BMW 4 Series

The 435i is a pleasure to drive-quick, capable, refined, and high-tech-but it's not quite the exhilarating sports car that the long-time 3 Series fans, had grown to love.

Our car, equipped with the M Sport and Dynamic Handling packages and the practically mandatory Premium package lists for $57,225. With automatic transmission and all-wheel drive it would easily push it over the $60,000 mark. That's pretty steep for what is still a 3-series coupe, whatever its caché.

On the road the 435i moves with gracious athleticism, every nudge on the throttle drawing immediate and creamy-smooth response regardless of the gear you're in, so tractable is this engine. Whenever you hit the gas you're greeted with a forward thrust as addictive as a morphine pump and even sixth gear delivers plenty of punch. All the while, the engine hums with a subdued baritone. Nothing is in your face, definitely a car for grownups.

While easy to row, the six-speed shifter doesn't feel as crisp as some of Honda's and Mazda's manual shifters. Clutch effort is well judged, though, and gear ratios seem perfect. Even in stop-and-go traffic the 435i proved super easy to manage.

Handling is capable and responsive, and the body stays well tied down but if you're looking for instant gratification and continuous tactile feel you'll be looking for a long time. Besides, the electric power steering feels rather artificial, possessing none of some older 3 Series' awesome feedback. Body control is exemplary and the 435i gobbles up bumpy side roads completely unfazed, staying settled and planted to the point of being uncanny.

Toggle the mode switch to Sport and responses tighten up a bit. One notch further, Sport Plus, loosens the stability control's apron strings but neither brings any dramatic metamorphosis.

Consider the 4 a gentleman's coupe. The ride is steady and very absorbent and the cabin stays blessedly hushed. That unflappable atmosphere combined with that immediate throttle response makes it all too easy to foray well into three-digit speeds without really noticing.

As in the 3 Series, the dashboard and the interior present a high-quality, understated and business-like ambience. There's plenty of sophistication but it's not at all showy. One nice detail is the seat-belt presenter: It brings the belt closer to you as soon as you close the door. Rear-seat room is actually pretty decent for a coupe as well.

So who is the 4-series meant for? Younger members of our driving staff were rather unimpressed with it. They missed the edginess of some previous BMWs. The more, shall we say, mature team members considered this car a perfect concoction-quick, capable, stylish and refined-and just right for someone who's been on the scene long enough to actually have $60,000 on hand, but would rather not drive a 5 Series sedan.