REVIEW UPDATE: We've now tried the M4 performance car with BMW's xDrive four-wheel drive system... So, does it add to the fun or detract from it? The definitive What Car? verdict is in
Many modern performance cars give you some control over their set-up, whether that's the ability to change the firmness of the suspension or tinker with the weight of the steering. The BMW M4 Competition takes that to extremes, though – with a button actually marked 'Setup' next to the stubby gear selector.
The steering itself responds in a more natural way than the light and hyper-alert set-up of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and is far more engaging than the slower and numb-feeling system in the Audi RS5. When it comes to handling, the M4 takes a bit of time to learn. With so much front-end grip and rear-end traction, you have to chip away at the car’s limits before you feel truly confident to grab it by the scruff of the neck. Happily, once you get there, you’ll find it far more predictable than its predecessor.
The 4WD Sport mode makes the M4 a little more playful, allowing the rear wheels to break traction when provoked and diverting less power to the front wheels. Alternatively, you can switch it to rear-wheel-drive only, although that will also turn off the stability systems.