2020 BMW M4
Independent review & score by Carivo
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 4 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Sports |
| Base Price | $70,488–$83,530 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2020 BMW M4 is a sports that earns a Carivo score of 7.7/10 — rated Recommended. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 9.5/10, while Reliability at 6.4/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 6.4/10 for reliability, this sports trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 7.8/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Few rivals match it for performance: 9.5/10. Expect handling and power delivery that make this one of the more entertaining sportss to actually drive. On technology it rates 8.1/10: a modern, well-integrated suite that compares favorably with anything at this price point.
Priced from $70,488–$83,530, 16 MPG, seating 4, the BMW M4 sits in the luxury tier of the sports market. The value score of 6.9/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 6 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: Nothing about the 2020 BMW M4 will scare a sensible buyer off. Keep an eye on value and reliability if those matter to you; otherwise it does what a good sports should — quietly and competently.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2020 BMW M4 ranks #154 of 316 sportss in the Carivo database — better than 52% of the segment. Its 7.7/10 overall score is exactly at the segment average of 7.7/10. Its $70,488 starting price is about 53% above the segment's median of $46,090.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Sports ranking →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$16,405 ($3,281/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 2 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Smart-money pick: the 2017 BMW M4 scores 7.4/10 — within striking distance of the 2020's 7.7 — and starts roughly $7,000 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.9/10 | $82,503 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.9/10 | $82,503 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.7/10 | $80,100 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.8/10 | $77,697 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.8/10 | $75,294 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.8/10 | $72,891 | Read review → |
| 2020 (this review) | 7.7/10 | $70,488 | |
| 2019 | 7.6/10 | $68,085 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.5/10 | $65,682 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.4/10 | $63,279 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.5/10 | $60,876 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.5/10 | $58,473 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Air bags / Knee bolster 09/05/2019 · 19V352000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2 Competition Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, and 2019 330i xDrive Sportswagon vehicles. The driver and passenger knee air bag… |
|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasoline / Fuel injection system 29/10/2020 · 20V666000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 M2 Coupe and 2020 M4 Coupe vehicles. Fuel injectors may have been installed without a damping component which is used to reduce vibration. If a damping component is not present, vibration… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2020 BMW M4 that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2020 BMW M4's reliability 6.4/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
2 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.7/10 overall, ranking #154 of 316 sportss in our database (better than 52% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2020 BMW M4 starts at $70,488 and ranges up to $83,530 across trims (MSRP when new). At 16 MPG, expect roughly $3,281/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Based on our year-by-year scoring, the weakest M4 years we've rated are 2017 (7.4/10) — each at least half a point below the nameplate's best (7.9/10). See the full year table above before deciding.
The documented issues for the 2020 BMW M4 are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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Explore the full lineup of BMW models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.