BMW X4 2014 Review

Germany's three luxury car-makers are on a mission to fill every niche in the piping-hot premium SUV market and the X3-based X4 is a direct result of the success of the larger X5-based X6, at least overseas. In Australia, the large coupe-style SUV has proved far less popular than the cheaper, more practical large crossover wagon on which it's based and the X4 will be no different. Priced about $9000 higher than the equivalent X3, the X4 is available with four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, but is claimed to offer about the same value of extra standard equipment. BMW expects the X4 to be only 20 per cent as popular as the X3 – one of Australia three best selling luxury SUVs – and for about half of all customers (predominantly well-heeled males) to come from other brands.

We've never been fans of coupe-style crossovers that sacrifice passenger and luggage space in the quest for more style than a conventional five-door SUV.

If you need the size, space, flexibility and ride height of an SUV, then we say buy a 'proper' one. If you don't, then buy a traditional wagon, which is likely to be cheaper to buy and run.

But clearly not everyone agrees, since plenty of people went for an each-way bet with the original 'SUV-coupe', BMW's X6, which has attracted a quarter of a million buyers globally since 2008 – meaning the top-selling X5 was only three times more popular in the same period.

That surprised not only BMW itself, but both Audi and Mercedes, who are now planning a host of similarly style-driven crossovers to cash in on the global SUV craze by filling the niches between their established SUVs.

Now comes the inevitable X4, which is to X3 what the X6 is to X5.

Like the X5/X6 twins, the smaller X4 borrows its platform, engines and dashboard from the X3, but adds a sleeker body with a 36mm lower roof, 'faster' front and rear glass, and 15mm of extra length.

The upshot is an undeniably sexier body that shares only the doors and bonnet with the X3 and presents the same muscular stance as the X6, with which the X4 shares its unique body sculpting including a distinctive shoulder line that overlaps and accentuates its bulging rear wheel-arches.

The downside is 50 litres less luggage space than the X3 behind the rear seats (but still a sizeable 500 litres), 200 litres less overall cargo room (still 1400 litres) and 16mm less headroom all round – which would have been more if not for lower front seats.

That's especially noticeable in the rear, where the X4's deep outboard positions easily accommodate passengers up to 195cm, but the pronounced centre hump and carryover transmission tunnel make the middle-rear position a kids-only affair.

But the other packaging sacrifice is outward vision, which is far more limited in the X4, due to smaller rear and rear-side windows. And for some reason the X4s we drove all presented more wind noise around the A-pillars than any current X3 we've driven.

Of course, BMW asks more for the privilege of the X4's extra style, to the tune of about $9000 model-for-model.

Pricing starts at $69,430 for the entry-level 2.0-litre turbo-petrol xDrive20i, rising to $73,400 for the base xDrive20d 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, $83,900 for the six-cylinder xDrive30d diesel and $87,430 for the top-shelf xDrive35i turbo-petrol six.

That puts the six-cylinder X4s well into Porsche Macan territory, but BMW says more standard equipment at least accounts for the price premium over the equivalent X3.

For example, compared to the X3 xDrive20d, the X4 20d adds Performance Control, variable sport steering, 19-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels, LED fog lights, leather trim, lumbar adjustment, Professional navigation, sports seats and BMW ConnectedDrive features like emergency calling and TeleServices.

The X4 20i comes with the same standard kit, which also includes an eight-speed auto, 8.8-inch colour display with iDrive controller, sports leather steering wheel with shift paddles, climate-control, bi-xenon headlights, front/rear parking sensors, reversing camera, powered front seats, an automatic tailgate and the full gamut of safety gear.

Step up to the xDrive30d and there's also a 'sport' auto, dynamic damper control, nine-speaker Hi-Fi system and 360-degree surround-view camera, while the xDrive35i flagship throws in a standard M Sport Package with 20-inch alloys, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and Comfort Access unlocking.

Naturally, there's still a plethora of optional extras to choose from, including internet ($200), real-time traffic info ($250), digital radio ($800), head-up display ($2000), TV ($2250), sunroof ($2920) and adaptive LED headlights ($3300).

So the X4 delivers more equipment for more money than the X3, but it also offers slightly more advanced engines than its donor vehicle – at least until the facelifted X3 arrives later this year.

Only six-cylinder X4s were available to drive at the local launch, and we already drove the range-topping xDrive35i at the global launch in May.

While the xDrive20i's 135kW/270Nm takes it to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds and sips 7.2L/100km, the 140kW/400Nm outputs of the 20d, which consumes just 5.2L/100km, are enough to hit 100km/h in eight seconds.

The pick of the X4 bunch for us though is the xDrive30d, which is just three-tenths slower to 100km/h than the 225kW/400Nm xDrive35i kingpin (5.5 seconds) yet sips only 5.9L/100km – making it almost as efficient as the 20d but about 2.5L/100km more frugal than the 35i, which costs over $3500 more.

Once warm, not only does the 30d's silky-smooth inline diesel six sound and feel like a petrol engine at most speeds, it revs cleanly to 4500rpm and its buxom 560Nm of torque spells effortless acceleration anywhere between 1500 and 3000rpm, offering a broad performance spread that's perfectly suited to the 1820kg SUV (just 5kg heavier than the 35i).

But the X4's party trick is a sportier chassis than the X3. Thanks to a lower body, a slightly more cosseting cockpit and a driver's seat that's lower than the X3's (but still higher than a 3 Series'), it feels more purposeful than the X3 before you even start driving.

Despite the same engine performance carrying the same weight, that feeling's exacerbated on the road by a lower centre of gravity that induces less head-shake and a broader footprint from wider 20-inch rubber, offering outstanding all-wheel drive traction, car-like body control and impeccable ride quality all at the same time.

Throw in variable sports steering, which returns just two turns lock to lock (there's almost three in the X3), performance control (which brakes the inside wheel in bends to improve cornering ability) and, in six-cylinder models, a sportier eight-speed auto, and the X4 30d is far more rewarding to drive than the equivalent X3.

Sure, a 3 Series Estate – priced from $64,500 -- is probably a cheaper, more practical alternative for most people, but it's only available with older four-cylinder engines, doesn't offer all-wheel drive or the same level of standard convenience and dynamic features, and doesn't look as cool as the X4.

There's no doubt that in practical terms the X4 is a case of form over function, offering more style at the expense of interior space. But BMW's newest 'SAV' is still a pretty spacious wagon, comes with enough extra kit to justify its price premium and, unlike the X6, handles significantly better than the model on which it's based.

Right now, until Audi builds a Q4 and Benz makes a GLC, only the Macan and Range Rover Evoque come close to the X4 concept, but only the Porsche is more dynamic.

And if it doesn't float your boat BMW has plenty of other luxury mid-size niche models to choose from, including the 3 Series Gran Turismo and 4 Series Gran Coupe.

For sure, X4 elegance comes at a price, but this is one design-focussed SUV that combines style and substance in equal measure.

2014 X4 xDrive30d pricing and specifications:
Price: $83,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel
Output: 190kW/560Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 156g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC