Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
Reviews

2014 BMW 428i X Drive

Benjamin Yong, Darpan, 15 Mar, 2014 11:44 AM
  • 2014 BMW 428i X Drive
Highlights:
MSRP: $49,000 base
Motor: 2.0 L four-cyl turbo   
HP: 240 @ 5,000 to 6,500 rpm   
Torque (lb-ft): 255 @ 1,250 to 4,800 rpm
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic 
Layout: front-wheel drive 
Fuel Economy: 8.7 L/100 km city, 5.4 hwy (manufacturer estimate)
 
BMW, as with other German car manufacturers, have been setting a precedent as of late making their vehicles feel like rolling computer stations. The new 4 series picks up the technology ball and continues to run with it, offering the ability to surf the Net while you’re on road, a larger round iDrive control knob with a built-in touchpad on top and a seamless Head-Up Display (HUD) that actually looks good. 
 
Look And Feel
 
With the 3 series leaving its coupe days behind, the 4 series was introduced to take over the two-door role. The 4 — available with a 2.0-litre turbo engine in the 428i and 428i xDrive and a 3.0-litre turbo in the 435i and 435i xDrive — is bigger than the model it is replacing, if only slightly. The length has grown by 26 millimetres and the width by 43 mm, although the roofline is 16 mm lower to give it a leaner appearance. The front of the car looks like a menacing robot with the LED headlights that retain the signature dual light rings on each side serving as daytime running lights.
 
 
 
The bumper incorporates “Air Curtains,” a black-coloured cutout on the bottom resembling a scowl that helps smooth out the airflow while the car is moving to help with fuel economy. They work together with the “Air Breathers” behind the front wheels that perform a similar task. Continuing down the side of the vehicle to the back end the design tames down, save for the bulging rear wheel arches. 
 
Once I boarded the bright red 428i xDrive (all-wheel drive) and shut the door, a mechanized plastic arm came to life and slowly whirred itself toward my left shoulder handing me my seatbelt. How thoughtful. Except on a few occasions it would fail to catch the belt and greet me empty handed. Brushed aluminum accents and red stitching dot the coarse leather landscape. Almost everything electronic is controlled using BMWs iDrive user interface system comprised of a controller in the shape of dial and the freestanding monitor jutting out from the top of the dashboard. You can load up Google via a 3G connection to research points of interest. Even the user manual is viewed from the screen, a brilliant idea since I found myself much more motivated to look up something than if it was a traditional four-inch thick book. If twisting a knob to input text is bothersome, drivers can try writing out letters on top of the controller that acts like the touchpad on a laptop.
 
The Drive 
 
The 428i has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower that doesn’t sound like much on paper, but it’s enough to get the coupe from zero to 100 kilometres-per-hour in 5.7 seconds. I watched the rapidly rising speed on the high-res colour HUD that appeared to float in front of my eyes, and it even flashed a warning that the temperature fell below 3 degrees. A button near the gear lever allows the driver to scroll through several modes from Eco Pro that alters fuel mapping and other inputs to achieve better mileage to Sport+ that does the exact opposite and disables traction control for more tail-happy fun (disclaimer: recommended for professionals on a closed course).
 
The only annoyance is that the computer won’t remember which setting you were in last, and defaults to the standard Comfort setting each time you start the vehicle. Our 4 series had the optional eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Gear shift points will change depending on which mode you’re in, and in the Sport or Sport+ modes the shifts are remarkably quick and vicious. The suspension feel is also variable and is quite soft and tolerable under the regular setting. 
 
For BMW’s new sport coupe, the comfortable ride is as unexpected as the thrifty fuel economy (automatic: 8.7 L/100 km city, 5.4 highway). During our week of testing we observed a 10.6 L/100 km in mixed conditions. The 428i starts at MSRP $44,900, $49,000 if you want the xDrive variant. 

MORE Reviews ARTICLES

2014 Mercedes E550: Luxuriously Classy Sedan

2014 Mercedes E550: Luxuriously Classy Sedan
The E-class is the mid-sized sedan car in the Benz line up, with the slightly smaller C-class below and the bigger S-class topping off the line.

2014 Mercedes E550: Luxuriously Classy Sedan

2014 Mazda 3 Sport GS:Re-engineered Style & Performance

2014 Mazda 3 Sport GS:Re-engineered Style & Performance
The completely redesigned Mazda3 tosses its formerly signature happy face front bumper to follow suit with the earlier-released CX-5 and 6 that embody the brand’s new styling direction. 

2014 Mazda 3 Sport GS:Re-engineered Style & Performance

2014 FORD F-350 King Ranch: Super Duty 4X4 Crew Cab

2014 FORD F-350 King Ranch: Super Duty 4X4 Crew Cab
Today’s top-of-the-line trucks are as well trimmed and luxurious as any luxury car on the market. Recently I had the chance to spend some time with Ford’s F-350 Crew Cab with the King Ranch package. In all my years writing about vehicles, this truck has to the best equipped I have ever driven by far.

2014 FORD F-350 King Ranch: Super Duty 4X4 Crew Cab

The Most Advanced In-Vehicle Technologies in Today's Modern Trucks

The Most Advanced In-Vehicle Technologies in Today's Modern Trucks
Manufacturers are realizing that people are increasingly using their vehicles for both work and play, and with recent innovations in materials and technology have made the interiors of trucks really nice places to frequent. 

The Most Advanced In-Vehicle Technologies in Today's Modern Trucks

Top Minivan Picks 2014

Top Minivan Picks 2014
Today’s minivan has evolved into a very pleasant way  to travel with family & friends

Top Minivan Picks 2014

The Best Sporty Cars of The Century

The Best Sporty Cars of The Century
My Picks For The Best Sports Cars From  The Past Century With Today’s Price Tag

The Best Sporty Cars of The Century

PrevNext