This G82-gen BMW M4 that you see has been on sale internationally since 2020, it came to India in 2022, and it even received a facelift (LCI or Life Cycle Impulse in BMW speak) a few years back. Yet, somehow, we never got a chance to drive it on Indian tarmac all these years. Now, however, we’ve finally spent some meaningful time with the BMW M4 Competition on home turf to see what it’s like.

BMW M4 Competition exterior design and engineering – 8/10

The BMW M4 Competition remains one of those cars that gets people talking before they’ve even heard it start. The enormous kidney grille is still the defining feature, and whether you like it or not, it gives the M4 a face that is impossible to mistake for anything else. The rest of the design is far more cohesive, with a long bonnet, heavily sculpted surfaces, flared wheel arches and a low, wide stance. At the rear, the quad exhausts, bootlip spoiler and prominent diffuser just add more drama to the design.

There’s serious engineering behind the visual drama, too. The M4 gets M-specific suspension hardware and aluminium suspension components, while the near-50:50 weight distribution helps give it the balance expected of an M car. And unlike all previous M3s and M4s, this one gets BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and it rides on staggered 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels.

At 4,801mm long and 1,887mm wide, it’s a substantial car, and at 1,850kg, it’s certainly not light. But BMW has worked hard to keep the mass low and central, like with the use of a carbon-fibre roof, for example.

BMW M4 Competition interior space and comfort – 8/10

The M4’s cabin is a good example of how far modern M cars have moved from being purely performance machines. There’s plenty of everyday usability here, but the driving position still feels special. You sit low, the steering wheel is perfectly positioned, and the large front seats are supportive and comfortable, and hold you securely when you start driving enthusiastically.

The dashboard follows BMW’s familiar layout, dominated by the curved display, while M-specific details like carbon-fibre trim throughout, M colours on the seatbelts and the red M1 and M2 buttons give the cabin enough visual distinction.

The coupe body does limit rear-seat access and space, but the back seats are still surprisingly usable, and not merely for show. There’s also a 440-litre boot, which means the M4 can manage luggage for a weekend away without too much hassle. That combination of usable cabin room and decent boot space is one of the car’s biggest strengths; very few cars with this level of performance are this practical.

It’s also relatively easy to live with in everyday conditions. The visibility is manageable, the controls are familiar and, at low speeds, the M4 is far more relaxed than its appearance suggests.

BMW M4 Competition features and safety – 8/10

The M4 Competition gets the technology expected of a modern BMW, but the really interesting equipment is the hardware and software designed to make its performance accessible.

The adaptive M suspension can be adjusted through Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus settings, allowing the car to switch between everyday usability and sharper responses. M Drive lets you save preferred combinations of chassis, steering, engine and transmission settings, and these preferred settings can be designated to the M1 and M2 buttons on the chunky steering wheel.

Then there’s the more serious performance tech. The M4 gets a selectable rear-wheel-drive mode, which essentially allows you to turn the all-wheel-drive M4 into a rear-driven machine, while the M Drift Analyser adds another layer of entertainment for those inclined to explore the car’s limits in a controlled environment. While it’s nice to have this level of customisation, some may find configuring it a bit too confusing and overwhelming.

And that’s the case with the touchscreen as well. It’s super-crisp, slick to the touch and has M-coloured themes, which look quite cool, but the myriad apps and sub-menus are confusing to operate, to say the least. And that problem is amplified when you’re trying to make adjustments on the move.

There’s a three-zone climate control, powered and ventilated front seats, a HUD, a Harman/Kardon sound system, wireless smartphone integration, a wireless charger, a curved display, and so much more. So, the M4 isn’t lacking in the areas that matter for everyday use.

As for safety, there are multiple airbags, ADAS tech, stability and braking systems and electronic assistance systems working in the background, although in a car like this, it’s the multiple drive modes and traction systems that are arguably the more important features.

