Compare the2024 BMW 4 Series Gran CoupeVS 2024 Toyota Crown

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Crown doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the Crown have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Crown’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Crown’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 Series Gran Coupe for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Crown (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4 Series Gran Coupe third among compact premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Crown isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Toyota.

The 430i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (255 vs. 236) than the Crown’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The M440i Gran Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 42 more horsepower (382 vs. 340) than the Crown Platinum’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and Crown have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The 4 Series Gran Coupe has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown (15.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Crown.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Crown doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Crown:

For better traction, the 4 Series Gran Coupe has larger standard tires than the Crown (245/45R18 vs. 225/55R19). The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crown (F:245/40R19 & R:255/40R19 vs. 225/55R19).

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crown’s standard 55 series tires. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Crown’s optional 45 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 4 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Crown doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is 7.6 inches shorter than the Crown, making the 4 Series Gran Coupe easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Crown’s useful trunk space.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The Crown doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Crown uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the 4 Series Gran Coupe is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Crown. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Crown doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the Crown doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Smart Key System is not available on the Crown Limited/Platinum.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Crown’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Laser headlights, optional on the 4 Series Gran Coupe, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Crown’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 4 Series Gran Coupe offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Crown doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 4 Series Gran Coupe also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Crown has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The BMW 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Toyota Crown isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Crown doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 4 Series Gran Coupe will retain 52.7% to 54.31% of its original price after five years, while the Crown only retains 49.43% to 51.46%.

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Toyota Crown by almost three to one during 2023.