BMW X4 Review & Prices

The BMW X4 is based on the old X3, and it’s a sleeker, sportier-looking SUV that tries to convince you that it’s a coupe. It sits between the X2 and the X6 in terms of size, and while it’s not as practical as the X3, it’s arguably the more stylish car. It’s like a chic tote bag instead of a big, roomy suitcase. Not as useful, but rather more fashionable.

Inside, the X4 doesn’t have the high-tech, big-screen setup of the new X3, and nor does it have the latest tech boasted by the Mercedes GLC Coupe, but the quality levels are very high and it’s a well-designed cabin.

While the X4 doesn’t get the new X3’s big, sweeping digital screen dashboard, it does stick with the old separate instrument panel and touchscreen, both 12.3 inches across. The big screen in the middle uses older iDrive software that’s still good to use, and it’s easier to control on the move than a touchscreen-only system thanks to the click-wheel controller down on the console.

Up front, there’s plenty of space even if you’re tall, and the adjustable steering wheel and excellent sports seats mean that the driving position is both very good and very comfortable.

In the back seats, legroom is fine but that sloping roofline means that tall rear seat passengers will find that their heads are brushing the ceiling, and it’s a bit dark and gloomy back there.

The boot is actually pretty good — it holds just 45 litres less than the roomy new X3, at least when you measure up to the luggage cover — and the floor is flat, with no loading lip so it’s easy to heft heavy items up and into the boot. The rear seats fold flat, and they split 40:20:40 for maximum practicality, but you do lose a good bit of seats-down space compared to the X3 — a full 200 litres.

The standard X4’s engine choice is limited to just two diesels now. If you go for a sporty M model, there’s a bit more choice, with a more powerful straight-six petrol and straight-six diesel, and even a full-on 510hp X4 M if you really want to go nuts. All models come with BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive as standard, and all come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The X4 is actually quite frugal, at least in 2.0-litre xDrive20d diesel form. Thanks to that four-wheel drive system being able to disconnect the front wheels to save fuel, 49mpg is theoretically possible, with low-40s being a realistic goal. It’s still quick, hitting 62mph in 7.9 seconds, which is fine unless you truly crave the 3.8 seconds of the X4 M…

For a big 4x4, the X4 is decent to drive, and keeps its composure when traversing a bumpy, twisty British B-road. The xDrive four-wheel drive sends a bit more power to the rear wheels than the fronts, allowing for a more enjoyable driving setup, but the steering isn’t as talkative as it ought to be, and so a Porsche Macan (the petrol one, not the electric one) makes a more engaging car on a challenging road.

The X4 can be had with optional adaptive suspension, and this is a must. Not only does it sharpen up the handling for twisty roads, in Comfort mode it also makes the X4 noticeably more comfortable over bumps. Without the adaptive springs, it’s just not as comfy as a Mercedes GLC Coupe.

The new BMW X3 is far more technologically advanced than this X4, and comes with the option of a plug-in hybrid engine, but if style is what matters, then the X4 is still worth considering.

If you’re interested, check out the latest BMW X4 deals on Carwow, or browse used X4 models from our network of trusted dealers. You can also check out other used BMWs, and when the time comes to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.

The X4 is very well-priced if you compare it to the new Mercedes GLC Coupe — the BMW has an almost £5,000 price advantage. Then again, the GLC Coupe is a new design, has better cabin technology, and can be had as a plug-in hybrid. The Audi Q5 Sportback also comes with a plug-in hybrid TFSIe model, but in basic diesel form it’s every bit as well-priced as the BMW.

All three German cars are overpriced if you consider the Lexus NX, which comes as standard as a hybrid and can be had as a plug-in hybrid too, which costs around £7,000 less than the cheapest X4. Likewise, the Jaguar F-Pace — roomier than the X4 but just as good to drive — is about as affordable as the Lexus in its basic form, and can be had with plug-in hybrid power. A Range Rover Velar also comes with a plug-in hybrid option, but is actually considerably more expensive than the X4 in basic form.

The BMW X4 is as sporty to drive as you’d want it to be, but it’s not quite as refined on the motorway as some alternatives

In town

The X4 isn’t a particularly big car, so driving down narrow city streets doesn’t present too many issues. You have good visibility from the driver’s seat, too, so you easily spot any hazards that need careful negotiating.

The view out of the back is virtually nonexistent, though. There are big blind spots and a tiny back window, so reversing can be tricky. At least front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are fitted as standard.

It’s easy to find a driving position that works for you – there’s lots of adjustment in the seat and steering (electric seats are optional). An extending section of the seat base gives more thigh support for longer legs.

A plug-in hybrid powertrain would be best for driving around town, but the X4 isn’t available with one, even though the closely related BMW X3 is. Instead, your choices are diesels or high performance petrol engines. The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel 20d is best for town driving – it gives reasonably punchy performance, decent fuel economy and lowish CO2 emissions.

Every engine is backed up by an eight-speed automatic gearbox that goes about its business so smoothly you barely notice it.

On the motorway

The X4 is a fine long-distance cruiser. The standard suspension set-up is a little firm, though hardly uncomfortable. Choose the optional adaptive suspension and you can switch at the touch of a button from soft and squidgy to firm and sporty. The interior is really quiet, too. The diesels sound a bit rattly at low speeds but disappear into the background at 70mph. And there’s barely a hint of wind or tyre noise. You could happily do an awful lot of miles in the X4, but the Mercedes GLC Coupe is more relaxing to spend several hours in, as is a Range Rover Velar.

The 190hp X4 20d gives perfectly adequate performance for motorway driving – it gets up to speed smartly and has power to spare if you need to hurry up. The more powerful six-cylinder diesels in the 30d and M40d and the similar petrol engine in the M40i aren’t anything like as efficient as the 20d on the motorway, but they’re more satisfying to drive.

The automatic gearbox changes gear imperceptibly, and responds instantly if you stamp on the throttle. Basic cruise control and lane keeping assist are standard; more advanced adaptive cruise control is optional (BMW’s system is one of the best).

On a twisty road

The X4 feels almost as sporty to drive as BMW’s saloon cars. It always goes exactly where you point it and it doesn’t feel unsettled if you alter course mid-corner. The suspension keeps the body pretty much bolt upright and soaks up lumps and holes, rather than bouncing through them.

The 20d engine has enough power to get a move on, but you’ll have fun with one of the much more powerful six-cylinder engines. They get you down the road much quicker and sound great. The automatic gearbox always chooses the right gear for any given moment, or you can change gear manually using the paddles on the steering wheel.

Select Sport with the driving mode button down by the gear lever and the X4’s driving experience turns up a couple of notches with a sportier setting for the steering, suspension and throttle. Only the slightly light feel to the steering stops the X4 being a complete class act, and the petrol version of the Porsche Macan does the sporty SUV thing slightly better.

Obviously, the super-fast X4 M is rather more thrilling on a twisty road, but this comes at the expense of comfort. In fact, the X4 M has such firm suspension, that it can sometimes feel as if it’s about to bounce you over the ditch. A softer X4 40i is actually more fun overall.

The X4 is roomier inside than you might think, and the boot is surprisingly spacious, but that low roof does mean that headroom is tight in the back

There’s huge space in the X4’s front seats. Only really very tall people are likely to have any issues with the leg and headroom. There’s also plenty of shoulder room but, as in every other BMW, the centre console is quite high and restricts space across the car. It’s very comfortable, though.

The door bins are big, easily holding a two-litre bottle. There’s a deep cubby hole under the centre armrest (where you’ll also find some USB charging ports), a pair of cupholders in the centre console and a tray for your phone in front of the gearstick, which doubles as a wireless charging pad when you cough up for the optional Technology Pack.

Space in the back seats

There’s pretty generous legroom in the back, easily enough for someone well over six-feet tall. However, the sloping roofline means they won’t have enough headroom. Passengers under six feet will be very comfortable, especially if you choose the optional Extended Storage Pack, which includes a reclining back seat.

