2025 BMW M4 Review

The 2025 BMW M4 is a compact luxury sports car starting at $79,100 for its Coupe model and $72,250-$95,300 for its two convertible trims. The primary difference between the coupe and convertible versions, besides the open top, is that the coupe’s lighter, giving it an edge in overall agility and aerodynamics. This dynamic produces a slightly quicker 0-60 MPH time for the coupe’s Competition grade.

Motopickers Rating: 8.5/10

For the M4’s 2025 production year, BMW gives this model more power for the all-wheel drive (AWD) Competition trim, fresh headlights, and laser light-enhanced headlights. The 2025 M4 is part of the 4 Series’ second generation introduced for 2021.

Right off the bat, we noticed robust acceleration from this car’s turbocharged inline-six engine, meticulously well-crafted handling during instances like cornering, and an increase in the rear row and trunk space. However, the 2025 M4 can feel harsh, presents challenges with setting customization, and doesn’t offer a manual transmission for its Competition grade. We’d be remiss without additionally mentioning the radically divisive kidney grille, which debuted in 2021.

The 2025 M4’s rivals include:

• Audi’s RS5 Coupe
• Mercedes-AMG’s C63 S Coupe
• Lexus’ RC F
• Chevrolet’s Corvette Stingray
• Jaguar’s F-Type R
• Cadillac’s CT5-V Blackwing

Our review of the 2025 M4 will include comparisons to its competitors above and its popular M3 sibling. Keep reading to see whether the 2025 M4’s upsides outweigh its downsides or vice versa.

Exterior

M4 CS

Since power and speed typically come to drivers’ minds when considering the M4, we’re starting with the highest-performing grade, the 2025 M4 CS coupe. This trim has flashy M Star Spoke wheels with optional track tires, laser tail lights with laser fibers forming a multi-dimensional design, and LED headlights with distinct yellow illumination. BMW also equips the 2025 M4 CS coupe’s exterior with carbon fiber detailing on the hood, front splitter, roof, mirror caps, trunk spoiler, and rear diffuser.

BMW M4 Competition

Moving into the M4 Competition Coupe gives you M Compound brakes with contrasting red calipers, a sleek carbon fiber roof, and LED headlights featuring a new vertically-aligned design blending seamlessly with the front fascia.

M4 Competition convertible

The M4 Competition convertible offers a bi-color or silver exterior and 19”-20” M forged double spoke wheels aligning with BMW’s design philosophy. This trim’s soft convertible top contains precisely woven threads that shine in sunlight.

M4

An M4 Coupe driver gets LED headlights, rear laser tech lights, and options enhancing the vehicle’s sportiness. These available features are a high-gloss black M graphic extending from the hood to the rear, and the M Carbon Exterior Package with, but not limited to, carbon mirrors caps, rear spoiler, diffuser insert.

M440i

The M440i surrounds its controversial vertical kidney grille with a high-gloss black frame. The grille itself contains horizontal bars and an M badge. Rear lights feature laser tech and three-dimensional fiber-glass clusters forming a genuinely eye-catching design while optimizing visibility for other cars on the road.

M440i convertible

BMW’s M440i convertible contains a soft top that you can raise or lower in 10 seconds at speeds up to 30 MPH. The automaker has reinforced the soft top with panels for better sound and cold insulation.

Quick rival comparison: exterior

Audi’s RS5 Coupe has a more understated exterior and more minimalism than this BMW. Mercedes-AMG’s C63 S Coupe features a front end that matches the 2025 M4’s but without the vertical front kidney grille style that has caused so many BMW fans pain.

Interior close-up

M4 CS

The 2025 M4 CS reflects its sporty performance through interior offerings like M Carbon bucket seats with bright red CS lettering and bi-color Merino leather upholstery. These seats offer support while amplifying the interior’s race-inspired aesthetics.

The non-slip Alcantara steering wheel includes:

• M badging
• A red 12 o’clock stripe so you can more accurately and quickly determine your wheels’ position
• M tri-color stitching

All 2025 M4 trims feature the 12 o’clock stripe. BMW tops this trim’s interior off with a carbon fiber center console boasting a high-gloss finish and red CS lettering.

M4 Competition coupe/M4 Competition convertible

M4 Competition and M4 Competition trims contain a leather steering wheel with molded thumb rests and paddle shifters.

M4 Coupe

The Alcantara steering wheel is an optional upgrade in the M4 Coupe, along with M Carbon bucket seats with the illuminated M badge below the headrest and carbon fiber accents.

M440i/M440i convertible

A 2025 M440i coupe or convertible’s distinguishing interior feature is the carbon fiber trim surrounding the center console and instrument panel.

Quick competition comparison

Audi’s RS5 Coupe, with Valcona leather and Alcantara, is on par with the M4 regarding interior materials. However, its diamond-quilted seats are better-looking than 2025 M4 variants, such as the M440i’s cabin upholstery. Mercedes-AMG’s C63 S Coupe offers quality interior leather but can’t match the M4’s sporty M Carbon bucket seats. Still, the Corvette Stingray’s seats are formidable competitors in the performance seating category. Those seeking optimal luxury and comfort might prefer Lexus’s RC F and Jaguar’s F-Type R.

Power and performance

M4 CS

The 2025 M4 CS boasts an M TwinPower turbo inline 6-cylinder engine with 543 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque, translating to a 3.2-second 0-60 MPH time. This powertrain is AWD and has a fuel economy of 16 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway.

M4 Competition Coupe/M4 Competition convertible

BMW’s M4 Competition coupe and convertible offer up to 523 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. The coupe’s carbon fiber roof is lightweight and provides a low center of gravity, contributing to its 3.8-second 0-60 MPH time with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 3.4-second 0-60 MPH mark with xDrive AWD. An AWD 2025 M4 Competition convertible has a 3.6-second 0-60 MPH time.

