Since its introduction to the BMW line-up in 2013, the three-model, strong and stylish 4-Series range, a successor to the 3-Series Coupe and Convertible, has reached more than 400,000 sales worldwide.

The UK is the second-biggest seller of the range, following only the US market. To maintain fruitful sales BMW has taken the opportunity halfway through the lifecycle of the range to give it a bit of a refresh. While the changes are relatively light, so light in fact they're barely noticeable, BMW thinks they will make the 4-Series stand out from fierce competition in the form of the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

A pricier range

The 4-Series is available in three versions - Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible - and the range is more expensive than its competitors. If you want to be part of the 4-Series club the price tag starts at £32,580. This is compared with the A5, which starts from £31,535, and C-Class, which is even cheaper, starting from £27,665.

We drove the 420d xCoupe M Sport around the scenic country roads of the Cotswolds to give it a run for its money - literally.

Subtle but effective

On the outside, body changes are few. Up front, the model offers new headlights, and at the back the taillights have a new design as well, which, compared to the older model gives it a fresh and sophisticated appearance. The characteristic L-shaped styling theme for the lights has been retained but reinterpreted, and LED lights to improve visibility are now standard on the range. This trumps the A5 and the C-Class, which are both still both offering xenon lights.

Inside, there are similarly modest revisions, with a newly designed steering wheel, chrome trim surrounds to air vents, double stitching on the instrument panel, and a high-gloss black cover panel on the centre console, all of which James Thompson, product manager, believes are going to set the new range apart from the old and see the buyers of the older model coming back for the refreshed one.

Despite being a coupe and a 4-Series, the more stylish but less practical older sibling of the 3-Series, the model offers reasonably good interior space, sharing the attributes of the Gran Coupe range. The boot is 445 litres compared to the equivalent 3-Series, which offers 480 litres. The boot size also beats the 342 litres offered by the Infiniti Q60 Coupe. The rear seats provide a fair amount of legroom, although the headroom isn't the best and getting in and out feels a bit of a squeeze.