The BMW X4 M launched this year, and it looks more fresh and appealing. The X4 M is offered in a couple of trims. The base comes for $73,400, whereas the Competition trim asks for $80,400. A 3.0L twin-turbo inline-6 engine powers both the trims, but the engine fitted inside ‘Competition’ has been tweaked for better power and performance. The exterior looks sharp and comes fitted with all the features that you can expect from a performance-based SUV. The cabin inside is spacious, rich, and comfortable. Regarding safety, BMW equipped it with plenty of safety and driver-assist features for the occupants’ safety.

Which trim should you buy? 

BMW offers the X4 M in 2 trims. Both the trims of the X4 M are powered by a 3L twin-turbo inline-6 engine, however, the Competition’s engine is tweaked to produce more power, and as a result, it offers better performance. Therefore, we recommend you to buy the X4 M Competition because it not only comes with a more powerful engine but also comes fitted with Merino leather upholstery and bigger 21” aluminum wheels. Additionally, you can fit it with Executive Package and M Driver’s Package which equips your SUV with features like a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, wireless charging, and plenty more.

Under the hood of the X4 M, BMW has fitted a 3L twin-turbo 6-cylinder mill that is twinned to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The power and torque get uniformly distributed on all the wheels via the M-tuned xDrive AWD system. The base engine generates an impressive 473 horsepower and 442 foot-pounds of torque that help it with a laudable performance on almost any surface. It can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in just 3.9 seconds and helps it reach a quarter-mile by 12.4 seconds.

The Competition’s engine is also mated to the same 8-speed transmission and M-tuned xDrive AWD system. However, its engine is tweaked to generate a higher power that results in better performance output. The power and torque output of the engine is 503 horsepower and 442 foot-pounds respectively. The higher power helps it accelerate from 0-60 MPH at 3.3 seconds and cover a quarter-mile by 11.6 seconds. The SUV tops out at 172 MPH, which is not the best in the segment.

The engine behavior is generally smooth and lag-free. The power output is visible as soon as the gas pedal is pressed. The engine responds well and takes a blink of an eye to catch a swift momentum. An electronic throttle control removes the mechanical bridge between the pedal and the throttle that makes acceleration even faster and reactive. The gearbox offers smooth gear shifting and is responsive. The regular X4 M is impressive in performance, but the higher trim feels even better, and in the tracks, it’s absolutely a beast.

The BMW X4 M is the most affordable among all the vehicles here and offers the best value when it comes to performance. Despite being $7,000 cheaper than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, it offers a similar performance to the Stelvio. The Porsche, on the other hand, is the most expensive and offers the least power and performance. If you’re on a budget, the regular X4 M is the one to go for. If you can spend 7 grand more, the Competition makes more sense than all the others.

How does the 2020 BMW X4 M handle?

BMW’s M-Team has gone an extra mile to make the X4 handle like the sleeker M4 that is widely known for its capability on the tracks. Ever questioned how an SUV performs on the track? Well, if yes, the X4 M will convince you with the excellent potential it shows on tracks. Apart from the tracks, it shows excellent behavior in daily life. The chassis comes fitted with M-Sport suspensions that offer excellent stability in the corners and while taking a sharp turn. 

The system offers 3 modes and a Dynamic Damper Control system. By default, the Comfort mode comes on that offers excellent cabin comfort. When you drive the vehicle on the tracks, the Sport and Sport+ modes come in handy and they bring specific adjustments in the suspension for better stability but at the cost of a firmer ride. The hefty power generated by the engine gets divided among all the wheels utilizing the M-tuned xDrive AWD system. The M Sport Differential further makes it more capable by dividing the power evenly on all the wheels. 

