Owning a convertible in India is more of an indulgence than any other type of car. It’s no wonder that, of the handful on sale here, the majority are in the super-exotic Rs-2-crore-plus range – the type of cars that are usually carefully garaged and driven only in the most ideal of conditions. And that’s understandable. It’s either too hot, or too cold, or too rainy, and even if the weather is just right, there’s dust, pollution, noise and smells to consider. At a more attainable price point, for most people it’s just not worth the hassle. If you’re looking for performance and style, a nice coupe is probably a better bet. If you simply must have a convertible, it had better be worth your while. That seems to have been BMW’s thinking with the M440i convertible.
2026 BMW M440i Convertible Exterior Design and Engineering -
Well proportioned with just the right mix of elegance and aggression.
If you’re familiar with BMW’s model nomenclature, you’ll know that this is a relative of the much-beloved M340i performance sedan. The 4 Series is the sleeker iteration of the 3 Series, and ‘M 40i’ points to a spicy 6-cylinder powertrain. Spicy extends to the look, too, which borrows a lot from the full-fledged performance car that is the BMW M4 Competition.
It starts with the controversial 4 Series ‘beaver tooth’ grille that extends from the top of the bonnet to the base of the bumper. It dominates the frontal look and is more prominent here than on the M4, thanks to the subtler bodywork. BMW India has made the gloss black package standard, and that includes the grille, wing mirrors, air dams, exhaust tips and the faux rear diffuser element.
To go with this are black-coloured internals for the headlamps and an intricate tail-lamp arrangement with laser-light elements. Rounding off the design elements are a nice set of 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, the same as are found on the M340i, with staggered tyre sizes – 225/45 R19 up front and 255/35 R19 at the rear.
Unlike the previous 4 Series convertible that used a folding hard top, this one goes back to a soft-top layout. And unlike its sibling, the Z4 roadster, this one is a four seater, and that’s evident in its proportions. It’s a long, more luxurious shape, with a longer rear deck and a large pair of doors that have to cater to both rows of seats. This, combined with the M Sport styling gives an early hint about this car’s dual personality.
2026 BMW M440i Convertible Interior Space and Comfort -
Surprising amount of space, even in the back seat. Interior looks plain.
A big compromise convertibles usually make is to space and practicality, but the M440i isn’t as bad as you might think. Of course, it’s never going to be as spacious as a sedan, but a pair of short to medium-height individuals can sit one behind the other with little fuss. Headroom takes a hit with the roof up of course, and the rear seat is upright and not very comfortable. At 385 litres, the boot is actually 10 litres larger than the sedan’s, but given you have to stack bags around the housing for the folding roof, it’s nowhere near as practical in real-world use. Plus, there’s no spare tyre; just a puncture repair kit.
Up front, you get the same sports seats as the M340i, which means they’re comfortable yet generously bolstered, with power adjustment and memory functions. Quality all around is excellent too, and this now being one of BMW’s older-gen interiors, there are some practical touches like physical controls for the volume and an iDrive click-wheel to operate the infotainment system. There are plenty of storage spaces too.
A slight disappointment is that it looks too much like a 3 Series, and lacks any extra drama that you might want from a convertible with a sporty edge. Moreover, while the dual-screen layout is big and bright, it feels at odds with the rest of the cabin design, and doesn’t give the same driver-centric feel of older Bimmers.
2026 BMW M440i Convertible Features and Safety -
A single variant loaded up with most features you’d want or need.
Sticking with the screens, the continuous curved panel is made up of a 12.3-inch driver’s display and a 14.9-inch ultra-wide touchscreen, and while the graphics are incredibly crisp and smooth, the layouts of both screens aren’t very user friendly, as we’ve seen in most modern BMWs. The driver’s display goes out of its way to be unconventional in its display of basic data like speed and revs, which though aesthetically pleasing, isn’t always easy to read on the move, while the i-Drive screen has gotten so bloated with submenus, you have to stop the car to get anything done.
That being said, the M440i is well equipped. You get powered seats with memory function, a wireless phone charger, adaptive LED headlamps, dual-zone auto climate control, auto park assist, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, amongst much else. There are even some ADAS features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, as well as an excellent sounding 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.
2026 BMW M440i Convertible Performance and Refinement -
374hp turbocharged straight six performance is smooth and easy to exploit.
Perhaps the biggest advantage this M440i Convertible has over its M340i sedan sibling is giving you open-air access to the glorious ‘B58’ 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine. This is especially true in its latest guise, where its voice seems to have been stifled considerably, likely by sound and emissions regulations. Still, when you do hear it, it’s a melodious, swelling sound, rather than a bassy bark.
Like the sound, the performance flows in progressively and smoothly rather than in a solid lump. It’s wonderfully free revving compared to most turbocharged engines and there’s power to be found across the rev range. The 8-speed ZF automatic is brilliant as always, finding a happy mix between smooth and seamless, or quick and aggressive shifts, depending on your drive mode and driving style.
BMW claims a 0-100kph time of 4.9sec – identical to the M340i sedan, even though the convertible is a full 165kg heavier. In our tests, we managed 4.43sec, making this another instance of BMW understating its cars’ performance capability. We put it down to the excellent gearbox, and of course the xDrive all-wheel-drive system that deploys the power without waste.
2026 BMW M440i Convertible Mileage and Fuel Economy -
Not unreasonable mileage figures, considering the car’s performance intent.
The mileage rating for the BMW M440i xDrive convertible is 12kpl on the WLTP cycle, which is not bad for a performance oriented four-seat sportscar that weighs 1,890kg. And in real-world usage, though this packs a punch when you need it, when dropped into Eco Pro mode, the engine and gearbox do a great job of keeping the revs low and shifting early, making this a surprisingly effective everyday powertrain. Unlike the M4 Competition’s S58, which is an outright performance engine, the B58 is well rooted in luxury. Driven carefully, and using the auto stop/start function you can expect high single digits, or even low double digits when it comes to fuel economy.
2026 BMW M440i Convertible Ride Comfort and Handling -
Adaptive dampers incredibly effective at switching between sporty and comfy.
Exciting as the engine is, the M440i’s bigger achievement is delivering everyday usability in a sporty convertible, and that extends to the ride quality. Thanks to the inclusion of adaptive sports suspension – a feature added to the M340i last year as well – it can truly go from sports car to luxury limo at the flick of a switch. Or, rather, a tap of the touchscreen. In Comfort mode, the M440i rides more comfortably than many luxury sedans, and that’s high praise indeed. The steering too, becomes light and manageable, while sacrificing none of its directness.
Dial it up to Sport Plus, however, and the transformation is remarkable. This is where it earns the M in its name, as everything tightens up around you to deliver a truly locked-in driving experience. The xDrive system is primarily rear-wheel drive, with the front axle only stepping in at the last minute to pull you out of a tight spot if needed. Set to M Dynamic Mode (now called Sport Plus ESC), it feels playful while still providing a safety net, making this (like the M340i) a great car with which to learn how to deploy performance. All the while, body control is superbly reined in, you don’t feel too much of scuttle shake from the chassis and it doesn’t feel noticeably heavy.
2026 BMW M440i Convertible Value for Money -
Surprisingly good all-rounder that packs in quite a lot for a car in this segment.
India is not ideal for convertibles, and with the M440i xDrive, BMW has tried to remove the barriers to entry by packing in as much as it could, and making it as desirable as possible. No boring ‘Luxury Line’ package, this is an M Sport. No optional extras, just one fully loaded variant. And no four-cylinder engine to keep costs in check, but instead the mighty B58 straight-six M40i xDrive powertrain.
What was unexpected, however, was just how usable it would be, thanks to the very effective adaptive dampers, surprisingly spacious rear seats and smooth unstressed powertrain when left in Comfort mode. And without losing any of its M Sport edge in Sport Plus mode, and while giving you all the occasion of a convertible. It’s literally a more dramatic M340i with very few compromises.
Lacking somewhat in occasion is the interior design, which should have felt more special than a 3 Series, and with it the associated annoyances of its overcomplicated OS. The final piece of the puzzle is the price, which we’ll know in due time. But if BMW can keep it on the right side of Rs 1 crore, we could actually see more convertibles on our roads than ever before.