The BMW X4 is the coupe-like sibling of the boxier X3. While this luxury compact SUV doesn’t have the cargo space of the X3, it looks cool, boasts athletic handling and comes standard with lots of features and tech, as you’d expect in a Bimmer. However, it’s one of the priciest offerings in the class.
Base Price: $62,400
As Tested: $67,540
Horsepower: 382
Mileage: 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined
The five-passenger X4 Sports Activity Coupe, as BMW calls it, got a makeover for the 2019 model year. It gets some exterior and interior styling tweaks for 2022 including an updated front bumper, grille and headlights. Inside, the center console gets a modern, streamlined look, and the upgraded infotainment system gets a bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen. The performance M40i trim gets a mild 48-volt hybrid system to boost fuel efficiency.
The 2022 BMW X4 comes in three main trims: 30i, M40i, and M. Starting prices are $51,800, $62,400 and $73,600, respectively. These prices are on the high end for the class, and they can climb rapidly with the addition of packages and options. The X4 comes standard with all-wheel-drive on all trims.
There are three robust engines. The 30i gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The M40i has a 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet. Then there’s the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that generates 473 horsepower in the M and 503 horsepower in the M Competition. Each engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The base engine provides plenty of power and zip and is more than enough for most drivers. BMW says the 30i can go from zero to 60 in 6 seconds.
My M40i tester cranks it up a notch and can go from zero to 60 in just 4.4 seconds. Touch the accelerator and you’re off! Merging and passing at freeway speeds is a breeze with the eager X4; in fact, it’s easy to find yourself going too fast so you’ll want to keep an eye on the speed limit! The X4 is a joy to take out on twisty back roads—it stays composed even around tight turns with little body lean. Steering and brakes are responsive. The ride is on the firm side so you’ll feel some bumps and rough roads. Visibility is limited to the sides and rear, so it’s good to use the blind-spot monitoring and rear view camera. All in all, the X4 is a ton of fun to drive and no doubt you’ll catch yourself grinning when you’re behind the wheel.
Fuel efficiency is okay to bad, depending on the engine. EPA ratings for my M40i tester are 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with a combined rating of 23. I got 23 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. The 30i does better at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with a combined rating of 24 mpg. Fuel efficiency for the M and M Competition is poor at 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway/17 mpg combined.
The interior is beautiful with a sleek, modern look. All materials are high-end, including rich synthetic or real leather seating and metal trim. The large 12.3-inch infotainment screen dominates the center stack. Seats are comfortable and supportive, even for long trips. There are many ways to adjust the steering wheel and front seats, including side bolsters and thigh extenders, so you can find the position that’s best for you. Up front, passengers have good leg- and headroom, but headroom is limited in the second row because of the sloping roofline.
Standard features include remote keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, tri-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12-speaker audio system, HD Radio, navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, and a moonroof.
Available features include proximity keyless entry, remote start, surround-view camera system, head-up display, real leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, 16-speaker audio system, satellite radio, gesture control, and Drive Recorder, a forward-facing dashcam.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and driver attention monitoring.
Available driver assistance technologies include adaptive cruise control with low-speed traffic jam assist, lane keep assist and hands-free parallel park assist.
BMW’s iDrive infotainment system has a bit of a learning curve but it becomes intuitive with a little practice. You can interact with the system through the touchscreen, redundant physical controls, the touchpad controller on the center console, or buttons on the steering wheel. The optional gesture control lets you control some functions with hand gestures—for example you can adjust the volume by circling your finger. Sure it’s gimmicky but fun.
Cargo space is below average for the class. The X4 has less cargo space than its X3 sibling, but there’s still a respectable amount for a weekend getaway, as long as you don’t throw everything and the kitchen sink in the hatch. There are 18.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 50.5 cubes with the second row folded. The large opening makes it easy to load large and/or bulky items, and the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats provide flexibility in hauling passengers and cargo. There are a number of bins and cubbies in the cabin for stashing small items. A power liftgate is standard and a hands-free power liftgate is available.
The good:
Stylish looks
Three potent engine choices
Dynamic handling
Beautiful, upscale interior
Lots of standard features and tech
Intuitive infotainment system
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Price is above average for the class and can climb rapidly
Ride will be too firm for some
Less passenger and cargo space than rivals
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $62,400. Piemont Red paint is $550. Oyster Vernasca leather is $1,450. The Premium Package is $1,600 and includes a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, head-up display and gesture control. (Passenger width adjustment/bolsters were deleted with a discount of $100.) 20-inch M double-spoke performance RF wheels are $600. Deletion of BMW digital key is a credit of $80. Carbon fiber trim is $300. Passenger lumbar delete is a credit of $175. Destination charge is $995 bringing the grand total to $67,540.
Bottom line:
The 2022 BMW X4 offers sporty performance, a beautiful interior, and lots of bells and whistles. While it’s spendy and its coupe-like design limits space for passengers and cargos, it looks cool and is a blast to drive.