Braking Performance

The braking potential of the BMW X4 M is excellent. Compared to the regular X4, the X4 M comes with bigger brake rotors that help it with a smooth, efficient, and responsive braking capability. The X4 M comes installed with M Compound ventilated disc brakes on all the wheels. The front wheels come fitted with 15.6-inch discs twinned with 4-piston calipers, while the rear gets a couple of 14.6-inch discs twinned with a single-piston floating caliper. Further equipped with P255/40ZR21 and P265/40ZR21 at the front and back, the braking is phenomenal. The Bimmer with the help of the capable braking system and good quality tires comes to stop from 0-60 MPH at 112 feet. Considering the hefty curb weight, the braking is impressive. 

The BMW X4 M possesses an excellent braking capability because of the M Braking system that comprises ventilated disc brakes and 4 piston calipers. Despite being the heaviest in curb weight, it offers the shortest braking distance. Following the Bimmer, the AMG offers the second-best braking system. The wheels are twinned with AMG high-performance brakes that work well to stop the car at the shortest distance possible.

The 3.0L twin-turbocharged Inline-6 mill employed inside the Bimmer offers it excellent power and performance. However, the generous power and torque make it stay behind in fuel efficiency. The mileage offered is 14 and 19 MPG on the city and the highway, respectively. Being equipped with a 17.2-gallon fuel tank, which is not the biggest in the competition, the fuel range is 241 miles in the city, 326.8 miles on the highway, and 275 miles combined.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio offers the best fuel efficiency and comes packed with the smallest fuel tank, however, it manages to have a respectable fuel range. The Porsche Macan Turbo follows the Alfa Romeo with similar mileage and the biggest fuel tank in the competition. The bigger fuel tank helps it with an impressive fuel range. On the contrary, the X4 M trails both in MPG and fuel tank, making it the shortest runner.

A spacious, rich, and feature-loaded cabin is what you’ll counter when you enter inside the 2020 BMW X4 M. The cabin offers a seating arrangement for 5 people, and the space provided is adequate at the front, but the rear falls short in headspace due to its sloping roofline. The materials used for the composition of the cabin are upmarket, resulting in a sophisticated and rich feeling. The seats are cushioned well and are wide. The base trim features seats covered with Vernasca leather, while the upper trim offers seats wrapped with Merino leather or Alcantara. The cabin comes covered with carbon fiber interior trim that adds to the sporty character. 

The front comes fitted with 10-way power-adjusted sport bucket seats that offer a panoramic view of the road ahead. The rear seats are comfortable and wide, leg and shoulder room feel adequate, unlike the headroom. For further comfort and functionality, BMW offers important options like a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats at the front, and heated seats at the back. For storage, the rear comes fitted with an 18.5 cubic feet cargo trunk that can store a fair amount of medium-sized bags and luggage. The rear seats can be folded for the further need of space and can be used accordingly.

The standard seating capacity of all the vehicles is 5 but they differ from one another because of seating space and their respective cargo capacity. The X4 M seats feel adequate both at the front and back. However, the numbers make it stay behind in the competition. The AMG GLC 63 Coupe feels much more spacious and comes packed with the biggest cargo trunk, making it more preferable for cabin comfort and storage space. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10-way power adjusted front sport bucket seats
• 3-stage heated front seats
• Panoramic moonroof
• Multi-zone climate control with air filtration
• Merino leather/Alcantara upholstery

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2020 BMW X4 M’s cabin comes fitted with a capable infotainment system that comes loaded with features and is easy to operate. The system comes fitted with a 12.3” full HD iDrive touch display twinned with a 16-speaker premium audio system by Harman Kardon. HD radio and an AM/FM/CD/Mp3 player are also installed for further requirements. For smartphone pairing and connectivity, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth audio streaming, and HandsFree come installed as standard. Navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM are other standard features. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• 12.3” Full HD iDrive touch display
• 16-speaker premium audio by Harman Kardon
• HD radio
• SiriusXM
• Wireless charging
• BMW Teleservices
• Intelligent Personal Assistant with natural speech recognition
• Navigation
• Wi-Fi hotspot

When we saw the 2020 BMW X4 M for the first time, we were impressed and helplessly praised the design language of the X4 M. Compared to the boxy design of the X3 M, the latter’s sloping roofline makes it look like a coupe. The fascia comes fitted with a full LED lighting setup that looks sharp and angry. Inside the LED setup, LED headlights with Automatic High beam feature DRLs make the front look aggressive. Between the LED housings, the iconic kidney grille is fitted, which gives it a distinct look. The front comes further fitted with an aerodynamic kit that improves airflow and improves grip and handling.

