What’s hot
- Very comfortable to drive, with a smart, well-made interior.
- The X4 has been lowered slightly over the X3 and the lower centre of gravity enhances the driving dynamics. Additional driving enhancements include changes to the dampers, steering and spring rates, which all result in a much more engaging drive. The welcome introduction of torque-vectoring increases driver confidence as this BMW powers through the corners.
- Coupé-like re-styling ‘fits’ this car better than other X offerings from BMW.
- The 3.0-litre X4 is quick, galloping effortlessly to 62mph in 5.8 seconds, peaking at 148mph. Plus, this oil-burner will return a combined 47.9mpg while emitting 156g of CO2 per km. The BIK rate is 27%, with the VED in band G and an insurance group of 40
- Plus, the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission which it is mated with is a delight, being always in the right gear at the right time.
What’s not
- No petrol-engined variant in the launch line-up – or planned for the foreseeable future.
- Rear visibility through the tailgate is compromised by coupé-like styling.
- Inside, a lower rear roof line is a negative result of the coupé repackaging. Rear headroom will challenge those taller than 5ft 8in.
- Practicality as a family SUV is questionable.
- The Coupe styling might look sleek, but there’s too much wind noise around the mirrors and A-pillars.
- Coupé re-styling shaves 36 litres off the X3 boot space to 500 litres.
- On the road, this model would set you back £45,453 at a basic level and a staggering £55,248 once you’ve raided the options list, as fitted to the test car.
- To buy the excellent top-spec Porsche Macan Turbo, you’ll only need an extra £4,050 for comparison.
- A further victim of the coupé realignment is the boot, which loses 36 litres of capacity to the X3. Still, at 500 litres, boot space remains generous enough for family getaways. With the split-folding rear bench lowered, capacity swells to 1,400 litres. However, the sharply raked rear window and high loading lip makes the space less useful than conventionally shaped SUVs.
