BMW X4 M 2021

Body, cabin and cargo space

With its sleek styling, the BMW X4 looks more dynamic than the BMW X3, with its more angular, classic lines. But there’s a price to pay in comfort, especially in the back. With 5 cm less height than the X3, headroom is tighter and even legroom is reduced, since the bench seat is closer to the front to provide as much room as possible under the sloped ceiling.

The plunging roofline extends to a sharply inclined liftgate that limits trunk height, reducing cargo volume by a third relative to the X3 when the bench is in place. The loss is less severe with the seatbacks folded, but cargo volume in both cases is comparable to a subcompact SUV, even though the X4 is longer than most compact models. At least the middle section of the bench folds separately so that two passengers and long objects can be transported at the same time.

None of those shortcomings affect the front seats, which easily accommodate people of all sizes. Numerous seat adjustments, generous telescoping steering wheel range and ideal armrests and footrest yield an excellent driving position. A very short person could find fault with the length of the bottom cushion, even with the extension completely retracted. Apart from that, the bucket seats provide impeccable support, in the absence of softness.

Anyone who has driven a recent BMW will feel right at home in the X4. Two large screens dominate the dashboard, one facing the driver and the other in the middle. Impeccably clear, comprehensive and rapid, the displays are among the best of the luxury makes in terms of logic. It is largely due to the good control knob on the centre console and traditional buttons placed on the dash and steering wheel.

The excellent Harman Kardon audio system, the immediate and enveloping warmth of the seat heaters, the texture of materials, the colour schemes: everything attests to the quality and attentive finish of the cabin.

The main discordant note comes from the electronic gear selector; found only on M models, it is even more confusing than the lever used on other BMW models. The X4 M we tested also confirmed that BMW defrosters require a good deal of attention and manipulation in cool and humid temperatures.

Safety features

• Antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist
• Stability and traction control
• Hill descent control
• Front airbags
• Front side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Five adjustable head restraints
• Rearview camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection
• Lane departure warning
• Automatic high beams
• Automatic reverse emergency braking
• Lane departure warning with automatic steering assist, lane centering assist, emergency avoidance assist, front cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control (included in Advanced Driver Assistance and Ultimate option packages)
• Surround-view camera (included in Premium and Ultimate option packages)

Visibility

Forward visibility is adequate if you discount the large blind spot at intersections created by the junction of the doors and A-pillars. The wide B-pillars, sloping rear roofline and very high rear window seriously hinder the side and rearward view. The exterior mirrors are too small. The electronic monitoring systems help but do not always work well in winter conditions.

Headlights: the LED directional headlights obtained a top rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for the BMW X3, which has a similar grille and ground clearance.

Mechanical overview

The centerpiece of every M series BMW is found behind the famous kidney grille. And that, of course, is the engine, still gasoline-powered in the case of the X4 M—for better or for worse.

Better: the unique sound of the inline six-cylinder, an engine type that is practically synonymous with the BMW name. Worse: high premium-gasoline consumption, which translated to a measured result of 12.1 L/100 km in our test. At least that equals Natural Resources Canada’s highway estimate, something we rarely attain on our usual test route and even less so in the winter. In the city, NRC’s estimate is 16.6 L/10 km.

Obviously, you pay for the 3.0-litre engine’s impressive specs at the pump. Thanks to high-tech features including a pair of twin-scroll turbochargers, power reaches 473 horsepower for the “normal” X4 M, and 503 for the Competition model. Maximum torque of 442 pound-feet is available at 2,600 rpm in both cases. Obtaining this level of performance from a 3.0L engine would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. It would take an electric motor to get more power without more cylinders.

An eight-speed automatic transmission channels power to the four wheels via a full-time all-wheel-drive system. The ZF-manufactured gearbox obviously includes a manual mode with paddle shifters. The all-wheel drive is rear biased to enhance the sporty sensation. It increases the share of front torque depending on the requirements of dynamic driving or in case of loss of rear grip. A special differential also can transmit more power to either rear wheel, to further refine the handling.

On call are several pre-programmed driving modes that modify the tunings of the throttle, transmission, all-wheel drive, power steering, damping and exhaust. Drivers can set each function individually and then memorize their preferred combinations in programs M1 and M2, accessible via the red buttons on top of the steering wheel spokes.

Driving impressions

You know the BMW X4 M Competition is no ordinary crossover the minute you settle into the superb sport bucket seats, which were upholstered in sexy red leather in our tester. The sensation is heightened when you fire up the engine, which emits an exhaust note like none other. A few kilometers behind the wheel are all it takes to confirm that the sporty pretentions are for real.

Despite the active dampers, the suspension does a poor job of masking pavement defects. The firm ride does not go very well with the daily drive, highlighted by the very low profile 21‑inch tires. The tires will cost a fortune to replace; because the front and rear dimensions are not the same, they cannot be rotated to equalize wear. And since wear must be as equal as possible with all-wheel drive, it is not rare to have to change all four tires at the same time.

On the other hand, the tire differentiation and stiff suspension do wonders for handling. The body stays very flat in tight curves and the trajectory imprinted by the ultraprecise steering is followed perfectly. It is hard to believe that a sport-utility vehicle weighing more than 2,000 kg could deliver such direct and balanced road sensation. In our experience, only a Porsche Macan Turbo feels a bit more agile in a series of curves.

However, the X4 M Competition still holds the upper hand in terms of performance, at least according to official specifications. Because of its superior torque and the instant response of the eight-speed transmission, it seems slightly more at ease when re-accelerating, though we’d have to do a comparison drive on a closed circuit to know for sure.

One thing for certain is that BMW’s latest six-cylinder has the performance and sonority to inspire the action-oriented driver. It is imperative to use the active cruise control, which incidentally is very progressive, to stay within the tolerated speed limit. The vehicle is so stable that you find yourself dreaming of a chance to experience the exceptional engine capacity on Germany’s unlimited-speed autobahns.

Other highlights

Braking: perfectly firm pedal is easy to modulate to avoid engaging the antilock module, even in winter conditions. Braking is commensurate with engine power.

Soundproofing: road noise is audible because of oversized tires. Wind noise is well filtered, even around the panoramic sunroof. Engine noise always audible in sport drive modes but almost inaudible at highway speed in normal mode.