You’ve likely seen the new BMW 4 Series by now. It’s got grille. You’ll love it or you’ll hate it, but we suspect no one occupies the space betwixt the two.

But how about when it’s shorn of showy M Sport trim?

“I’m less offended by the main grille design than most people are,” said Top Gear’s Paul Horrell. “My beef is the wider facial ensemble and its secondary apertures and fins and gills.” Fins and gills which are seriously scaled down for the base Four, though perhaps more demure wheels and trim make its side profile appear a little more stocky.

Is the 4 Series a bit less ‘OH MY WORD WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?’ in standard trim?

STORY Stephen Dobie