Crossover gets bigger — but lighter
Mid-size ‘sport activity coupe’ gets size boost and lots of new technology for 2019
SPARTANBURG, S.C. BMW introduced the mid-size X4 in mid2014 and has since sold more than 200,000 units worldwide. Since its introduction it has been selling at a steady pace in Canada, with more than 1,100 units sold each full year since its arrival. The 2019 BMW X4 marks the second generation of the popular crossover, and as with all generational upgrades, the German “sport activity coupe” has grown in size and gets a fresh helping of new technology, among a few other changes.
It has grown in almost every dimension, gaining 5.3 centimetres of wheelbase (now 286 cm), 3.5 centimetres of width, and 7.6 cm of overall length. The resizing of the X4 has added more interior space, especially for rear-seat passengers, who gain 2.7 cm of legroom. Despite its larger size, the increased use of aluminum and high-strength steel in its chassis and body has contributed to a weight loss of up to 50 kilograms, depending on the model. BMW also claims it has a lower centre of gravity than the smaller X3, which emphasizes the X4’s focus on handling.
Two variants are available: the X4 xDrive 30i and the burlier X4 M40i. Both have standard all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmissions. The 30i is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that claims 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the M40i gets a more muscular 3.0-L turbocharged six that claims 355 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder is good enough to propel the X4 from zero to 100 km/ h in 6.3 seconds, while the six drops that time to 4.8 seconds.
It’s mostly when looking at the new and outgoing X4s together that you really see the differences in styling. The new X4 has a taller kidney grille and smaller cooling openings in the bumper, and from the side the roofline is now not as sloped in the rear, which opens up the rear portion of the interior. BMW’s tendency to give the X4 a fastback-style roof does reduce rear visibility when in the driver’s seat, though.
The redesigned dashboard is more contemporary in appearance, though the new, 10.25-inch infotainment screen has gone from being integrated into the centre stack to sitting on top like an add-on item. The rear seatbacks are split 40/20/40, with 525 L of storage space available in the cargo area when they are up, and 1,430 L when they are folded, an increase of 25 and 30 L respectively. Storage compartments in the cockpit are also larger.
More tech is available, including improved voice command that recognizes ordinary speech, gesture control that recognizes simple hand gestures to perform various functions, a 70 per cent larger head-up display, cruise control with braking or adaptive cruise with stop and go capability, pedestrian warning and collision mitigation, as well as steering and lane-keep assist and cross-traffic and crossroad warning systems. Parking assist is also available, and when using a dedicated smartphone app, you can get a live 360-degree view of the vehicle remotely.
We begin the test drive in the X4 M40i, which immediately asserts itself as the more brutish twin by emitting a boisterous bark on startup. This is a driver’s X4, with firm adaptive suspension, even when it’s adjusted to the comfort setting through the drive modes. Steering is well weighted and precise, assisted by a locking sport differential and torque vectoring that makes the 40i handle much more like a sporty sedan than an SUV.
Its engine gets even more boisterous in Sport Plus mode, sinking you in the seat when you punch the throttle to make a quick pass, and it asserts its sporty nature by emitting a series of starter-pistol-like pops out its M Sport exhaust system when letting off the gas.
A couple of sessions on a driver-training course at the BMW Performance Center, just outside the Spartanburg plant where the X4 is built, really emphasizes the M40i’s sharp handling. It charges into tight turns while hard on the brakes with a remarkable amount of cornering grip, while maintaining a respectable trackday pace.
Despite the M40i’s big power and track-like handling, I’d be perfectly happy with the xDrive 30i, especially for everyday use. It has a more composed ride and more compliant suspension without giving up too much of the engaging driving characteristics that make the 40i a blast to drive. And it’s four-cylinder turbocharged engine provides very satisfying acceleration, doing so quietly and from low revs. It’ll also return better fuel mileage, claiming 7.3 L/100 km versus 9.2 L for the 40i.
Of course, all of these improvements have bumped up the price. The xDrive 30i now starts at $53,000, and the M40i at $66,000, which is an increase of $3,400 and $4,150 respectively. The new BMW X4 models will arrive at dealers in July.