BMW offers three distinct models in the 4-Series family: the Coupe, the Convertible and the Gran Coupe, with the latter being the most practical of them all.

It builds upon the 3-Series Sedan, to which it adds a sportier profile and a tailgate that makes hauling larger items in the boot easier.

One would expect the sloping roofline to affect headroom on the rear bench, and they would be right, but you’d still be able to transport two adults at the rear and still be friends with them after the trip. BMW markets the 4-Series Gran Coupe as a 4+1 car, which means that the cramped space on the mid rear seat is best used by a kid, in an emergency or for short periods of time.

The range was simplified along with the mid-cycle facelift applied last year, and in the United Kingdom, even the entry-level model gets 17-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, satellite navigation system, and front and rear parking sensors.

Powering the Audi A5 Sportback and Volkswagen Arteon rival are three petrol and three diesel engines, which can be mated to either a manual or an automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and xDrive AWD is optional.

CarBuyer recently took the facelifted BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe out for a short review, and they found it’s a sleeker-looking and more practical alternative to the 3-Series Sedan.

But would they actually recommend it over its four-door sibling, despite the £6,320 ($8,833) price gap between them, in the entry-level trim? The answer might surprise you, but you can find for yourselves by watching the video that follows.

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