Styling exercise makes a statement
What’s your favourite colour? Is it blue? No? Well, then you’re a terrible person.
Is that the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard? Pretty much, right?
Well, then why is it that so many people just love to pile on the new coupe utility segment and eviscerate them because “they’re ugly” or because “it’s everything wrong with the automotive industry these days?”
Well, they’re wrong (OK, maybe not about the ugly part). It’s actually everything right with the automotive industry these days. An automotive company’s mission isn’t to make you buy what the informed minority deem acceptable or superior, it’s to make a profit selling cars. People are buying more and more coupestyled crossovers, a segment BMW ushered in with its X6 and expanded with its smaller X4 and subcompact X2. BMW sold more than 200,000 X4s globally since its launch, so a new generation was warranted. For 2018, BMW completely overhauled the X3, and now the 2019 BMW X4 inherits the new platform and engines with a redesign of its coupe-like styling to keep it fresh amid an onslaught of new competitors. It’s What’s Outside That Counts
BMW does not hesitate to point out that the X4 is essentially a styling exercise, and because it is overlaid on an extremely capable platform, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, the styling changes from the previous generation are pretty subtle, even if you’re looking at the two generations side by side, but the twin-kidney grille gets bigger, the lighting elements and intakes all get tweaked and the roofline gets a slight bulge for better rear headroom and entry. Basically, if you liked it before, you’ll probably still like it again, but it won’t likely move the needle for any coupe utility haters.
There are four new colours to choose from, nine colours in all, wheels from 18 to 21 inches and a few different themes for the finishing touches. Looks Aren’t Everything
While the X4 looks good inside and out, it still has to drive like a BMW to live up to the reputation of the ultimate driving brand. Engine options are the same as you can get in about a half dozen other BMW models, with the xDrive30i powered by the brand’s 2.0L TwinPower single turbo dialled up to produce 253 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s got the power to get the job done, hitting 100 km/h in about six seconds. The M40i is still packing one of those signature straight sixes, in this generation turbocharged to 355 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque, which is essentially overkill in a cross- over this size.
Both come with standard all-wheel drive and an eightspeed automatic transmission. The transmission is an excellent one, whether looking for smooth shifts in Comfort mode or blasting through a series of curves in the M40i with the drive mode in Sport+. Practical Enough The 2019 BMW X4 has grown longer and wider and now lists trunk space at 525 L, with up to a maximum of 1,430 L. It sounds much less impressive than the X3’s 813 and 1,775, but the trunk is wide and square, and unless you’re moving furniture, you can fit all the typical stuff in life such as groceries and strollers (even big ones). It might come up short if you’re loading up for a camping trip, but a small crossover such as the X3 would be a tight squeeze for that as well. Owners will also appreciate that the rear seats split 40/20/ 40, so you can drop the middle section for a pass-through for longer items such as a ladder or skis if you don’t want to add a roof rack, which can be easily accommodated.
The X4 has plenty of passenger space, with front seats seeming like they belong to a larger car and the seats themselves amazingly supportive and adjustable in almost every possible way. The Verdict
While selling cars is the goal for BMW, what’s the appeal for a consumer? Basically, it’s all about flaunting those looks. The 2019 BMW X4 is an X3 with a different skin, something a little more emphatic than a body kit, but virtually all of the practicality. Especially for those that might want to stand out a bit from the crossover crowd, cutting a different profile makes quite a statement and the X4 is an excellent vehicle in any trim, with different powertrains and options to fit your needs.