The 2027 BMW M440i and the 2027 BMW M4 both use a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six and both wear an M badge, which is exactly why the question comes up. They are not the same car and neither is a lesser version of the other. The M440i is an M Performance model: a 4 Series tuned and equipped by M. The M4 is a full M car, with its own high-performance version of the six, its own chassis tuning and a 155 mph top speed against the M440i's 130.

BMW of Napa Valley sells both. They are set out below in price order, and the gap is $13,100 at the entry point. What that money buys is a different kind of car rather than more of the same one.

2027 BMW M440i vs M4: Overview

The M440i is the top of the standard 4 Series range. Its 3.0-liter M TwinPower Turbo six makes 386 horsepower and 398 lb-ft, which BMW breaks down as 375 hp from the combustion engine plus up to 11 hp of electric drive from the 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It runs the same eight-speed Sport Automatic as every other 4 Series, and it is sold in all three bodies with rear-wheel drive or xDrive. From $69,100 as an xDrive coupe.

The M4 is built by BMW M around a high-performance version of the same 3.0-liter architecture, making 473 horsepower in the base Coupe and up to 523 in the Competition xDrive. The base car is rear-wheel drive with a six-speed manual, which nothing in the M440i range offers. From $82,200.

Powertrain and Performance Compared

Spec	M440i xDrive Coupe	M4 Coupe	M4 Competition xDrive
Horsepower	386	473	523
Torque	398 lb-ft	406 lb-ft	479 lb-ft
Transmission	8-speed Sport Automatic	6-speed manual	8-speed M STEPTRONIC
Drive	xDrive AWD	Rear-wheel drive	M xDrive AWD
0-60 mph	4.2 sec	4.1 sec	3.4 sec
Top speed	130 mph	155 mph	155 mph
EPA combined	29 mpg	19 mpg	18 mpg
Curb weight	4,019 lb	3,829 lb	3,979 lb

The line that surprises people is the 0-60 column. An M440i xDrive reaches 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and a base M4 Coupe does it in 4.1, one tenth apart, because all-wheel drive launches better than 87 extra horsepower through the rear wheels alone. The gap opens where the road does: 155 mph against 130, and a Competition xDrive at 3.4 seconds.

Pricing Compared

Model	Starting MSRP
M440i xDrive Coupe	$69,100
M4 Coupe	$82,200
M4 Competition Coupe	$86,600
M4 Competition xDrive Coupe	$91,700

Prices are BMW's starting MSRPs and exclude destination, taxes, title and registration; the selling price is set by the dealer. The step from an M440i xDrive to a base M4 is $13,100, and from there to the quickest M4 another $9,500.

Where Each Car Wins

The M440i

It is the one you can use without thinking about it. 29 mpg combined against the M4's 19 is ten miles per gallon, which on a daily I-80 commute is the difference between filling up once a week and twice. It rides on the standard 4 Series suspension rather than M tuning, which on the broken pavement around Suisun City and Vacaville is a real comfort advantage rather than a compromise. It comes in all three bodies, so you can have the six in a Gran Coupe with five seats or in a convertible. And it reaches 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, a tenth off a base M4, for $13,100 less.

The M4

It is the one built by BMW M, and the hardware is where that shows. 473 to 523 horsepower against 386, a 155 mph top speed against 130, more aggressive suspension tuning on the Competition cars, and M xDrive that can be set to 4WD, 4WD Sport or 2WD. The base car has a six-speed manual, which is the single strongest argument on this page for anyone who wants to drive rather than be driven. Inside, M Carbon Bucket Seats and an M Alcantara steering wheel are available across 16 upholstery options. On the roads north out of the valley, all of that is what you paid for and all of it is doing something.

Which of These Two Fits Your Week?

• It is your daily car and you drive real miles: the M440i xDrive, 29 mpg and 4.2 seconds. See 4 Series inventory.
• You want to shift gears yourself: the M4 Coupe, the only one of the two with a manual. See M4 inventory.
• You carry people or need a folding roof with the six: the M440i, which comes in Gran Coupe and convertible bodies.
• You want the fastest thing here in any weather: the M4 Competition xDrive, 3.4 seconds and switchable to 2WD.
• You want the M look and the M seats without the M running costs: the M440i wears M Performance equipment and returns ten more combined mpg.

Shop Both at BMW of Napa Valley

These two cars answer the same question differently enough that twenty minutes in each settles it. We stock both. BMW of Napa Valley is on Auto Mall Parkway in Fairfield, straight off Interstate 80, serving Vacaville, Vallejo, Suisun City, American Canyon and Napa. Call (707) 402-1500 or book a back-to-back drive.

BMW M440i vs M4 FAQs

Is the M440i an M car?

It is an M Performance model, which is BMW's tier between the standard range and full M. The M4 is the full M car, with its own high-performance engine, its own chassis tuning and a higher speed limiter.

How much more is an M4 than an M440i?

$13,100 at the entry point: $69,100 for an M440i xDrive Coupe against $82,200 for an M4 Coupe.

Why is a base M4 only a tenth quicker to 60 than an M440i xDrive?

Because the M440i has all-wheel drive and the base M4 does not. The M4 puts 473 horsepower through the rear wheels; the M440i launches 386 through all four. Over a longer run and at the top end, the M4's advantage is decisive.

Which one costs less to run?

The M440i, clearly. It is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined against 19 for the M4 Coupe and 18 for the Competition xDrive.

Can I get an M440i as a four-door?

Yes. The M440i is sold as a coupe, a Gran Coupe and a convertible. The M4 in this comparison is a coupe.

Do the M440i and M4 have the same trunk?

Yes, 15.5 cubic feet in coupe form, and both seat four. The coupe wheelbase is 112.2 inches, and the M4 carries a load rating of 1,058 pounds of payload capacity.

Which is better for a Northern California commute?

The M440i suits the commute and the M4 suits the weekend. If the car has to do both and the commute is the bigger share, the M440i is the one built for that pattern.

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