The 8-speed M Steptronic Sport Transmission gives you the ability to utilize automatic shifting or manual with the paddle shifters. Mileage registers at 16/22 city/highway MPG for the coupe’s AWD version, the same for the RWD variant and AWD convertible.

M4 Coupe

The M4 Coupe also produces up to 523 horsepower alongside a RWD and manual 6-speed transmission configuration. An M Sport suspension helps this M4 grade achieve a 4.1-second 0-60 MPH time, although the adaptive M suspension doesn’t create the on-road smoothness one might expect.

M440i and M440i convertible

BMW’s M440i coupe and convertible is good for 386 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft. of torque. The coupe has a 4.2-second 0-60 MPH time, and the convertible’s is 4.6.

Quick competition comparison: performance

There are a few noteworthy 2025 competitors exceeding the maximum horsepower of the M4’s CS grade. These rivals include:

• Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe: 671 horsepower
• Jaguar F-Type R: 575 horsepower
• Cadillac CTV-5 Blackwing: 668 horsepower

While the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has less horsepower, it produces a lower 0-60 MPH time than BMW M4’s lowest at 2.8 seconds.

Tech overview

The 2025 M4 CS offers performance-tracking tech such as the M Drift Analyzer, M Traction Control, and an M Laptimer. This BMW’s M Drift Analyzer measures drift angle, distance, and duration to produce an overall score. M Traction Control allows you to fine-tune traction via ten levels of adjustment. In addition to measuring overall lap times, the lap timer feature calculates lap sector times and gives live performance feedback. The My BMW app displays other performance data, such as fuel consumption.

Each 2025 M4 features a 12.3” digital instrument cluster and a 14.9” touchscreen powered by the newly updated BMW 8.5 Operating System (OS). This fresh OS includes a cleaner interface similar to a smartphone structure for a sense of familiarity that physical switches often provide over touchscreens. The home screen offers different selectable views, such as a large format, and QuickSelect helps drivers avoid getting lost in touchscreen submenus.

Drivers who are more averse to touchscreens can also control the displays and vehicle features with voice commands. BMW’s 8.5 OS can project a live feed of a driver’s front perspective via the 14.9” display and overlay this real-time feed with turn-by-turn navigation. A Head-Up Display (HUD) feature complements augmented reality navigation by showing information like speed and directions on the windshield within your driving line of sight.

Quick competition comparison: tech

Displays are the central point of most vehicle tech presentations, and BMW’s 2025 M4 outperforms all of the competitors we’ve mentioned in our review, especially with an updated OS. The most competitive display configuration is the 2025 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe, which has a 12.3” digital driver cluster and an 11.9” vertical touchscreen.

Safety capabilities

All 2025 BMW M4 models share an extensive core set of safety features. Neither the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) nor the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has yet rated the 2025 M4’s passenger crash protection capabilities.

The 2025 M4’s blind spot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system will warn you when another vehicle is in your blind spot and if you’re drifting from your lane without an active turn signal. Aside from audible and visual notifications, the system provides automatic steering if necessary to correct your course. Most models in the luxury class feature this automatic steering assistance, whereas it’s more up in the air with economy cars.

Driver attention warning monitors for signs of distracted or drowsy driving and will prompt a break with a visual suggestion when triggered. The pre-collision automatic safety system supplies warnings when the chances of a frontal crash increase, and if a driver doesn’t respond, automatic emergency braking.

Post-collision safety activates automatic braking after a collision to reduce subsequent damage. The post-collision safety system will also stop the vehicle’s fuel supply, unlock doors, and turn on hazard lights to eliminate or minimize any remaining dangers.

This BMW’s rear cross-traffic alert system alerts you of oncoming traffic driving toward either side of your car when backing up, and the remote anti-theft alarm system recognizes signs of forced entry. Detection of forced entry results in automatic immobilization of the engine while you’re away to protect this pricey sports car. The 2025 M4 also features a rearview camera and speed limit info feature showing the road’s posted limits onto your display if you happen to miss posted road signs.

Warranty protection info

Regarding warranty protection, BMW provides four years or 50,000 miles of basic coverage, whichever comes first, and the same length of time for the powertrain warranty.

M3 quick comparison

Are you curious to know how the less expensive 2025 M3 compares to the 2025 M4? On the performance front, the m340i produces a 4.1-second 0-60 MPH time, the M3 Competition a 3.8-second mark, and the M3 Competition xDrive a 3.4-second figure. You’ll receive 386 horsepower in the M340i, 473 horsepower in the M3 Sedan, and up to 503-523 horsepower with the Competition model—all of which match the 2025 M4.

The curved display presentation is also the same, as is its size and use of BMW’s 8.5 OS. These vehicles’ primary distinguishing factor is their body styles, with the M3 sold as a four-door sedan instead of a two-door coupe. The 2025 M3 also doesn’t offer a convertible configuration.

Final verdict

BMW’s 2025 M4 excels with its tech presentation, robust M TwinPower turbo inline 6-cylinder engine, and sporty design elements, such as an array of carbon fiber trim options. However, these features’ ability to balance form and function might not be enough for some to look past the vertical kidney grille, which often has BMW’s fans fuming. In fairness to the vertical kidney grille, its inner horizontal bars help its look, but we’re hoping BMW makes a U-turn on this design decision sooner rather than later.

Since the M4 and M3 largely mirror each other’s performance and exterior and interior design specs, drivers seeking more daily driving practicality are likely better suited to the four-door M3. These two cars also contain similar passenger volumes. We’re giving the 2025 M4 a solid 8.5/10 while hoping for a smoother ride and increased steering feedback on next year’s version.