With a third of BMW’s lineup now made up of “M” models, you would be forgiven for forgetting that the brand still makes vehicles that haven’t been tuned strictly to lap the Nürburgring. The 2024 BMW 430i xDrive Cabriolet is a great reminder that driving is about more than lap times and adrenaline.
When I first saw the direction BMW was taking with their enormous kidney grille design, I thought it was surely some kind of Photoshopped meme. Alas, it was no joke — despite what my personal opinions may be, the big grilles continue to sell like gangbusters, so kudos to BMW for knowing what their customers want.
Admittedly, the 430i’s striking kidney grille and sleek LED headlights exude a powerful presence on the road; it doesn’t need an M badge to flaunt its aerodynamic silhouette that effortlessly captures attention. Decked out a colour BMW calls Sanremo Green Metallic and rolling on 19-inch wheels as part of the M Sport package, this 430i looks just as expensive as the M440i. The power-retractable hard top is no more, but the soft top seamlessly integrates into the car’s overall design, allowing for a quick and effortless connection to the world around you.
Stepping inside the 430i, occupants are greeted with an inviting and sumptuous cabin. The high-quality materials, such as premium Oyster Vernasca leather upholstery and polished metal accents, exude elegance and craftsmanship. The seats are fabulously supple like your favourite leather armchair, yet offer excellent support and comfort. We especially enjoyed the adjustable driver seat side bolsters, feeling like an on-demand hug with the push of a button.
The rear seats are a little on the cramped side with just enough headroom for passengers under six feet, but this is obviously negated with the top dropped. Our tester also came equipped with the optional Thermal Air Collar function. After experiencing the gentle warm breeze around your neck, this upgrade is essential to being able to enjoy the open-air experience even when the temperature drops a few degrees below optimal top-down comfort.
The driver-oriented cockpit provides intuitive access to the controls. The latest iteration of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system boasts a crisp and responsive touchscreen display, making the excellent iDrive dial redundant to the point that we didn’t use it even once. The Premium Enhanced package adds some nice toys to play with, including a heads-up display with fancy graphics, a Harman/Kardon sound system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a fantastic parking assistant coupled with an augmented-reality 3D view.
The 430i houses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood, producing 255 hp and more importantly, a wallop of low-end torque — 295 lb-ft — available at just 1,500 rpm. This powerplant delivers ample acceleration, allowing the car to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just over six seconds. The engine is mated to a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission that effortlessly transfers power to all four wheels.
While everything in this segment now offers different driving modes, this 430i has a dual personality when driven in its various modes. In Comfort, the suspension is pillowy soft like riding on a cloud, steering is light, and the vehicle is so well-insulated from wind and road noise, it is a truly a relaxing experience. The only spoiler is the harsh initial bite from the upgraded M Sport brakes — an option you should only select if you know you are the type of driver that spends more time in Sport instead of Comfort.
Select Sport mode and the 430i comes alive, tightening up the steering and pumping fake engine noise to liven up the experience. The responsive steering and well-tuned M Sport suspension make for a dynamic driving experience, although it can’t quite hide the overall length of the car — we can’t shake the feeling of piloting a rather larger vehicle. This is not the right tool to take to the race track, but rather more of a cruise missile for long highway drives.
Another reason you might favour the four-cylinder 430i over the M440i’s inline-six is the fuel economy. Rated at 10 L/100 km city, 7.1 highway, and 8.7 combined, it’s good enough to make an impact on the bottom line. In our time with it we averaged 9.3 L/100 km in mostly city driving. Though impressive for a luxury convertible, it still requires premium 91 octane so you can’t quite have your cake and eat it, too.
The 430i impresses with its striking exterior, well-appointed interior, excellent fuel economy, and engaging and refined driving experience. It combines the thrill of open-top driving with the comfort and technology expected from a modern BMW. With a starting price of $68,250, our tester’s optional upgrades bring up the total price to $79,450 — still considerably less than M440i while providing much of the same look and driving experience.
Fancy some balling-on-a-budget while going top-down? The 2024 BMW 430i xDrive Cabriolet is a great way to do it, providing a lot of car for the money.
