The modern diesel engine is a thing of beauty and outstanding mechanical worth, and the 420 with its diesel powerplant is most certainly no exception to this first rule of Arnett motoring.
OK, if we want to be in strict sequence the first thing that struck me and gave positive feedback was not the sheer comfort, elegance and sculpted beauty of the interior. No, it was the totally relevant head-up display shown on the windscreen immediately in front of the driver.
This highlights the delicious fact that with a constantly changing digital display on the windscreen, one can keep up with the varying speed limits imposed by Transport Malta along a relatively short distance. They can in fact be obeyed all the time because there is absolutely no excuse for ignoring the speed shown on the windscreen.
The 420 carries five people most easily and the boot, even with a passenger load, is big enough to cope with the necessities surrounding a continental motoring holiday.
The car comes with a selection of very sensible – some of us would say desirable – options, but even in standard form there is absolutely no reason why anyone should be remotely concerned that the car will get fed up and leave the ‘black top’ for anything other than the ultimate laws of physics being totally ignored.
The car comes with Driving Experience Control as stand-ard. This means that one can choose between the standard comfort modes, the eco pro mode geared towards efficiency, and the sport mode, which allows you to partake in even more dynamic driving.
This is probably of secondary importance to those of us paddling along on our local overcrowded road system, but the eco pro mode is great as it adjusts the responses of the accelerator pedal and transmission as well as the heating or air- conditioning settings to suit the varying driving situations.
It goes without saying that this car is a delight to look upon from all angles, including the underside. Constant development over the past decades has guaranteed that every BMW, not simply this new 4 series, is as mechanically safe as it is alluring to look at, and as comfortable as any normal motorist could possibly desire.
Many years ago I did in fact test-drive a few models from this famous stable that lacked a certain ‘get-up-and-go’ when it came to stirring the change lever and flooring the fast pedal.
Have no fear; this automatic two-wheel-drive diesel that we tested gets off the mark faster than most petrol mills, and then handles twists, bends and little quirks in consistency with the aptitude of a pure sports racer.
Drive her towards your personal limits and in all probability, unless your name is Moss or Hamilton, you will be thoroughly enjoying yourself while the car still has a formidable number of kmh before she would begin to ‘let go’.
It was a real pleasure to explore the tractability, grip, acceleration and braking on our lesser roads, reasonably surfaced and without much traffic.
The worth of this car comes with the sheer pleasure of testing self on twisty roads at a relatively low speed. The imagination can then come into play trying to visualise the same situation abroad on roads with unrestricted speed limits designed to be safe at 180-200 km/h.
Having said that, it may be worth noting for all of you driving around bits of Sicily that between Ragusa, Noto, Palazzola Acreide and the village of Giarratana there are so many areas designated at 40 or 50 km/h that at first one wonders whether the word Noto must perforce have a tad to do with speed restrictions.
Then one realises that if it states 50 km/h there is something of a hazardous bend, bridge or other darn good reason for curbing speed.
It appears that it’s only over here that the desire to stop us enjoying our sporting BMWs is taken to such extreme lengths.
So the engine starts at the press of a button, the gear change mechanism works to perfection. The brakes inspire immense confidence and even timid drivers soon learn to trust the sheer brake forces unleashed in complete safety when the brake pedal is thumped.
Preferences are frowned on, but luckily in class there are few cars to choose from and they are all very, very good.
Verdict
Comfort
Front or rear the entire crew has been really catered for.
Performance
Brilliant.
Quality
Without hesitation.
At a glance
Top speed
231 km/h.
0-100km
7.5 seconds.
Economy
4-4-6.7 l/km.
C02
124 g/km.
Engine
Four cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder.