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AUTO
REVIEW

2021 BMW 440i Convertible

By Stephen Schutz, MD

The 2021 BMW 440i is all new, and it represents the latest genera- also do everything that iDrive does using your finger, because it’s a touch-
tion of the venerable 3-series BMW, which dates back to (can it have screen. And the gauges, which look mostly the same, are now virtual.
been that long ago?) 1977. The original E21 320i, which was available The materials and surfaces look and feel lux, except for a few excep-
only as a two-door coupe back then and is a favorite of mine, added tions here and there. And sitting in the 440i is a very pleasant experience
significantly to BMW’s nascent popularity in the U.S. during its run, thanks to the excellent tech and careful attention to detail in the selec-
and it remains popular with enthusiasts today. tion of those materials. It used to be that only Audi seemed to care
The following E30 generation of the 3-series moved the sales needle about making interiors that looked and felt like they were worth the
even more, due in part to its prominent positioning in the 1986 cine- extra money, but now every mainstream luxury automaker does too.
matic phenomenon, “Pretty in Pink,” and the 3-series has been a main- Driving the 440i is equally pleasant. It’s seriously quick thanks to a
stream vehicle here ever since. 382 hp turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine
In 2014, BMW decided to rebadge their two- that now has a 48-volt mild hybrid assist (its 0-
door 3-series models as 4-series, and now we live Sitting in the 440i is a very 60 time is 5.1 seconds). However, electrically as-
in a world where there are 3- and 4-series BMWs pleasant experience thanks to sisted steering (that’s too light for me), a
built on the same platform. the excellent tech and careful suspension that’s set up to favor ride quality over
Last year, the 4-series further distanced itself handling and, mostly, a curb weight of 4,171 lbs.
attention to detail.
from its 3-series sibling with a new and contro- mean that this BMW is more comfortable cruis-
versial grille. The automotive press is split on ing into town for dinner than attacking your fa-
it—I’d say they’re 60% negative and 40% positive—but I like it. vorite back road.
That grille was on the 440i convertible that I tested recently, and I Pricing starts at just under $65,000 for the 440i convertible, but
think it works on the 4-series coupe and convertible, as well as the choosing the four-cylinder 430i convertible saves around $11,000 and
ultra-sporty M3 sedan, where it also resides (I’m not a fan of the big doesn’t really lose you that much (mainly the rich in-line six sound
grille on the 4-series Gran Coupe, by the way). But I can understand and some performance).
the negativity. Do I think it looks like beaver teeth, a 1950s Edsel or As always in a German car, adding options or option packages,
any number of other pejorative descriptors I’ve read? No. which are numerous, can result in a much more expensive car than
The rest of the 440i’s exterior looks crisp and modern, as you’d ex- you’re expecting. Fuel economy is 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway
pect. The car is around the size of a Ford Mustang, which is the right (the 430i version is 24/33; not that much better).
size for its target customer: a 50-ish man or woman in their peak earn- BMW’s 4- and 3-series cars are perennially popular, and they con-
ing years who doesn’t need to do a lot of ferrying kids hither and yon. tinue the legacy of some wonderful predecessors, particularly the E21
The styling features a blend of curves and creases that just work, and and E30 models that many of us remember fondly from our youth.
the squinting head and tail lights emphasize the sleekness of this de- While the 440i convertible is heavier and less nimble than those classic
sign. I’m not a BMW fanboy, but I think it would take a clear anti- BMWs used to be, it’s still an excellent car that will appeal to successful
BMW bias not to call the 440i convertible handsome. professionals who don’t need to haul kids around.
Interestingly, luxury convertibles have moved full circle when it
comes to their tops. In the 1960s, all convertible tops were cloth, and As always, call Phil Hornbeak, the Auto Program Manager at
it stayed like that until retractable steel tops became popular in the BCMS (210-301-4367), for your best deal on any new car or truck
late 1990s. It seemed like those tops might take over completely, and brand. Phil can also connect you to preferred financing and lease rates.
then about 10 years ago cloth tops made a comeback, and now re-
tractable hardtops are gone. Stephen Schutz, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist
Inside the 440i, everything’s just where you left it the last time you who lived in San Antonio in the 1990s when he was stationed
drove any modern BMW. An iDrive wheel sits on the center console and here in the US Air Force. He has been writing auto reviews
controls all of the functions on the central screen, except now you can for San Antonio Medicine since 1995.

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