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What we like:

Sharp handling

Build quality

Actual off-roading capability

Quirky styling from most angles

What we dislike:

Quirky styling from some other angles

What is the world coming to? Luxury buyer preferences seem to be split into two different directions… there are those who like sedans which look like coupes… And there are those who love SUVs. But what if, you have you have just space for one car and just a pair of buttcheeks (the latter is obvious), what do you do? Well how about the best of both worlds?

After our amazing time during the BMW X4 launch in South Carolina, we are excited to see BMW’s “coupe” version of the X3 (which we were equally excited when we attended a drive in Australia) make an appearance here.

Khim Yap had taken the milder BMW X4 xDrive20i xLine model up north for a test run, and found it an already impressive drive.

While we would admit that a the X4’s coupe styling is not for everyone, it does look better in the flesh, than in pictures.

Both the X3 and X4 are generally similar from the front, with a large front grille, flanked by a pair of adaptive LED headlamps.

Our test car, which is in xLine trim loses the muscular, snarley-looking lower bumper, and in-place, sports one with tamer lines. In keeping its looks similar to the X3, the X4 also gets the same faux air vents on the front fenders and squared-off wheel arches.

Most of the difference in the X4 is located at the rear, with its sloping coupe-like roofline, and a more pronounced Hofmeister kink, versus the one found on the X3, all thanks to smaller rear quarter glass.

BMW has also worked in their L-shaped tail lamps, part of new BMW coupe and sedan design DNA, which visually emphasises a sense of stability.

Having been into many X3 cars, the X4 interior is indistinguishable from its SUV stablemate. Quality is very good here, with our test car sporting some very pleasant ‘Fineline’ Cove wood trim, which adds a little warmth to the dash and door panels.

Open both front and rear doors and like the X3, you will also be treated to an easter egg of the “X4” emblem stamped into the B pillar.

BMW’s iDrive system on the X4 comes equipped with a 10.25” screen which features their ‘Navigation System Professional’ and includes touchscreen functionality. For those who have QI compatible mobile devices, there is also a wireless charging pad located at the base of the dash. The digital instrument binnacle adds to greater flexibility in providing information, while a multifunctional steering wheel helps drivers keep their hands on the wheel.

Overall passenger comfort has also improved over the previous car, thanks to an additional 54mm to the wheelbase and better overall packaging, which makes all the difference, especially with those seated in the rear. Rear seat design has also been greatly improved.

Cargo space has gone up with 525 litres available (25 litres more than the previous car), and also features stowage space under the boot floor to store the boot boards when they need to be removed, and doubles up as additional storage space. Fold its 40:20:40 style rear seats, and you get very good utility space with up to 1,430 litres. BMW’s sensible ‘through-loading system’ which allows for long items to be loaded without sacrificing the left and right rear seats, complements its boot functions.

The xDrive30i model utilises an uprated version of the xDrive20i four-cylinder 2.0. Power is now rated at 252hp, while torque from 290Nm for the lower-state-of-tune engine, is now at 350Nm, and available within an expansive band of 1,450-4,800rpm. Delivery of this is actually impressive, with the X4 doing 100km/h in 6.3 seconds. Fuel consumption on Combined Cycle is respectable at 12.8km/l.

Thanks to its variable sports steering, the X4 feels extremely sharp and balanced around the bends, also in part thanks to its signature 50:50 balance. Its rear track is 30mm wider than that of the X3, which adds to greater lateral stability, something we had already found out taking on the sharp, winding back roads of South Carolina. All X4 cars for the Singapore market are also equipped with the stiffer M Sport suspension, and we found this helpful with keeping the X4 well planted. The downside in this, a slightly jarring ride, even with our test car’s not-so-large 19” Y-spoke alloys.

Adding to greater efficiency and refinement, the new X4 is also equipped with an active air flap control, featuring Air Curtains located in the front apron, and additional cladding on its underbody. The X4 has also set a new benchmark within its segment, with a slippery drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.30.

But the X4 is not all “Sports Coupe” with no “Activity”, hence the term Sports Activity Coupe (SAV). It is just like the X3, still built as a serious enough offroader, with the ability to ford to a depth of 500mm (the Land Rover Discovery Sport does just a little better, up to 600mm), while it also boasts a 19.4 degree breakover angle. Approach and departure angles are quite impressive at 25.7 degrees and 22.6 degrees respectively.

The X4 might not be the car for the average luxury SUV buyer. But we will admit, it is even more of a driver’s car than the already very accomplished and impressive X3.

Like the M40i version of the X3, we cannot wait to get our hands on the M40 version of the X4!

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