The 430i's engine, a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, is the star of the show. In an automotive market flooded with boosted four-cylinders, BMW's stands out from the crowd with big performance and a lot of character. Like all good turbo fours, the engine builds torque quickly and low in the rev range for that authoritative shove at traffic lights. The BMW 2.0-liter separates itself from the competition above 5000 rpm, where many similar engines start to run out of breath. The 430i charges its 6500-rpm redline hard and fast. And when you want it, the sweet spot of the powerband is just a toe tap away thanks to the standard eight-speed automatic's perfectly timed and executed shifts. Pushed to their full potential, the engine and trans are good for a 5.2-second dash to 60 mph.

The 430i's powertrain isn't just quick and lively. It's also impressively frugal—if you can keep your foot out of it. We averaged a mediocre 21 mpg during our time with the BMW, which consisted mostly of short suburban drives.

BMW's iDrive infotainment system is easy to navigate by touch and reliably quick and stable, and it offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The controls are sensibly laid out and easily within reach, and the seats—covered in leather for an extra $1450—are comfortable over long distances. Our $60,520 test car needed the $2300 Premium package to finish the interior with necessities such as heated seats, adjustable lumbar, and passive entry, but the 4-series is otherwise well equipped, which is something we haven't often said about BMWs.

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