There’s just enough room for three adults to sit across the back, but the middle perch is cramped. Three kids fit much more easily. Installing a child seat is easy enough, with the ISOFIX mount covers hinged so it’s really easy to get to them. And you don’t need to move the front seats forwards to install a rear-facing seat. Just be careful not to bang your head on the low roofline.

For storage, there are big door bins and a pair of cupholders in the armrest. The Extended Storage Pack also adds nets on the back of the front seats. And the back has separate heating and ventilation controls.

Boot space

The X4 has a smaller boot than the X3, but you can still cram a lot of stuff into its 525-litre capacity – equivalent to four big suitcases. Bear in mind that the sloping roofline means you can’t put anything particularly tall in there.

The boot floor lifts up on a hydraulic strut so you don’t have to hold it. Underneath, there’s useful extra storage with cut-outs to stow the two-piece load cover when you don’t need it. The Extended Storage Pack adds various nets and tie-down points on rails for you to secure the load.

The back seats drop in three sections, released by levers near the boot opening. Do that and there’s 1,430 litres of space but, again, the space is limited by the low roof. At least the loading lip is quite low, so heaving stuff into the boot is fairly easy. Hands-free boot opening is optional, but the system is a bit temperamental.

Overall, the X4 is one of the more practical cars of this type – it certainly makes a good family car. But the new BMW X3 has more passenger and boot space, and so too does the Range Rover Velar.

The X4’s cabin is an older design, but it still works well. Just watch out for some cheaper plastics

The X4 is one of the few BMWs that hasn’t been given the upgrade to the big new curved screen dashboard, which runs the latest iDrive software. So instead of looking like it has a massive widescreen telly on the top of the dash, the X4 instead sticks with the old separate instruments under a binnacle behind the steering wheel, and a standalone 12.3-inch infotainment screen in the centre of the dash.

Old fashioned? A little yes, certainly compared to the minimalist, high-tech interior of the new BMW X3, but there’s an argument — a partially convincing one — that the X4’s layout is both better looking (the graphics for the instrument display are certainly better looking) and easier to use (thanks to physical air conditioning controls, and a simpler menu layout for the big screen).

You certainly don’t sacrifice much in the way of useful functionality compared to the newer BMW screens — there are stacks of features in the system including sat nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio and assorted useful apps. BMW’s operating system is user-friendly but you may prefer to connect your phone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Other standard features include full screen sat nav maps in the instrument panel, heated leather seats, radar-guided cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. You also get access to BMW’s app, which provides all sorts of information about the car and you can remotely program the sat nav, among many other cool tricks.

The colour scheme is quite dark without the lighter seat upholstery options, so you can brighten the place up with the optional opening glass sunroof. There are scratchy plastics on some surfaces low down, otherwise everything you touch regularly feels like a high quality product, and everything is solidly put together. But it’s not as obviously luxurious as the Range Rover Velar, or as sporty as the Porsche Macan.

The X4’s fuel economy numbers are pretty good for this type of car. The 20d has an official figure of 49mpg, the 30d 45mpg, the M40d gets 41mpg and the M40i can do 31mpg.

CO2 emissions range from 159-194g/km in the diesel models, up to 205-209g/km for the petrol M40i, and 244g/km for the X4 M. If you’re a private owner, vehicle excise duty costs are fairly pricey whichever model you go for, because emissions are high and every model costs more than £40,000, meaning it faces an extra cost in years two to six.

The CO2 numbers are even less friendly to company car buyers – and so the company car benefit-in-kind rates are pretty chunky. A plug-in hybrid is probably the better bet for you so check out the Audi Q5 Sportback, Jaguar F-Pace, Range Rover Velar and Mercedes GLC Coupe. Or, indeed, the new BMW X3.

Safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the X4 a full five-star safety rating, scoring it highly for adult and child occupant protection. It also comes with a comprehensive set of safety features including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive LED headlights that illuminate as much as possible without dazzling oncoming drivers.

BMWs are generally very reliable and well made, but they are complex cars so small niggles can crop up. There have been some recalls issued for the X4, but they don’t affect brand new cars. BMW provides a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty, which is an additional benefit over the 60,000-mile limit imposed by some manufacturers if you’re a high mileage driver.