BMW X4 Review
Car Tested: BMW X4 xDrive30d M-Sport; Road Test No. 1106; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 79,68,054/-
The BMW X4 combines an SUV-Coupe body-line with a powerful inline-6 diesel engine and engaging dynamics
Luxury cars are one of the best ways to flaunt wealth and arrive in style. But with the ever-growing number of premium cars around, a usual sedan or SUV may not serve that purpose. You need something more. A convertible or a coupe sounds great but what if you want the practicality of an SUV with an added dose of style? Say hello to the BMW X4.
Motor Quest: BMW came with the SUV-coupe concept in 2007 when they launched the X6. The car received mixed reactions, some saying the design worked while others were struggling to find a point in collaborating two body types. As controversial as it was, the X6 found sufficient buyers and the success of the SUV-coupe body style made rival brands like Mercedes-Benz take notice and enter the segment. BMW launched the X4 globally in 2014 and the facelift came late last year. The X4 promises added style and more sportiness over the X3 and aims to deliver all that the X6 did in a smaller package.
The dual exhaust tips and sharp tail lights add to the sporty nature of the X4
Exteriors – The BMW X4 looks like the X3 from the front with its high nose, sleek headlights and prominent kidney grille. The ‘M-Sport’ package (standard in India) adds sharper looking bumpers with numerous cuts and creases. The side profile is attractive. The window line is high giving it a distinct SUV presence. The lines flow seamlessly and the flared wheel arches on our M-Sport variant look great too. The wheels look aggressive and the air vent near the front wheel arch adds to the sportiness of the car. What is also nice is how neatly the roofline flows and conjoins the boot. It is much better executed than the previous generation BMW X6 and we will go so far in saying that it actually looks quite pleasing. The design of the new X4 is a departure from the awkward and abrupt styling of the BMW SUV-coupes of the past.
The front is similar to the X3 while the couple-like roofline looks cool
The M-Sport package adds some sporty bits to the otherwise elegant design
The rear looks the part too with a clean design and no fuss. The wide tail lights look striking and the fact that the registration plate is on the bumper and not on the boot-lid further highlights the sharpness of the tail lights. The large BMW logo that doubles up as the boot-opener and big X4 badging instantly tell you what car you are following. The bumper design at the back is as elaborate as it is in the front with the M-Sport version adding cool visible exhausts. Overall, BMW seems to have taken some good efforts to make the design suitable to the tastes of a wider audience.
The interior is similar to that of the X3
Interiors – The interior of the BMW X4 is a cut-copy-paste job from the interior of the X3 but that is expected. It is not a bad thing at all since the first impression of the X4’s cabin is that it is well put-together and loaded with all the goodies expected at this price point. The dashboard design is smart and easy to get used to. The driving position is nice too as the seats are very comfortable and offer a generous level of adjustments. It should be mentioned that you sit a bit lower in the X4 than you do in the X3 and that makes the driving position of the X4 feel a little sportier.
BMW’s iDrive infotainment system is responsive and easy to use
The X4 is feature-loaded & build quality is also impressive; feels luxurious & sporty
The typical BMW dash houses a large 10.2-inch touch-operated infotainment system coupled with goodies such as navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get a premium Harman Kardon sound system to take care of your entertainment needs. The iDrive infotainment system is still the best in the business and the crisp display and the ease of operation make it a joy to use. There is also an all-digital instrument cluster which shows you a host of information and like the infotainment screen is blessed with amazing resolution. The steering is very nice to hold and the controls on it feel easy to operate.
While there isn’t enough room to seat 3 passengers comfortably, the large sunroof ensures an airy feel
The back seat is a bit of a mixed bag. It offers generous legroom but only adequate headroom. The sloping roofline intrudes into the headspace and taller passengers will find it a problem. The high centre tunnel is also a sore point meaning the middle passenger won’t be comfortable on long journeys. The seating position is a bit low and the windows are high limiting the outside visibility to some extent. But the backseats are fairly comfortable for your daily needs and the huge panoramic sunroof ensures the cabin never turns gloomy.
The cabin has excellent quality and attention-to-detail
The large transmission tunnel and sloping roofline robs away precious space from the rear passengers
Quality all round is utterly impressive and there is that expected polish and feel-good factor in the cabin of the X4. The tan theme which we had on our test car also looks cool and different from the usual beige and black. We particularly liked the buttons on the dashboard which felt durable and tactile to use. BMW has given all you need in terms of equipment. There’s BMW Gesture Control, 3-Zone Climate Control, Heads-Up Display, park assist, electric adjustment for the driver and passenger seats amongst others. Sure, the backseat experience could’ve been better but generally speaking, the interior of the X4 won’t leave you disappointed.
