BMW X4 2018 new car review
A decade on from the original, polarising X6’s debut, the whole coupe-SUV concept has flourished, culminating in this fresh take on BMW’s mid-sized X4 ‘Sport Activity Coupe’.
Now into its second generation, the all-new X4 may well be smart enough, and sexy enough, to win over all those who doubted the relevance of motoring’s most controversial niche.
Like its predecessor, the latest X4 shares much of its bone structure and mechanical DNA with the X3 wagon (the vastly improved, third-generation version that launched here last year). And that close relationship brings a far more premium interior, enhanced materials quality, much cleverer packaging efficiency and greater value for money. Finally, this all-new X4 interpretation has the design savvy to match the expectation of its premium price tag.
- Prettier styling
- Muscular turbo-six M40i
- Improved value
- Steering lacks crispness
- Occasional lapses in premium feel
- Dynamics could be more fluid
Is it right for me?
If maximum payload and cargo versatility aren’t paramount, then the X4 actually works. Not as well as a proper BMW station wagon, but good for its type, and better than the X3 it’s based on in terms of styling pizazz and driver appeal.
Can I afford it ?
Four models will comprise the initial Aussie X4 line-up, each dressed in standard M Sport attire and underpinned by BMW’s all-wheel-drive system because that’s how we roll in this sports-mad country.
Prices are up by a few thousand dollars – the base xDrive20i, for example, is just over four grand dearer at $76,900 – but the new X4 is comprehensively equipped and far more deserving of its premium positioning. The range-topping ‘M Performance’ variant – the X4 M40i ($109,900) – offers just one option, and that’s paint colour.
What do you get for your money?
A shedload. The X4 xDrive20i ($76,900) and turbo-diesel X4 xDrive 20d ($79,900) share their features list, which includes 19-inch alloy wheels and, crucially, M Sport adaptive suspension, allowing the new X4 to ride with a degree of decorum. Equipment highlights include a head-up display, surround-view parking camera, LED head-, fog- and tail-lights, sports front seats with full electric adjustment and memory settings, leather/cloth upholstery, an electric tailgate, three-zone climate control, BMW Connected Drive with online and app services, and a 10.25-inch colour touchscreen multimedia system with sat-nav, DAB+ radio and six speakers.
The sportier X4 xDrive 30i ($83,900) gains significantly more muscle than the sweet but rather sedate 20i, as well as 20-inch wheels, full leather trim, a multi-function instrument display with 12.3-inch colour screen and black-panel tech, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, adaptive LED headlights and M Sport brakes.
The X4 M40i ($109,900) takes that sporting baton and runs with it, scoring specific suspension tuning, an M Sport differential, grey exterior styling elements, 21-inch alloys, a panoramic glass sunroof, a 16-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, ambient interior lighting, a ‘Sensatec’ trimmed instrument panel, lumbar support adjustment and heating for both front seats, and a Connected Drive Freedom Package with concierge services and 24/7 call-centre assistance.
How much does it cost to maintain?
All BMW maintenance is determined via a Condition Based Servicing (CBS) system, which analyses vehicle use to identify whether an annual inspection or oil service is due. Selected BMW service and maintenance costs can be covered by a single, one-off advanced payment with BMW Service Inclusive, available in two packages – Basic or Plus.
As for warranty, BMW’s standard coverage is three years with unlimited mileage, though a 12-year/unlimited-distance warranty covers Body Rust Perforation.
Is it well built?
Much better than it used to be. Hailing from BMW’s US plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina (that also builds X3, X5 and X6), the new-gen X4 impresses with its overall refinement and the tactility of many of its interior finishes, particularly its trim. Our test X4s featured a lovely stitched dashboard material, and much of the switchgear looks and feels closely related to more-expensive German-built BMWs. But there are a few hiccups.
Low-rent plastics on the ventilation-outlet grilles – something you look at and touch frequently – let the side down. As for the mis-matching steering-wheel switches, they look like BMW knock-offs rather than the real deal. Pity. The new X4’s interior is such a massive improvement otherwise.
What are the Standout features?
Besides the X4’s unexpectedly handsome styling, definitely the sweetness of BMW’s drivetrains and the potency of the six-cylinder M40i. In that particular instance, there’s also an M Sport exhaust system and an M Sport differential, giving the X4 M40i both the sound, the stonk, and the cornering talent to bolster BMW’s (flagging) reputation as an enthusiast’s brand.
What does it have that others don't?
From the moment you approach the new-gen X4, it’s clear something has changed. Is this the first truly successful coupe-SUV styling effort? Perhaps. Standing 3mm lower, 37mm broader and 81mm longer than its compromised predecessor, the new X4 manages to wrap its form tightly arounds its mechanicals, tapering the roofline neatly towards its (electrically operated) rear liftback while looking almost Italianate around its coupe-esque tail.
BMW’s beautifully detailed horizontal tail-lights endow the X4 with almost an Alfa Romeo flavour, conjuring the classic 145/146 and 156 models of the ’90s, but with super-modern three-dimensional detail. Blended with the X4’s strong rear haunches (and a 30mm-wider rear track than the X3 wagon), it’s a tastefully resolved and satisfyingly sporty look.
How practical is it?