At the back, an L-shaped high-performance LED tail lamp dominates the rear part of the exterior. Being badged with ‘M’, the rear comes fitted with an M-spoiler fitted on the trunk, and M quad exhaust pipes and a faux diffuser below, and air vents at the sides that make it look sportier and appealing. Wheels depend on the trim you’re buying since the base comes fitted with 20” aluminum wheels, while the Competition trim features 21” aluminum wheels.

The Bimmer is the heaviest and the biggest SUV in the competition. However, the body dimensions don’t look that big due to its coupe-like design. It also comes with the highest ground clearance of 8 inches that makes it a good performer on off-roads. The Mercedes-AMG comes second in weight and dimensions but has a lower ground clearance. The lower ground clearance makes it a better performer on the tracks because of the stability. Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• 21” double-spoke Bi-color orbit grey aluminum wheels
• Shadowline exterior trim
• Full LED headlights with automatic high beams
• M Sport rear spoiler
• High-performance LED Brakelights

BMW is widely popular for making strong, safe, and reliable vehicles, and its X4 M is no different. The X4 M is based on the CLAR platform, and its chassis is made of high-grade steel and aluminum. It hasn’t been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but we can assure excellent safety and reliability due to the superior build quality. The wheels are fitted with disc brakes, which are further installed with modern safety features. Apart from these, the presence of modern safety features and driver assistance programs make it safe and help in avoiding crashes. Some of the standout safety features are as follows:

• Full LED headlights with automatic high beams
• Fatigue and focus alert feature
• Active blind-spot detection
• Lane departure warning system
• Frontal Collision warning
• Automatic city collision mitigation and braking
• Dynamic cruise control

2020 BMW X4 M vs 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

We prefer the BMW X4 M over the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio because the X4 M costs $7,000 less than the latter. Both engines perform well and have similar performance numbers. The cabin inside the X4 M is richer and comes bestowed with more features. The standard safety feature list is vast along with plenty of options to choose from. Additionally, the X4 M has impressive J.D. Power ratings and a great resale value. BMW has a wide network and the after-sales service is good, thus becoming our obvious choice between the two.

2020 BMW X4 M vs 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe SUV

Mercedes-AMG’s GLC 63 Coupe is one of the worthy competitors of the X4 M, and it’s a tough call to recommend either of them because both are great cars and shine in their respective sides. However, we’d pick the BMW because it comes at a lower price and the engine performs better. The X4 M shares some of its DNA from the M4, and it's visible once you play with the Bimmer on tracks. Compared to the AMG, the Bimmer handles better and performs well both in off-roads and tracks. Both of them possess a heavy set of standard features and options. However, the X4 M has the upper edge because of the better list of standard safety features. 

2020 BMW X4 M vs 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo

Porsche’s Macan Turbo is the most expensive SUV in the competition, and honestly, the exterior looks a decade old now. The cabin inside is somewhat spacious but falls short of the Bimmer. BMW’s twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine performs better in both power and torque figures as well as real-world performance and is more reliable. The X4 M offers a better set of features and a vast list of options for a lesser asking price. Additionally, its resale value is better than the latter. So, we recommend the BMW X4 M.

BMW launched the X4 M this year, and we are impressed. The engine fitted under the hood performs impressively. The exterior looks charming and comes fitted with all the necessary features. The cabin inside can accommodate 5 people easily with all the features and comforts one needs. The infotainment system is user-friendly and boasts good quality. As for safety, the standard feature list is impressive, and the presence of optional safety features makes it undeniably safe. It is a capable SUV and performs well even on tracks. The handling is delightful, and it’s an absolute treat to drive the 2020 BMW X4 M. Henceforth, it’s a no-nonsense option among SUVs and a class leader.