2019 BMW X4 Review
zzdcar' Expert Review
byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test EditorKurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.
What's new
Completely redesigned for 2019Revised stylingNew standard featuresPart of the second X4 generation introduced for 2019BMW's redesigned 2019 X4 is a more sporting and stylish alternative to the traditional luxury crossover. It's related to the X3 SUV but has a sleeker, more coupelike profile. It's also a bit wider, longer and shorter in height than the X3, signaling its mission from the moment you lay eyes on it.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 BMW X4 xDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota$188/mo for X4 xDrive30i
X4 xDrive30i
xDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $50,450 MSRPM40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $60,450 MSRP
vs
$183/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
The two available trim levels are differentiated by their engines and standard equipment. The xDrive30i uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 248 horses, while the M40i has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder with 355 hp. BMW wagers an M40i can rip 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. That's quick acceleration from any vehicle, let alone a compact luxury SUV. BMW says it tuned the X4 to have slightly greater handling capability than the X3, too, so there is some substance to go along with the sportier styling.
Really, though, the X4 is a styling choice. And to get it, you have to pay more and give up some practicality compared to the X3. That sloping roofline cuts into precious rear-seat headroom and robs cargo space and rearward visibility. So while the 2019 BMW X4 might well look the part of a crossover, it's best if you pack a little lighter and resist the temptation to bring some of your friends along for the ride.
zzdcar' Expert Rating
7.5 / 10The redesigned 2019 BMW X4 is a more stylish take on BMW's X3 SUV. It looks sleeker and performs incrementally better than its X3 sibling. But because of its reduced utility, the X4 is a difficult vehicle to recommend wholeheartedly.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the BMW X4 xDrive30i (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).
Scorecard
Overall | 7.5 / 10 |
Driving | 7.5 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Interior | 7.0 |
Utility | 7.5 |
Technology | 7.0 |
Driving
7.5The eight-speed transmission is a good match for the responsive 2.0-liter turbo engine. The X4 doesn't sprint off the line. But get it up to speed, and there's plenty of zip for when it matters. All of BMW's baked-in handling and steering goodness is here, although none of the selectable drive modes dial in the ideal dynamic balance.
Acceleration
7.0There's a steady, satisfying stream of power and smooth upshifts when squeezing on the throttle. The base engine X4 isn't especially quick, needing 7.6 seconds to reach 60 mph. The wide powerband makes it easy to summon a burst for passing, although full-throttle sprints require an extra beat for the transmission to downshift.
Braking
7.0The X4's brakes react quickly and are smooth and easy to modulate in regular driving. The pedal is more soft than firm, and there's a long stroke, but that doesn't affect confident brake feel or ability. Panic stops are about as smooth, stable and quiet as you could want in an emergency even if the 130-foot stopping distance is slightly longer than average.
Steering
7.5The steering loads up well in Sport mode during quick curves. It's nice and heavy but still sharp and accurate, inspiring confidence when breezing through twistier sections of road. The steering loosens up a bit and requires less effort in Comfort mode, but it still has BMW's trademark high-speed heft and confidence.
Handling
8.0With its standard M Sport suspension (the regular suspension is a no-cost option), our X4 test car felt solid and composed through quick corners and curves. There's perceptible body roll, but less than you'd expect. And even with all-season tires, the X4 feels game for a spirited run through the gears. The M Sport suspension doesn't offer the optional adaptive dampers.
Drivability
8.0Selectable drive modes offer up different steering, throttle and shift settings. The default Comfort mode is pleasant, but drivetrain responses are lazy. Eco is worse and offers questionable fuel savings. Sport is too high-strung for regular driving. The best mode is Comfort with the transmission individually set to the sportier shift schedule. The eight-speed transmission is a good match for the quick-spooling turbo engine. Cruise control uses downshifting and brake application to hold speed while going downhill.
Off-road
7.0All-wheel drive comes standard, and 8 inches of ground clearance means the X4 can handle an unpaved road, but difficult trails will remain beyond its reach.