The coupe-styled X4’s most important saving grace from a critic-silencing perspective is its interior. Riding on a 54mm-longer wheelbase than before, the new X4 offers a far more useable rear-seat to complement its overall cabin practicality. Even with a vast panoramic sunroof (standard on M40i, optional on other models), there’s enough headroom (and leg space) to effortlessly seat four 180cm adults. And beneath the X4’s sloping tail hides a decent 525-litre boot, with a useful under-floor section accessed by the floor itself lifting on gas struts.
Is it comfortable?
In terms of seat comfort, the X4 hits the mark with amply adjustable and generously supportive sports front chairs, backed by a two-person rear bench that does exactly what it’s meant to do…. besides seat three people in proper comfort. That centre-rear position is about as cushy as a window-cleaning job at the Burj Al Arab.
Then there’s the X4’s ride, which is a far cry from the crashy and abrasive pain and suffering inflicted by some of its smaller X-badged siblings. With standard adaptive dampers across the line-up, the X4 has enough suspension compliance and control to carry-off the massive wheels that BMW Australia fits standard.
Easy in, easy out?
Apart from the reduced entry height into its rear quarters, and the relatively high loading lip of its boot, no real qualms from our end. If you’re struggling to navigate your way around an X4, you probably should visit a doctor.
Space and versatility?
Not as much as a wagon-shaped X3, but definitely more than its compromised, underdone predecessor. Like the previous X3, the old X4’s lack of rear legroom and its low-set, unsupportive back seat merely distracted your attention from the low-rent ambience of its dashboard and trim. Not anymore. Finally, there’s justification in paying a sizeable wedge for a BMW X4 thanks to its newfound class and space.
What's the engine like?
While the volume-selling 185kW/350Nm X4 30i has more than enough grunt for most people (BMW claims 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds – two seconds faster than the 135kW/290Nm xDrive20i running the same 2.0-litre engine in a lesser state of tune), it’s the new M40i that brings something genuinely fresh and interesting to the 2018 X4 range.
Competing head-on with Mercedes-AMG’s GLC43 Coupe, the M40i is the only six-cylinder model in the line-up (for now) and is as fast in a straight line (0-100km/h in 4.8sec) as the M3 V8 of a generation ago. Its 265kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged six delivers serious muscle from just above idle, and a decent personality too.
Toggle the M40i into Sport mode and its instruments turn red, in unison with its exhaust offering a full deck of M Sport aural flavour. Blurting on upshifts and crackling on overrun, it’s a great reminder of BMW’s talent with straight-six engines.
How much fuel does it consume?
A moderate amount, given the not insubstantial size and weight of the X4. According to the official government combined cycle, the 20i and 30i each average 7.8L/100km, whereas the turbo-diesel 20d sips just 5.8L/100km. The M40i is considerably thirstier at 9.2L/100km, but given its large dose of performance, that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
The X4 is a keener, more cohesive drive than the X3 it’s derived from, with more focused suspension control and a greater appetite for corners. Hustling the X4 through bends, its impressive handling poise and terrific grip go hand in hand with the car (or SUV) it’s trying to be. And yet it’s also quiet on the road, with an acceptable ride even when clad with huge wheels, thanks to the adaptive suspension crucial to making any modern BMW feel at all comfortable.
With its standard M Sport rear differential (that continually shifts the drive bias between each rear wheel), it’s the X4 M40i that properly lives up to BMW’s ‘driver’s car’ reputation. Wearing guard-filling 21-inch wheels, it’s the ultimate expression of what the new X4 stands for. There’s so much performance on offer from its 265kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbo-petrol six that it will actually nudge its tail out in tight corners if you provoke it – in a lovely, unscary fashion – backed by some gratuitous blurting from its exhaust pipes as its superb eight-speed automatic rapidly dispatches gears.
The only dynamic disappointment is the X4’s steering. For anyone used to the crispness and connection of BMW’s modern greats (think E46 330i), there’s a muddiness to the X4’s steering feel – and a lack of progression in its response – that takes away from the chassis’ impressive work elsewhere. The M40i is the least affected here, but even it only feels truly on point when deep into a corner, with more than a quarter-turn of steering lock wound on.
Does it perform as you expect?
The X4 M40i is ballsy enough to pass itself off as the proper M version, though it’s merely the M Performance sub-brand. A huge slug of torque, spanning 1520-4800rpm, combined with an excellent eight-speed ZF gearbox and the turbo-six’s free-revving nature ensure this all-wheel-drive coupe-SUV will be embarrassed by few other vehicles.
As for the fours, they’re all eminently capable – especially the fairly urgent 30i – but they lack the authority of the M40i. BMW also offers a six-cylinder 240kW/680Nm M40d turbo-diesel in Europe but that engine hasn’t been confirmed for Australia. We’re petrol lovers when it comes to serious grunt, and there’s still the full-blooded X4M (and its X3M sibling) to come in 2019, featuring the full M high-performance treatment. That car should be something quite special.
2018 BMW X4 M40i Price and Specifications
Price: $109,900
Engine: 3.0-litre turbo-petrol six-cylinder
Power: 265kW at 5500-6500rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1520-4800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Fuel use: 9.2L/100km