2021 BMW 430i Convertible Road Test and Review

2021BMW430iConvertibleProfile

The 2021 BMW 430i Convertible is all-new with updated styling, improved performance, and a wide range of standard features. It’s part of the 4 Series lineup and is available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and a convertible top that lets you enjoy the open air. A new soft-top replaces the old hardtop, which reduces weight, lowers the center of gravity, and improves cargo room.

The BMW 430i Convertible is long, low, and sleek with all the hallmarks of a luxury sports car. There’s seating for four people in a comfortable and beautifully appointed interior that provides a welcome refuge from the outside world. This is a performance car, but it’s also a luxury offering. It combines the best of both those worlds for an engaging drive experience. Let’s take a closer look at the 2021 BMW 430i Convertible to see if it’s the right choice for you.

Two Luxurious Trims

The BMW 4 Series Convertible is available in two trims with standard rear-wheel drive. Both are available with the option for xDrive all-wheel drive, which adds $2,000 to the price. The base 430i is priced from $53,100 with standard features including 18-inch wheels, a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, a leather steering wheel, power front sport seats, synthetic leather seating surfaces, open-pore wood trims, automatic climate control, an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitor.

The M440i is priced from $66,000 and adds a 3.0-liter twinpower turbocharged 6-cylinder, variable sports steering, M Sport brakes with blue calipers, M Sport differential, M Sport suspension, and an M steering wheel. It also adds an aerodynamic kit, rear spoiler, and keyless entry. No matter which trim you choose, the 4 Series Convertible is a luxurious option with standard features that are available only as options on less premium brands.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Two Turbocharged Engines

The BMW 430i Convertible features a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. That’s more horsepower and torque than the prior model year and it gives this convertible strong performance. It has a 0-60 mph time of just 5.9 seconds with front-wheel drive. This is the engine we drove, and it is wonderful. It provides aggressive acceleration that makes getting up to highway speeds fun and merging into traffic effortless. Shifts are smooth and well-timed with excellent power delivery.

The M440i Convertible gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder with 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque along with plenty of M Sport performance and handling upgrades. It’s a big jump in power and one that enthusiasts will appreciate. Still, the base engine is fantastic and is sure to put a smile on your face and get your blood pumping.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

The M Experience

Those familiar with BMW know that the “M” designation on select trims is special. It’s used only on the most high-performance versions of BMW’s vehicles. The most powerful engines, larger brakes, suspension enhancements, and aero kits are part of the M experience. This comes with a considerably higher price, but BMW makes many of these performance enhancements part of optional packages.

The 430i Convertible we drove had an M Sport steering wheel and Dynamic Handling Package with 19-inch wheels, M Sport Brakes with blue calipers, an M Sport differential, and adaptive M suspension. They add to the price but also add performance. Our 430i Convertible had crisp, sporty handling that quickly responded to steering inputs. The car stayed planted to the pavement through the twisties and made winding highway on-ramps outright fun. Those who crave a performance focused drive will find these packages deliver that experience at a more affordable price.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Polarizing Exterior Styling

The BMW 430i Convertible shows off a fresh exterior look this model year. It’s longer and wider, which gives it a more aggressive stance and adds plenty of sports car appeal. From the side, it’s more minimalist. It has clean lines with a streamlined look. It’s an eye-catching design that attracts attention for all the right reasons. Walk around to the front, and it’s a bit more polarizing.

The kidney grille, which is an instantly recognizable feature of BMWs, is especially bold on the 430i Convertible. It absolutely dominates the front of the car and is quite a departure from the otherwise sleek design, yet it works. It’s the one part of the design that’s bold, and it’s a love-it or hate-it feature. We happen to love it. There’s nothing quite like making a bold first impression, and the grille on the 430i Convertible delivers.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

New Convertible Top

The BMW 4 Series Convertible has a new soft top this year replacing the old hardtop. It’s available in either black or Moonlight black with a metallic shimmer. There’s a flush glass window and a Z-fold design that features three panels. It takes just 18 seconds to open or close and can be operated at speeds up to 31 mph. The more compact dimensions of this new top add 1.2 cubic feet of storage in the trunk for a total of 9.0 cubic feet.

While some soft tops can be loud when closed, this one is extraordinarily quiet. It’s well-insulated, which helps maintain the interior temperature and blocks outside noise so well it makes you forget that the roof is fabric rather than a fixed piece of metal. Open up the top and there’s a minimum of wind buffeting and a wind deflector that further reduces vibration and noise.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

A Plush Interior for Four

There's seating for four passengers in the 4 Series Convertible. The front seats are supportive and heavily bolstered; while most will find them plenty roomy, those of a larger frame may find the bolstering too heavy. There is room for two in the rear seats and unlike many two-door convertibles, adults can fit. It’s not, however, an expansive amount of room. Taller passengers will find legroom  tight, but it’ll work for short trips.

No matter where you sit in the 4 Series Convertible, trims are rich and beautiful. Supple leathers and open poor woods give the interior luxury appeal with a clean, unfussy design. The 4 Series doesn’t make liberal use of bright chromes and flashy materials. It’s more modest, focusing on quality and comfort rather than trying to attract attention.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Intuitive Infotainment With a Large Touchscreen

Standard infotainment in the 430i Convertible features an 8.8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 10-speaker audio, and USB ports. The touchscreen gets high marks for responsiveness that makes it easy to use and helps reduce distraction. It’s also controlled by a touchpad controller and rotary knob on the center console. You can use gesture control, too, which although fun for the novelty, isn’t the easiest way to navigate through the menus.

There’s the option for a larger 10.25-infotainment screen with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity, and 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio. The combination of the larger infotainment screen and the digital instrument cluster make it an option worth serious consideration if it’s within your budget. If not, you have the same functionality and ease of use even with the smaller standard screen size.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

A Wide Range of Standard Safety Features

Standard safety on the 4 Series Convertible is extensive. It includes lane departure warning with steering assist, frontal collision warning, pedestrian warning with automatic braking, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, rear collision preparation, automatic high beams, and speed limit information. It also has a unique range of available features to make driving safer and easier.

This includes traffic jam assist, which is a Level 2 autonomous driving system. This system still requires an attentive driver but makes driving for long periods easier by allowing hands-free driving in stop-and-go highway traffic. There’s also a parking-assistance package that not only helps find a parallel or perpendicular parking spot, but it can also guide the car in and out of that spot. And since this is a convertible, there are rollover bars that automatically trigger in the event a rollover is sensed.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Final Thoughts

The 2021 BMW 430i Convertible is a sleek and striking luxury car. It has an aggressive grille with long, sporty lines that hint at its performance driving characteristics. A powerful and responsive engine lives up to that first impression. It’s smooth and engaging and makes this car one that encourages you to find the long way home. Especially on a summer day when you can drop the top, the 430i Convertible is a joy to drive.

There’s also a wide range of advanced safety features that includes Level 2 autonomous assist systems that make long drives more relaxing. A fully featured infotainment system with good connectivity and a larger standard infotainment screen add to upscale feel. There’s also a beautifully appointed interior that is comfortable and welcoming. The 2021 BMW 430i combines performance and luxury with the fun of open-air driving.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin