2018 BMW X4

This is the second generation X4 after the launch of its first generation model in 2014 and the xDrive28i version of the X4 is priced at $47,600, being the costliest in the segment. It is made on the same platform as that of the BMW X3 and many features resemble the same. Let’s find out more of the car in a bit detailed manner.

The BMW X4 is available in two trims viz. the xDrive28i and the M40i which includes the M sports package of the BMW. The xDrive28i is equipped with BMW's iDrive infotainment system, and the M40i comes packed with a Premium Harman Kardon music system. The tilt and telescopic steering is a standard in both the trims and same with the 19-inch alloy wheels.

Trims	xDrive 28i	M40i
MSRP	$47,600	$59,250
Features	Standard xDrive28i features include: 19-inch alloy wheels Automatic adaptive xenon headlights, LED fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, heated and power-folding exterior mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, Power liftgate, front and rear parking sensors, selectable drive modes and cruise control. Dual-zone automatic climate control Eight-way power front seats with driver memory functions, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel BMW Assist emergency telematics, BMW’s iDrive infotainment system Rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, and a nine-speaker CD player with HD radio and USB-auxiliary input.	Same as xDrive28i  plus: Adaptive suspension Keyless entry and ignition Premium Harman Kardon audio system with satellite radio. M Sports package that includes unique aerodynamic exterior touches, black exterior trim, a sport-tuned suspension, an increased top speed, sporty seats, and a sporty steering wheel. Cold Weather package

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The X4 is a ridiculous car to begin with. Its best to buy the M40i variant and keep the ridiculousness going.

"The gearbox does a great job of selecting and holding the right gear in most any condition, but the shift paddles are always at the ready when the driver seeks a little more involvement."  -Car And Driver

Engine and Transmission

As mentioned earlier, the xDrive28i is equipped with a 2.0LTwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers 240hp power and 260 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated with an  8-Speed Automatic transmission. It certainly gives the driver that thrilling feel of a sporty SUV with its powerful engine.

Models	BMW X4 xDrive 28i	Audi Q5 Premium	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum
MSRP	$47,600	$45,500	$42,050	$41,500
Engine	2.0L 4-cylinder	2.0L 4-cylinder	2.0L 4-cylinder	2.0L 4-cylinder
Transmission	8-speed automatic	7-speed automated manual	9-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Power	240 hp @ 5000 rpm	252 hp @ 5000 rpm	241 hp @ 5500 rpm	250 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	260 ft-lbs @ 1450 rpm	273 ft-lbs @ 1600 rpm	273 ft-lbs @ 1300 rpm	258 ft-lbs. @ 1500 rpm

An interesting observation here is that the X4 is the one with least horsepower in the class as against Audi’s Q5 Premium (252 HP) and Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (250 HP). All cars here offer the same configuration, ie, a 2 liter turbocharged inline 4 engine, and fall neatly into the same price bracket, all cheaper than the Beemer.

Acceleration

The xDrive28i’s 2-Liter engine is quite responsive and the unique thing about it is that the 260 lb-ft torque is produced from a range as low as 1450 rpm to 4800 rpm which makes it stay strong against its rivals. That’s the reason for it being the second fastest car among its rivals to reach 60 mph from zero mph.

Models	BMW X4 xDrive 28i	Audi Q5 Premium	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum
0-60 MPH	6.0 sec	5.9 sec	6.3 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter mile	13.6 sec	13.5 sec	14.0 sec	15.5 sec
Engine	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.6	7.1	7.3	7.4

The Audi Q5 Premium is slightly ahead of the X4, a margin so insignificant it could simply be neglected. Volvo disappoints here by being the slowest by far.

Ride and Handling

BMW has implemented its own “Intelligent All Wheel Drive System”, the xDrive that works with a dynamic stability control, powering all four wheels independently. It is almost the same technology as the torque vectoring system which is implemented in the Mercedes and Range Rover Sport.

The ride quality and comfort of the BMW X4 is immaculate and its precisely smooth handling makes the driver fall in love with it. The suspension in the X4 iDrive28i is a smoother one while the one in the M40i is more firm and stiffer suspension to get it sportier than its base trim. The cabin insulation is amazing and there is very little noise inside the cabin even at highway speeds.

Braking

The braking system of the 2018 X4 is fantastic with shorter intervals. Since the Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system enables power distribution to each of the four wheels, it also has a relative effect on the braking of the X4 making it responsive, which gives it a perfect touch.

Model	BMW X4 xDrive 28i	Audi Q5 Premium	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum
Brake Front (in)	12.9	13.3	13.5	13.6
Brake Rear (in)	13.0	13.0	12.6	12.6
Curb Weight (lbs)	4130	4045	3891	4058
60-0 MPH (ft.)	123	112	115	130

The Audi has the strongest braking force, owing to the balanced sizes for both the front and the rear discs. It comes to halt in just 112 feet, great for any car, let alone an SUV.

The BMW has proven itself in the past, winning over its rivals hands-down in terms of fuel economy. But, that’s not the case with the X4. The X4, which gives a fuel economy of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway manages to face the heat with its competitors with ease.

Model	BMW X4 xDrive 28i	Audi Q5 Premium	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum
MPG (city)	20	23	22	22
MPG (highway)	28	27	28	28
MPG (combined)	23	25	23	24

When it comes to combined fuel economy, the Audi Q5 Premium stands out to be on top with 25 mpg followed by Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (24 mpg) and the X4 equals it to that of Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 with 23 mpg.

"The X4 seats five people. The front seats are spacious and comfortable, and they have plenty of support to hold you firmly in place." -Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The low seating position adds more to the sporty feel of the car. The electronically adjustable bolsters in the seats give amazing comfort to the passengers. But, the rear seats are not just up to the mark in terms of space. There is not much of thigh support for the passengers on the rear which means that it’s not going to be easy during long trips.

The rear is just cramped and poor in space. There is an ample amount of legroom in the rear but the headroom is not just enough for adults, the reason being the dip of the roofline to the rear.

Model	BMW X4 xDrive 28i	Audi Q5 Premium	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume(ft cube)	103.4	102.0	102.8	102.8
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.0/57.2/40.4	41.7/57.7/41.0	37.8/57.3/40.8	38/58.2/41.5
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.4/56.0/34.8	39.3/56.5/37.8	38.5/56.5/37.3	38/56.3/38

All the cars in this segment seat 5 passengers. While not exactly cramped, the GLC offers the least amount of headroom inside the cabin. Rear seat passengers would enjoy themselves the most in the XC60, owing to its generous legroom.

Infotainment System

The iDrive infotainment system in the BMW X4 uses the latest control system enabled with fingerprint recognition. A few other infotainment features include:

• GPS- enabled navigation system.
• Apple Carplay.
• Wifi hotspot.
• Voice input messaging.
• Bluetooth phone and streaming audio.
• A nine-speaker CD player with HD radio and USB-auxiliary input.
• Harman Kardon music system with satellite radio.

Cargo Capacity

The cargo capacity in the X4 is 33% less than that of its platform-mate X3. The dropping roofline creeps into the rear causing a remarkable decrease in the cargo capacity.

Model	BMW X4 xDrive 28i	Audi Q5 Premium	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum
Volume behind 2nd row (cube ft.)	17.7	26.8	17.6	22.4
2nd row folded (cube ft.)	49.4	60.4	56.5	63.3

It is just ahead of the Mercedes Benz GLC 300 with regard to cargo capacity but substantially lower than the Audi Q5 Premium and the Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum. The Volvo can fit in almost anything with its second row folded, great for weekend picnics.

"Props to the design team, then, but the question remains: Why choose this over the less costly, more useful X3? The answer, in characteristic BMW fashion, is that the styling signifies a sportier driving experience." -Car and Driver

Dimension and Weight

The 2018 X4 has almost the same length as that of the BMW X3 while the major difference is found at the rear end, for the reason of being called a coupe. The dropping roofline from the front to the rear cuts down the rear headroom.

Model	BMW X4 xDrive 28i	Audi Q5 Premium	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum
Curb weight(lbs)	4130	4045	3891	4058
Length(in)	184.5	183.6	183.3	184.6
Width(in)	74.1	74.5	74.4	74.9
Height(in)	63.9	65.3	64.5	65.3
Ground clearance(in)	8.0	8.2	6.0	8.5
Wheelbase(in)	110.6	110.0	113.1	112.8
Track width(in) F/R	62.8/63.4	63.6/63.3	63.9/63.7	65.1/65.2

 

 

The standard safety features in the X4 are listed below:

• Head Protection System (HPS), front and rear
• Driver’s and passenger’s front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology: dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment; and front-passenger-seat sensors designed to prevent unnecessary airbag deployment
• Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger-seat safety belts (for installation of child-restraint seats)
• Central locking system on the driver and front passenger doors (leaves fuel filler door unlocked)
• Impact sensor that activates Battery Safety Terminal disconnect of alternator, fuel pump and starter from battery; automatically unlocks doors; and turns on hazard and interior lights
• LATCH for child-restraint safety-seat installation
• Front safety belts with automatic pretensioners
• Anti-theft alarm system
• BMW Assist eCall includes Emergency Request (SOS button) and Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification

The crash tests are not available yet, so the NHTSA and IIHS results are not available.

BMW X4 vs Audi Q5 Premium

The Audi Q5 Premium has the engine refinement much better than that of the X4. The Q5 is priced at $41,500 while the X4 is clearly expensive. The Q5 is certainly a classic SUV with amazing ride quality but it is not as sportier as the X4, especially the M40i version of the X4.

BMW X4 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is priced at $40,050. In terms of specifications and design, the X4 and GLC 300 are almost identical. So, how far is it wise to put in $7,000 extra to buy the X4 is a serious question. The high pricing for the 2018 X4 looks completely unfair in this highly competitive segment.

BMW X4 vs Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum

Priced at $41,500, the XC60 T5 Momentum has an 8-speed 2.0L Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 250 HP and 285 lb-ft of torque. The T5 has a slightly more powerful engine than that of the X4. The T5 has a top class safety equipment but the design of the car looks like a compromise. On the other hand, the X4 has got the best of looks and design and top class interiors.

If you are fastidious about the design of the car, then the X4 is definitely a good choice as it has got a trendy design with every detailing of a decent SUV. But, that’s not all. It is just a simple Compact SUV and it’s priced heavily than its rivals. The 2018 BMW X4 holds a powerful engine with amazing handling but lacks on the usability of a typical SUV over the undersized cargo and narrow rear compartment. So, you have fair enough options in the segment to look for in the form of the Q5 Premium, GLC 300 and the XC60 T5 Momentum.