The BMW X4 is basically an X3 without space in the back for human heads. What do you need to know before you buy a BMW X4? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything right here in our Buyer’s Guide.
The BMW X3 is a decent little crossover. Based on the 3 Series platform, it offers decent dynamics, good utility and solid fuel economy numbers. Its stablemate, the X4, keeps two of those characteristics, but makes a compromise on the utility front. It also costs more.
BMW thinks there’s a group of people out there who need the ride height of an SUV, but still want to drive something that looks sporty. So the Bavarians “invented” a market segment with their X6 “Sports Activity Coupe.” The X4 looks like a shrunken down version of that car, and like its big brother, it’s one of the strangest looking vehicles on the road.
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The whole point of the X4 is to appeal to people who like the idea of the X3, but want a bit more of an aggressive, streamlined look. So BMW made the X4’s front end a bit sharper and edgier than the X3s. They lowered the roof line to bring down the visual center of gravity, they dropped the seating position by nearly and inch and sculpted wide, brawny rear fenders. They also tuned the transmission, suspension and steering to be a bit sportier. BMW says that, compared to the X3, the X4 “reveals a dynamic personality all its own and an even more ebullient character.”
What you end up with is a chopped X3 that looks fast. And that’s fine if you’re into that sort of thing.
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What’s New About The 2016 BMW X4
The BMW X4 was all-new for 2015 after launching at the 2014 New York Auto Show. BMW showed the world a car that looks like a miniature X6. It’s 0.6 inches longer, but 1.5-inches lower than its big brother, giving it a more “sporting” look.
The X4 debuted with powertrain options similar to those of the X3, except the X4 doesn’t get a diesel option and a rear-wheel drive variant is not available. The same 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo inline-four and 300-horse 3.0-liter turbo inline-six engines from the X3 make their way to the X4, and, like in the X3, both are bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
For 2016, BMW adds enhanced USB and Bluetooth to the standard equipment list and Harman Kardon surround sound becomes the standard system for the xDrive35i.
The bigger news is the release of the 2016 M40i, a more powerful, faster X4. It gets a new inline six (based on the xDrive35i’s mill) pumping out 355 hp at 5,800 rpm and a maximum of 343 lb-ft of torque. Those increased power numbers will get the quirky “Sports Activity Coupe” to 60 MPH in a quick 4.7 seconds. That’s 1.3 seconds faster than the xDrive28i and 0.5 ticks quicker than the xDrive35i.
But it’s not just straight-line speed that the M40i brings to the table: BMW has tweaked the xDrive all-wheel drive system to make it more rear-biased. Sounds like fun.
The M40i debuted 2016 North American International Auto Show.
Which One We’d Buy
The BMW X4 comes in two trim levels: xDrive28i and xDrive35i. Both models get standard all-wheel drive, electric power steering, MacPherson Strut front suspension, five-link rear suspension design, 12.9-inch vented disc brakes in the front and 13-inch vented rotors out back both squeezed by single-piston floating calipers.
If we were looking to buy a chopped version of the X3, we’d grab the xDrive35i and throw on a few “fun” options. The way we figure, if we’re thinking about spending 50 grand on an impractical, questionable-looking version of an X3, we’re probably looking to get some driving excitement out of it and we’ve clearly got some cash to burn, so we might as well go big.
The xDrive35i comes equipped with all-wheel drive, a 3.0-liter turbo inline-six, an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters, Hill Descent Control, Xenon adaptive headlights with auto-leveling, 19-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, eight-way power fake leather seats with driver’s seat memory, walnut wood interior trim, rain sensing wipers, power tailgate, automatic climate control, rear Park Distance Control, iDrive infotainment system with 6.5-inch screen and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
We’d add the $1,900 M Sport Package (which requires $1,450 leather seats) and $1,000 dynamic damper control, and, after destination fee, we’d be forking over $55,965.
If we could wait a month, we’d probably check out the 355 horsepower MPH M40i. At 4.7 seconds to 60 MPH, it’s by far the fastest X4 of the bunch.
Important Facts At A Glance:
MSRP: $45,250-$57,800 Top Speed: 150 MPH [M40i]
Acceleration: 4.7s to 60 (M40i) MPG: 20/28/23 (xDrive28i)
Engines: 2.0-liter turbo I4, 3.0-liter turbo I6
Max Horsepower/Torque: 355 hp/343 lb-ft
Curb Weight: ~4,100-4,300 pounds IIHS Rating: Not Tested
Transmissions: Eight-speed automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front engine, AWD
Photo credit: BMW
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