2021 BMW 4 Series vs 2020 Dodge Challenger

With its stablemate, the Dodge Charger, the Dodge Challenger is one of the last remaining modern muscle cars. The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro have both eschewed their “retro” phases to become more forward-looking sporty coupes. But the Challenger holds fast, trading on the past while using current automotive technology to create one of the most fun-loving coupes on the market. This puts the Challenger in a field of one, but for those seeking what the Challenger has to offer, nothing else is needed.

The built-in-Canada Challenger, produced at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Canada facility in Brampton, Ont., is largely unchanged for the 2020 model year. It provides several new colors, some additional interior design choices, and adds a 50th Anniversary package for some trims.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series represents how, for better or worse, BMW has changed. The 4 Series name has been around since the 2014 model year when it was introduced for the former 3 Series coupe and convertible. Earlier two-door 3 Series models built BMW’s reputation, with excellent handling, smooth yet powerful engines, and understated styling.

The redesigned second-generation 4 Series departs dramatically from that template. It’s bigger and more luxurious, with garish styling and a greater reliance on technology for performance. The car’s rivals haven’t changed though. It still competes against the Audi A5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus RC, and Infiniti Q60 for buyers willing to sacrifice a bit of practicality to make a fashion statement.

As before, the 4 Series is available in coupe and convertible body styles—the latter with a soft-top instead of the previous retractable hardtop. Both body styles are offered in four-cylinder 430i and six-cylinder M440i configurations, with high-performance M4 variants also offered. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the cabrio models, while xDrive all-wheel drive is mandatory on the coupe in Canada. Our test drive was in a 430i xDrive coupe.