Comfort
8.0The seats are firm, supportive and great for long stints. And while the ride is taut, it shrugs off rough roads. Larger impacts might shake — but won't rattle — the cabin. Climate control works quickly and evenly in both rows. There's a touch of wind noise, but the smooth ride, zesty engine and hushed interior make the X4 deceptively fast. It's easy to exceed the speed limit without realizing it.
Seat comfort
8.0The front seats are the right blend of firm and supportive, and they remain comfortable during long stretches behind the wheel. Multiple adjustments include thigh extenders and inflatable side bolsters, ensuring a good fit for most body types. The rear seats are flat, with less bolstering, by comparison, but they're still comfortable.
Ride comfort
8.0The ride is smooth and compliant without resorting to overly stiff suspension settings. BMW manages to get the right balance here, and road rash or washboard surfaces are held at bay. Larger bumps, dips and divots can jar the cabin, but without the harsh impact of the shocks bottoming out.
Noise & vibration
7.5There's a bit of wind noise rushing over the windshield at highway speeds, but not enough to hinder conversation levels. Otherwise, the cabin is impressively hushed, enough that the quiet combined with the smooth engine and suspension can lull you into speeds higher than perceived.
Climate control
7.5Climate control warms up and cools down quickly with effective temperature control and fan speed. Heat is even a touch hotter than you'd expect, which is good news for winter drivers. Rear-seat passengers get vents and controls over temperature and bi-directional control (upper and lower heat). The seat heaters are very potent but disperse heat somewhat unevenly.
Interior
7.0The cabin is pretty spacious, even though it doesn't appear so from the outside. A wide range of front-seat adjustments allows for a confident driving position. The low-mounted seat cushions give rear passengers decent headroom, but the sloping roofline forces you to duck on the way in. The roof design also severely compromises visibility to the rear sides.
Ease of use
7.5The center dash layout is intuitive as is typical of BMW. The radio and climate controls are all within easy reach, and the iDrive dial controller controls most everything with simple hand movement. That said, the touchscreen is also easy to access for those who prefer to tap commands on-screen. Gesture control is hit-or-miss.
Getting in/getting out
7.0Front passengers won't have issues getting in and out, but rear-seat passengers of most any height will need to duck and cover on entry and exit. The swooping roofline is only too eager to knock your noggin on the way in if you're not paying attention, a common issue with these SUV "coupes." The rear seats are placed fairly low, which helps, but you'll need to mind your melon on the way in.
Driving position
7.5A manual tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel combined with a wide range of seating adjustments means drivers of nearly any height can find a comfortable position. It's possible to place the seat quite low or higher up for a commanding view. A short hood helps with getting a good view out the front glass.
Roominess
7.0Although it's a bit treacherous for rear-seat passengers to get in and out, once seated, they'll enjoy a sufficient amount of room. The rear seat cushions are low and flat, which helps reclaim some headroom lost to the roofline. The X4 has a bit less legroom than the average SUV in this segment, though it's not too noticeable.
Visibility
6.5Visibility is pretty compromised all around and especially out the very narrow back window, which is more decorative than it is useful. A nice high-res backup camera helps during low-speed maneuvering and parking, but you'll definitely want to check the box for optional blind-spot monitoring.
Quality
7.5It's hard to argue with the interior quality and feel, although we noticed an intermittent rattle from somewhere in the back at idle that made the X4 sound a bit like a diesel. But that's not enough to diminish our confidence in the car's overall build quality.
Utility
7.5You give up cargo space for the looks, but there's still enough here to be useful. Plenty of interior storage helps with keeping phones and personal effects close at hand. Child seats, even large ones, will fit pretty easily, although securing the top tethers requires removing the cargo cover first.
Small-item storage
8.0The large door pockets front and rear offer enough room for sizable bottles, wallets and even small handbags. The front center console bin is short but relatively deep. Rear-seat passengers even get some useful space in the fold-down armrest.
Cargo space
7.0You lose some overall cargo space to the sloping roofline, but there's still a decent amount of room as well as additional flexibility with the 40/20/40-split folding rear seats. Our test car also came equipped with sliding cargo rails and tie-downs. Multiple levers release the rear seats to fold down automatically. There's 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 50.5 cubic feet of max cargo capacity — small for the segment but better than the Mercedes-Benz.
