BMW X4
Styling 3.0/5
BMW's ever-expanding range means no niche is left unfilled, while the brand isn't afraid of creating new ones. For the X4, it's revisited the formula it used for the X6: taking an SUV and changing the roofline to create what the company calls a Spons Activity Coupe.
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However, while the X4 fits a marketing niche, its styling is less successful than the X6's. Where the latter looks brutish and imposing when compared to the X5, the differences between the X4 and X3 are more restrai ned. The newcomer is 14mm longer and 36mm lower than its sibling, but most of the bodywork below the windows looks identical to the X3's, aside from new tail-lights.
The roofline drops steeply to the tail, bm overall the X4 looks more like an SUV hatch than a coupe. One reason for this is the lack of frameless windows, like those on the X6. This gives the X4 less of a coupe feel when you open the doors. The sloping tailgate creates awkward proportions, too. At the rear it looks at odds with the car's raised ride height.
Climb inside, and things improve considerably, but that's because the X4 has an identical cabin to the X3. This means an uncluttered layout and BMW's excellent iDrive control system, while sat-nav is standard across the range.
The minimal labelling on some of the buttons might take a bit of getting used to, but it looks less fussy than the Macan's dash, and it's well built. The quality of the materials is first class, with soft-touch plastics, soft leather and classy metal trim throughout.
Driving 4.2/5
THE BMWX4 is offered exclusively with diesel power - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder and a 3.0-litre straight-six with a choice of ourpms - and the lower-powered 255 bhp xDrive3od version tested here is a strong performer. It de livers an identical power output to the Macan diesel, and when you fire it up, it has a purposeful rumble.
Launch control is part of the 3od's standard Drive Performance Control (DPC) package, and while the X4 isn't as explosive off the line as the similarly equipped Porsche, the closer ratios of the BMW's eight-speed gearbox meant it was three-tenths quicker in the sprint from o-6omph at the test track, posting a time of 5.5 seconds.
The gearbox comes with steering wheel paddles for manual control, but the electronics do a good job of picking the right ratio for you, so you don't really need them. Put D PC into Sport+ mode, and the box holds on to revs for longer, while Comfort makes for quiet and refined cruising. M Sport versions of theX4 are fined with spons suspension, and that means the ride is on the firm side, but while the car finds every bump and lump on the road, it's not bad enough to be intolerable. And if comfort is an issue, you can switch to the standard suspension without charge, or even upgrade to adaptive dampers for £650.
In comers, the X4 has great four-wheel•drive grip and feels stable, with minimal body roll, while the steering is responsive, too. Unlike the Macan, which has SUV tyres, the BMW uses conventional road car rubber, although when you push it to the limit it can't match the Porsche for composure. However, while the X4s dynamics are impressive, they're the same as the X3's, and the biggest difference between the two is the slightly more restricted view out of the back window.
Reliability 4.4/5
SEEING as the X4 is based on the X3, you can expect it to perform as well as irs sibling for reliability. All of the runninggear is identical, so it's tried and tested, and technology such as the standard sat-nav should be reliable, too. The X3 finished a respectable 12th in our most recent Driver Power survey, although it was the fourth-placed SUV behind some more mainstream model s. Owners gave it good scores across the board, especially praising its performance and ease of driving.
The X3 has a five-star Euro NCAP rating, and theX4 should be no different as it features the same range of safety ki t, including xenon lig hts, tyre pressure monitors and six airbags.
Running costs 3.9/5
A PRICE tag of £46,408 means our xDrive3od M Sport is £2,873 more than the macan S Diesel. However, you do get more kit, including sat-nav, xenon lights, heated seats, parking sensors and metallic paint.
And if you add sat-nav and Bluetooth to the Porsche you11 immediately cancel out the price difference between these two. A bigger issue is that the X4 is around £5,000 more than the X3, which is just as good to drive, more practical and features better resolved styling. The rest of the BMW's running costs are pretty reasonable, though. Economyof30.6mpgon test was ahead of the Macan's, which tallies with the official figures, while a larger fuel tank means you can go further between fills, too.
BMW's five-year fixed-price servicing scheme is very reasonable at £425, while the cost can be incorporated into any finance deal you take out when you buy the car.
Practicality 3.7 /5
CLIMB inside the X4, and you'd be hard-pressed to notice the difference that the car's lower roofline makes to interior space when compared to the X3. There's decent room in all five seats, £90 fill-up and back row passengers sit low, so headroom isn't compromised by the sloping roof. Knee room is bener than in the back of the Macan, and you get air vents that can blow heat or fresh air as required.
The back seats have a 4020:40 split, and the centre section throughload facility is handy. The seats don' t fold completely flat, but they're good enough, while the X4 has a lower load lip than the Mac an. Boot capacity is 500 litres, which is identical to the Porsche, although the X3 has a 550-litre capacity, which rises to 1,600 litres with the seats folded - that's 200 litres more than in the 1,400-litre X4.
Design
FRONT camera {right) is part of £530 surround view camera system. The 'X' motif on front wings looks like it should incorporate the side indicators. but they're located in the mirrors .
BMW X4
Reviewed by Unknown
on
6:10 AM
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
6:10 AM
Rating:
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