BMW's X4 - A wild idea that's now part of the mainstream

By Stuart Johnston

When BMW launched its first iteration of its Sports Activity Coupe in X6 form back in 2009, there were many industry-watchers who felt that the men from Bavaria had taken a step too far on this  as-yet unmarked sporting SUV trail.

Surely the act of fitting a slope-backed coupé roof to an SUV (okay, BMW insists on the Sports Activity name-tag) was to nullify the very reason for buying an SUV, which is, first and foremost, acres of interior space!

Well, the smaller X4 variant was launched in 2014 some five  years after the original X6 Coupe broke cover, indicating that there was already a huge scope for this type of vehicle. Mercedes had  followed with its GLC,  and today X4 and X6 coupes are easily as common-place as the high-roofed X3 and X5 variants.

The X4 customer is different

“The X4 customer is a very  different person from the type who opts for an X3,” said BMW South Africa’s Communications Manager, Edward Makwana, at this week’s launch of the second-gen X4. “Obviously the X4 customer is more focused on style, so there is no danger of us undercutting X3 sales with the X4 model.”

Style is definitely top of mind with the X4 and the latest X4 version expands on this, while introducing some elements of practicality too. The car is slightly longer( 81 mm) and wider( 37 mm), as well as just a smidgen lower (3 mm). But it has a longer wheelbase(54 mm)  that has freed  up significantly more rear leg room, and the boot has increased in size to a very respectable 535 litres (1 430 litres with the rear seat backrests folded flat).

Three models at launch

At launch there are three models available. These are the X4 xDrive 20i, a two litre turbo-petrol model, and the X4 xDrive 20d, a two-litre turbo-diesel  model.  And, finally, as a halo model right now, the X4 M40i.

In the first quarter of 2019 an X 4 M40d model will be introduced.

Pricing

Interestingly, both the X4 20i and X4 20d are priced equally, unlike some manufacturers who still charge  a price premium for a diesel-engined model over a petrol-engined version. Pricing for the new X4 range kicks off at R843 000 for the standard 20i and 20d models, and rises substantially to the potent and very sportily-profiled X4 M40i. This one weighs in at R1 132 800, before any specific options are added.

In addition to these engine differentiations, BMW also offers the X4 in standard trim, M Sport X,  and M Sport trim stylings.

Launch drive feedback

The car we spent all our time with on the recent launch was the X4 xDrive 20i, decked out  in M Sport X guise. This meant it was fitted with a body styling kit consisting of grey detailing in the frontal and rear under-tray regions, body-colour side skirts, M badges, and, notably, optional 20-inch wheels on 275/40 R20 Bridgestone rubber.

In combination with M Sport suspension that is specified as the standard suspension across  all X4 models offered here, this makes the ride firm. I am not sure that this is the right specification for some of the bumpy rural roads we traversed on the KZN launch, littered with sever speedbumps that tended to creep up on you. Fortunately our X4 20i model was also equipped with the M Sport blue-calliper braking system with larger discs, which meant that braking power was quite stupendous in extreme conditions.

Amazing grip through fast sweeps

In light of the ultra-low-profile rubber fitted, I think the X4 manages the balance between ride quality and road holding extremely well. It has amazing grip and body control through fast sweeping corners for a car weighing over 1 700 kg.

A strange torque steer noted

However, I wonder if those low-profile tyres where leading the car to “track” too much on the varying road surfaces we experienced. I noticed a distinct tendency for the car to show torque-steer characteristics  on these roads. Throttle-on meant the car pulled slightly to the left, throttle-off meant it pulled slightly to the right, in both cases with no input on the steering wheel from the driver. We always assumed that a sophisticated xDrive all-wheel-drive system was designed specifically to eliminate this type of tendency, so it was a bit disconcerting. I discussed this phenomenon  with two other journalists who both noticed a similar slight waywardness.

The other negative, in terms of style-vs-function, regarded the lack of bump absorption on dirt roads, when the X4 front suspension seemed to bottom out too early on a bridge crossing  that wasn’t taken at undue speed. To my mind, this is the type of situation that will affect prospective X4 customers when they venture out of their cosy urban environments to visit families living in remote urban environments over the weekends. Or even when they want a weekend jolly at a game lodge. High-frequency ripples on dirt roads are also not this car’s forte, thanks to the overall firmness of the suspension specced for our market.

Nevertheless this car is extremely accomplished

This is not to say, however, that our time spent with the X4 20i was in any way unpleasant. Quite the opposite in fact. The overall quality of the latest BMW offerings is top-drawer and this car is no exception. There are vast options of connectivity and practicality incorporated into the  information screen, and in terms of overall interior ambience the dash quality is first rate, as is the design of the interior as a whole.

Two-litre turbo-petrol is a great engine

One of the biggest surprises was the way the base 135 kW two-litre performs in the X4. It is an engine that is as sweet as honey, in its ability to rev close to the 7 000 rpm red-line with a sound that is almost six-cylinder smooth! This is a characteristic we have always enjoyed from the two-litre Valvetronic BMW motor, since it first appeared in the 3 Series way back.

The eight-speed Steptronic automatic  gearbox features extremely well-chosen rations and I particularly liked the way it was virtually impossible to confuse the ‘box by unexpectedly backing off after a hard bust of throttle. The gearbox seemed to know intuitively what the right ratio was, that the  situation required, and there was no hunting for gears in the very small interval it took to select the right one!

Summary

The X4 is further proof that BMW’s original  SAV Coupe idea was a stroke of genius as far as reading the car market was concerned, almost 10 years ago. The first-gen X4 had a six-year life-span and in that time some 200 000 were sold world-wide. I see this one making an even bigger impact.

*Owing to a glitch after the lunch-stop of the X4 launch, my co-driver and I were forced to stick with the 20i model, and therefore did not get to sample either the 20d model or the potent X4 M 40i. Pity, as that six-cylinder engine note (which we only heard I the car-park)  is so shrill it reminds me of a highly-tuned three-cylinder two-stroke!

Aah well, something to look forward to for a road-test, hopefully.

To read Ané Theron's driving impression of the new X4, click here.