raised-roof refinement, rigidity and a lighter, brighter cabin. Usual comprehensive range of engines, driving either rear or all four wheels.

Roof-up, the convertible 4 drives very much like its hard-top coupe cousins – which is to say very tidily indeed – albeit one with a very slight weave as it goes into a corner and the extra high-mounted rearward weight settles itself. Roof down, you’ll feel a little more body wobble, and a slight further degradation in the steering crispness. Not severe, just a little woozy, as if it’s just woken up from taking a nap. But that’s only in comparison to the 4 coupe: by cabrio standards, though, this car is more than tidy enough. More important is the 4’s open-air refinement: with the rear wind-blocker in place and the windows up, there’s remarkably little turbulence, while hairdryer-type neck-warmers in the seat keep your nape cosy.

The M4 Convertible was a later addition and is almost as good as the Coupe. It’s almost as quick, with added drama from being able to hear the exhaust not much more clearly with the roof down. In our book, that makes it very good indeed, then.

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