Child safety seat accommodation
7.5Isofix anchors are exceptionally easy to find and accessible, located behind plastic tabs that fold back at the bottom of the rear seat cushions. The top tether anchors in the rear seatbacks are also easy to access, but you'll need to remove the cargo cover first. The rear seat area provides enough room to move around a large car seat with ease.
Technology
7.0The combination of touchscreen and dial controls makes exploring infotainment menus a breeze. The nav system is easy to use and the graphics are tack-sharp, although voice commands offer limited usefulness. The basic driver aids are nice, but unfortunately they don't include blind-spot monitoring, which should be standard given this car's limited visibility.
Audio & navigation
8.0A good mix of touchscreen control, iDrive dial controller and old-school audio controls make the nav and audio system intuitive and easy to work with. In-car navigation looks great, is easy to use and makes an excellent alternative to CarPlay maps. The audio system is clean and accurate, if not especially powerful when pushed at higher volumes.
Smartphone integration
7.0Apple CarPlay compatibility is included for one year. You'll have to pay for it after that ($80 per year or $300 for 20 years). There's still no love for Android users. Passengers will need to fight over a single USB port. A wireless charging pad costs an extra $400 and runs quite hot.
Driver aids
6.0Our test car came with the basic set of driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic braking and pedestrian detection. Blind-spot monitoring, which you'll absolutely need due to the X4's limited visibility, is a $500 option. There's no adaptive cruise, which is surprising at the price point.
Voice control
7.0Voice controls are somewhat limited. Addresses and points of interest often need to be slowly and painstakingly spoken, and the system often returns unusable results from a navigation search. Voice commands for audio are consistently accurate, but the Mercedes system is leaps better.
Which X4 does zzdcar recommend?
We'd recommend the M40i, which not only matches the exterior's aggressive styling but takes full advantage of BMW's incredible twin-turbo six-cylinder engine. While it will cost more than the xDrive30i, we think the M40i best delivers on the dynamic concept of the X4 and should serve that small niche of buyers quite well.
2019 BMW X4 models
The 2019 BMW X4 is available in two trim levels: the xDrive30i and the M40i. The xDrive30i is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (248 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque), while the M40i gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (355 hp, 365 lb-ft). Both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Standard xDrive30i features include 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, LED headlights, automatic wipers, a sunroof, a power liftgate, front and rear parking sensors, and selectable drive modes. There's a choice of xLine Design or M Sport Design style packages, with the latter offering different wheel options and more aggressive styling cues.
On the inside, the features list continues with dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, driver memory settings, simulated-leather upholstery, 40/20/40-split folding rear seats, BMW Assist emergency telematics, BMW's iDrive infotainment system with a 10.3-inch display, a navigation system, Bluetooth and a 12-speaker sound system. Apple CarPlay is available on a one-year trial. A forward collision warning system with low-speed automatic braking is also standard equipment.
Stepping up to the X4 M40i will add an adaptive suspension, keyless entry and ignition, and satellite radio. It also comes with the M Sport package that includes unique aerodynamic exterior touches, black exterior trim and M Sport brakes.
Three major packages are available for the X4. The Convenience package (xDrive30i only) includes lumbar support, keyless entry and ignition, and satellite radio. The Premium package adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, gesture control for the infotainment system, and a head-up display. With the Executive package, you get a surround-view camera system, park assist, a digital instrument cluster, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, and ambient interior lighting.
Safety-related packages include the Driving Assistance package — blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, improved frontal collision warning with emergency braking mitigation and rear cross-traffic alert — and the Driving Assistance Plus package, with active cruise control with stop and go, active lane keeping assist, side collision avoidance, traffic jam assist and evasion aid. Notable stand-alone options include leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, a premium Harman Kardon sound system and ventilated front seats.
2019 X4 Highlights
Type: SUVM40iSUVTrim: xDrive30iM40ixDrive30i
Base MSRP | $50,450 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 25 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $188/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 18.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
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