The BMW X4 comes with both petrol and diesel engine options
Performance – BMW offers the X4 in 3 engines – 20d, 30i and the one we tested which also happens to be the range-topper and the one that differentiates the X4 from the X3, the 30d. The straight-6 motor displaces 3000cc, belts out 265 HP and 620 Nm, more than enough to match the show of the sporty derriere. Acceleration is brisk as turbo lag is well contained but it’s not really in the meat of the storm in the low-end, it’s only past 2000 RPM that there is a big gush of torque which pins you back in the seat, the diesel motor revving eagerly till 5000 RPM before a quick upshift is made by the 8-speed torque converter gearbox. This oil burner is refined at low revs but gets vocal once you get past 4000 RPM but the X4’s NVH seems to be the best of the BMW pack which employs this fab motor.
One can take manual control of the fast and smooth 8-speed gearbox
The motor provides punchy performance while returning decent fuel economy
Multiple drive modes help you alter the engine, gearbox, steering and the springs. In Sport mode, it’s the most eager and pulls really strongly, in fact, 0-100 km/hr takes just 6.1 seconds and top speed is governed at 250 km/hr. You can opt to manually shift gears too, by pushing the gear lever into manual mode and using either the tiptronic function or the steering mounted paddles, the motor revs all the way past 5500 RPM and won’t upshift unless and until you do so. With enough grunt lower down, city drivability is good while the pull from the engine in the mid-range is the real highlight of this powertrain. Fuel economy is between 10-14 km/l and the Eco Pro drive mode does help to extend the efficiency numbers.
The X4 has good ride quality in Comfort mode along with minimal body roll
Driving Dynamics – The suspension of the X4 is set up on the stiffer side but with adaptive dampers, the car rides well in Comfort mode, stiffening up the dampers in Sport mode. This coupe SUV does ride well on most roads but big bumps catch it out, you need to dial down the pace to clear them, while also keeping the low profile tyres in check. Body roll is well contained, the X4 is eager around the corners with plenty of grip on offer. The steering does weigh up but feels a bit artificial and doesn’t evoke the same natural feel we are so used to with BMW cars. The brakes on the X4 offer very strong stopping power and the car remained glued to the road at high speeds, with little to no road or tyre noise creeping inside.
The X4 is loaded with all the latest safety tech
Safety – The BMW X4 is based on the X3 and like all the cars in the segment, it gets top marks in all the crash tests it has been subjected to and an extensive list of safety equipment. The radar-guided safety equipment is yet to make its way to India but we think it’ll come sooner than later given that the competition has started offering it. BMW’s prime competitors in India are Audi and Mercedes along with JLR and Volvo and overall, the brand has a pretty decent reputation when it comes to service and reliability.
The X4 adds a sporty touch to the already excellent X3
Verdict – The BMW X4 is everything that a BMW should be. It has a potent diesel engine, sorted dynamics, high-quality interiors and decent practicality. It adds more to the package with the unique and more aggressive SUV-coupe design. At Rs. 79.8 lakhs, the X4 slots in-between the X3 and the X5 in BMW’s line-up. If you are in the market for an SUV but want to stand out from the crowd and don’t mind spending a little extra, the X4 makes a strong case for itself.
The off-beat tan leather interior offers a nice contrast
What’s Cool
* Razor-sharp and handsome styling
* Luxurious and feature-loaded interiors
* Punchy performance with good dynamics
What’s Not So Cool
* Rear seats could have offered more space
* Steering should offer more feedback
Alternatives: – Jaguar F-Pace, Volvo XC60, Lexus NX 300h, Range Rover Evoque
The fully digital instrument cluster is not only high resolution but also shows plenty of information
BMW X4 Specifications
* Engine: 2993cc, 6-Cyl, Diesel
* Power: 265 HP @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 620 Nm @ 2000-2500 RPM
* Transmission: 8-Speed AT
* Fuel Consumption: 10-14 km/l
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Tyre Size: 245/50/19 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: Adaptive Suspension (Front & Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front & Rear)
* Safety: 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP
BMW X4 Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4752 mm X 2138 mm X 1621 mm
* Wheelbase: 2864 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 68-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1820 kgs
The BMW X4 slots in perfectly between the X3 and the X5
Further Reading –
Testers’ Note:
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