BMW M4 Competition powertrain and performance – 9/10

The M4 Competition’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged S58 straight-six is the real star of the show, however. In this form, it develops 530hp and 650Nm and sends power through an 8-speed torque converter automatic to all four wheels, and BMW claims 0-100kph in 3.5sec.

What makes the engine so impressive isn’t just the numbers, but the way it delivers them. There’s almost none of the old-fashioned turbo lag here. Instead, power builds in an almost naturally aspirated fashion, with the engine pulling strongly through the rev range. It’s linear, responsive and keeps pulling hard all the way till the redline.

The gearbox is smooth when left to its own devices and can be calibrated to shift much more aggressively when you start driving harder. It can occasionally feel less urgent than you might expect, especially in comparison to the last-gen M4’s DCT, but the sheer performance of the engine means there’s never any shortage of pulling power.

The all-wheel-drive setup also makes it devastatingly effective when you have the space to exploit it, and it doesn’t scare you like the older rear-wheel-drive M4. The best part is that it doesn’t feel like a car that needs to be driven at ten-tenths to be entertaining. More importantly, the M4 doesn’t compromise everyday usability simply because it is so performance-focused. Driven gently, the drivetrain can be remarkably civilised.

There’s also a pleasing authenticity to the engine note. It may not have the theatrical soundtrack of some older M cars, but the straight-six’s sound is sufficiently characterful without relying heavily on artificial enhancement.

BMW M4 Competition fuel efficiency – 6/10

Fuel economy, expectedly, isn’t the M4’s strongest suit, but the 59-litre fuel tank gives it enough range to be usable as a long-distance car, although enthusiastic driving will inevitably bring that figure down considerably.

BMW M4 Competition ride comfort and handling – 8/10

At city speeds, the M4 can be surprisingly subdued. The steering is light, and there’s little indication of the aggression that lies underneath. The ride, though, even with the adaptive dampers set to Comfort, is firm, and sharp bumps do filter through to the cabin.

What’s impressive is how effectively BMW disguises the M4’s 1,850kg mass. It is a heavy car, but it rarely feels unwieldy when you’re attacking a sequence of corners. There is a bit of understeer, but there’s virtually no body roll, making it feel agile. The M4’s grip is immense, and the xDrive system allows you to put down its considerable power remarkably effectively. Yet, it isn’t simply a point-and-shoot machine. The adjustable traction control and rear-wheel-drive mode (or even the semi-lenient ‘AWD Sport’ mode) allow considerably more freedom, revealing the car’s playful side that isn’t immediately apparent in normal driving.

The electric power steering isn’t as feelsome as the hydraulic-steering M cars of old, but the accuracy is excellent. The M4 goes precisely where you point it, and the chassis remains composed even when you begin to carry serious speed. It’s decently capable at dealing with speed breakers too, as long as you take them slow and the large ones at an angle. Road noise, however, does become apparent at higher speeds over concrete surfaces.

The M4 really has a dual personality. Around town, it can be relaxed and relatively easy to live with; on an open road, it becomes seriously fast and agile. The ride is not plush or comfy, but it is compliant enough to make long-distance driving feasible.

BMW M4 Competition value for money and verdict – 8/10

At Rs 1.60 crore (ex-showroom, before options), the M4 Competition is a difficult car to categorise, with no real direct rivals, and that is precisely why it works so well. It has the performance to keep up with exotic sports cars, yet it retains usable rear seats, a decent boot, and it is easy enough to be driven every day.

The polarising styling remains subjective, the ride quality is stiff and the infotainment interface is unintuitive. But once you find an open road, those shortcomings simply melt away. What you’re left with is a very capable all-rounder. The 530hp straight-six provides devastating performance without being difficult to manage, the all-wheel-drive system provides great traction and a useful safety net, and it has enough adjustability to keep even the most experienced driver entertained. Fast, practical, hugely capable and remarkably usable, that versatility is ultimately what makes the M4 Competition such a compelling performance car.