BMW X4 Review

SUV coupes remain divisive, and the X4 is one of the clearest examples of why. From one point of view, it is a compromise for the sake of style. From another, it is simply a BMW X3 with a bit more visual flair. The truth sits somewhere in the middle.

What makes the X4 work better than some alternatives is that the sacrifice is relatively modest. Yes, the lower roof affects rear headroom and boot usability, but this is still a five-seat SUV with a useful 525-litre boot and enough space to work as a family car. You are not buying something wildly impractical just because you prefer the sleeker shape.

It also helps that BMW gave the X4 some genuine dynamic appeal. This is not just an X3 in different clothes. It has always felt a little sharper and more tied down on the road, which gives it some substance beneath the styling.

The other thing worth noting now is that the X4 has dropped out of BMW UK’s current new-car range, which makes this a used-market proposition in UK terms. That is not necessarily bad news. It simply means buyers now have a healthy pool of well-equipped used examples to pick from, and the car’s strong cabin quality and premium feel still stand up well.

The sweet spot is the xDrive20d M Sport. That has been the default answer for a while, and it still makes the most sense.

M Sport trim became the mainstay of the range and gives you the look most buyers want, along with a generous amount of standard equipment. It also tends to be the easiest version to find on the used market, which makes life simpler.

As for the engine, the 2.0-litre diesel balances performance and economy well. It is not the most exciting choice in the range, but it is likely to be all the X4 most people need. The six-cylinder diesels are quicker and more effortless, while the M40i is the one for buyers who want a genuinely fast coupe SUV, but the 20d is the all-rounder.

Because the X4 is now best approached as a used buy in the UK, prices vary widely depending on age, mileage and engine. The lower end of the market now starts from around £18,495, while newer, higher-spec examples can still stretch far beyond that.

That gives the X4 an interesting position. It is no longer a niche premium coupe SUV available only at a hefty new-car price. Instead, it can now look like a relatively attainable way into something that still feels expensive and well finished.

The key is to buy carefully. Because the X4 was sold in a number of diesel and performance variants, you need to choose with your mileage and priorities in mind rather than simply chasing the most metal for the money.

The most obvious alternative is the BMW X3. It is not as visually interesting, but it is more practical, and for many buyers that alone will settle the argument.

The Audi Q5 Sportback is one of the X4’s closest rivals, and it counters with a classy interior and strong all-round polish. The BMW is the more engaging drive, though.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe is another natural comparison. It arguably feels more luxurious in some areas, but it leans harder into comfort than driver appeal.

If you are open to something slightly less style-led, it is also worth looking at more conventional SUVs in this size and price bracket, because the X4’s looks are still the main reason to choose it over more practical alternatives.

This is the key trade-off. The X4 is less practical than an X3 because the coupe-style roofline takes away some of the usefulness buyers expect from a family SUV.

That said, the damage is not too severe. Boot space is still 525 litres with the rear seats up, which is only 25 litres down on the X3 and better than some rivals. Fold the rear seats and capacity rises to 1,400 litres. Those are still strong figures for something sold more on style than utility.

Space in the front is generous, and rear legroom is decent enough. The issue is rear headroom. Taller passengers will notice the lower roofline, and the optional panoramic roof only makes that more obvious.

So yes, the X4 is less practical than an upright SUV. But it is not wildly compromised, which is a big reason why it works at all.

The BMW X4 measures 4,752mm long, 1,918mm wide and 1,621mm high.

That makes it a sizeable coupe SUV, but not an intimidating one. It is still manageable in town and easy enough to place on the road, while the raised driving position gives the commanding view SUV buyers tend to want.

BMW’s iDrive system remains one of the best infotainment setups of its era, and that matters in a used premium car because some rivals now feel older and clumsier in this area.

Later X4 models in particular tend to get the larger 12.3-inch central touchscreen and matching digital instruments, which help keep the cabin feeling current. The rotary iDrive controller is also a real plus, because it makes the system easier to use on the move than touchscreen-only alternatives.

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation and DAB are all available, and the general layout is straightforward rather than flashy for the sake of it.

The X4 still feels convincingly premium inside. There is plenty of soft-touch trim, the switchgear has the right precision to it and even the standard Sensatec-trimmed cars feel expensive enough.

That matters because the X4’s appeal depends heavily on feeling like more than just a dressed-up family SUV. On that front, the cabin still does a good job.

The X4 line-up was diesel-heavy for much of its life, and that remains true of the used market.

The xDrive20d uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel with 190PS and is likely to be the most common version. It is brisk enough, with 0-62mph taking less than eight seconds, and it also delivers the strongest economy.

Above that, the xDrive30d brings a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel with 286PS, while the M40d steps up to 340PS. The petrol M40i offers similar straight-line pace to the M40d, with both managing 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds. The full X4 M Competition sits above all of these and is best treated as a separate review.

The BMW X4 genuinely feels sharper than many cars of this type. It turns in cleanly, has plenty of grip and stays flatter through corners than most buyers will expect from a raised SUV.

It is not magic-carpet comfortable, and BMW never offered air suspension, but the steel-sprung setup is well judged. The optional adaptive dampers improve the car further, with Comfort mode giving it enough compliance for everyday driving.

The four-cylinder diesel can sound a little gruff when cold, but the six-cylinder engines are smoother and more satisfying. The M40i is the most entertaining of the lot, but the M40d makes a strong case because it is so effortlessly quick and easier to justify on fuel.

The X4 itself was not separately crash-tested by Euro NCAP, but the related X3 scored five stars in 2017, with an adult occupant protection score of 93 per cent. That is an encouraging result, even if it is now an older test. The X4 also came with a solid amount of standard safety kit, including lane support, autonomous city braking, cruise control, a speed limiter and parking aids, while optional packs added more advanced assistance features.

The xDrive20d remains the economy hero, with official figures of up to 49.6mpg. The xDrive30d is still respectably efficient at up to 45.6mpg, while the M40d manages up to 41.5mpg.

The M40i is the one that makes the bigger financial demands, returning up to 31.5mpg officially. That is fine for what it is, but the diesel engines are the easier choices if you do meaningful mileage.

When new, the X4 came with BMW’s usual three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and roadside assistance. That is nothing unusual in premium-brand terms, but it is worth checking how any used car has been maintained because servicing history matters on cars like these.

Insurance varies quite a lot by engine. The xDrive20d sits in groups 32 to 34, the xDrive30d starts in group 41, the M40i is group 43 and the M40d rises to group 45. That spread alone is a good reason to be honest about which version you really need.

For used X4s first registered after April 2017, the after-year-one annual VED rate is the standard rate for petrol or diesel cars (currently £200). Cars that were originally priced above £40,000 also attract the Expensive Car Supplement for the relevant five-year period from the second year. Because many X4s were above that threshold when new, it is worth checking the original list price of the exact car you are buying rather than assuming all examples are treated the same way. Otherwise, you could be looking at an additional £440 per year.