NEW WHEELS
BMW has long been a pioneer when it comes to creating vehicles in almost every niche. This has paid off for the Bavarian brand, and the new X4 is no exception.
Although BMW’s X range may have started off 20 years ago as one of the first viable luxury SUVs, the initial offerings like the X5, and then the X3, fell into the traditional concept of what an SUV should look like.
But the increasing global popularity of these vehicles over the last few years has caused manufacturers to scramble for expanded ideas of the SUV – forcing them to think outside the box, if you will.
By buying into those groundbreaking ideas early, BMW has almost been unstoppable when it comes to developing fresh concepts for this burgeoning segment of the market – paying dividends both locally and abroad.
The X range accounted for more than 30% of BMW’s total sales in 2017, (the X4 alone has managed to sell around 200 000 vehicles worldwide since 2014) but that doesn’t mean the company is kicking back and enjoying its success. It hasn’t even been four years since the first generation X4 was unleashed on the local market, but its successor is already available locally.
Here’s what you can expect from the latest model, which we drove at the local launch on the highways and byways of KwaZulu-Natal.
Form and function
Depending on your taste, the X4 is either easy on the eyes (read: absolutely gorgeous), or completely repulsive. But whether you like it or not, you just cannot tear your eyes away from it. The BMW styling department went all out on this one. There are more strong horizontal lines, and with a longer wheelbase to work with, the X4’s designers have managed to create a more dynamic-looking vehicle – even when it’s standing still.
The glasshouse along the profile is narrower than that of its predecessor, and the overall impression you get is that the new X4 is lower, longer and wider. That’s because it is. But the updated exterior has the positive side effect of also lowering the X4’s drag coefficient, which is important for increasing performance and fuel efficiency.
Cosy, clever cabin
The cabin is exactly what we’ve come to expect from BMW: driver-focused and finished with a satisfying quality that makes the occupants feel like they’ve made it big.
You can have your X4 specced in one of three levels: standard, M Sport and M Sport X. The M Sport package is the one we experienced at the X4’s local introduction, and that sees the addition of a steering wheel in the typical fashion of the company’s go-faster division. It’s endowed with a rim that’s noticeably thicker and chunkier than the standard offering, and also implies that you take your driving a little more seriously than most.
The seats are also special BMW M jobs, with thick bolsters for your back and legs so you can throw the X4 around corners with the confidence that you’re not going to end up slamming into your front-seat passenger.
You also get access to a raft of cool technologies from BMW’s Connected Drive system. This includes the BMW Connected App that acts as a kind of mobile butler that starts to learn your preferred driving routes, allows you to lock and unlock the doors remotely, and even gives door-to-door guidance from your parking area right up to the front door of your destination.
Real Time Traffic Information via the navigation system on the infotainment screen is also available. Apple’s CarPlay is an option (R4 300), as is the BMW Display Key that will show you how much fuel and range you’ve got left in your tank (R3 650).
Fast and flowing forte
There are three engine options available in the X4: the 2 ℓ-turbo-petrol four cylinder that comes with the X4 xDrive20i (135 kW and 290 Nm), the 2 ℓ-turbo-diesel fourcylinder from the X4 xDrive20d (140 kW and 400 Nm), and the range-topping 3 ℓ-turbopetrol straight six in the X4 M40i (265 kW and 500 Nm).
All three models make use of an 8-speed automatic transmission to send torque to all four corners via a new version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.
BMW’s also gone the extra proverbial mile to make the on-road experience a lot more dynamic. The new X4 is up to 50 kg lighter than the previous generation and that, along with the Variable Sport Steering (standard across the range), as well as options like the Adaptive M suspension system and M Sport Differential, means that BMW is serious about making the X4 as fun as possible, especially if you’re into tackling mountain passes at pace.
Briefly
The X4, like the other even-numbered X models, might have been a pioneer in its specific niche, but it’s no longer the sole occupant of that segment. Why would you consider an X4? Well, if you’re not into following the norm, and have more of a need for speed than the average SUV owner, then the X4 might just be up your alley.