Overview

The BMW X4 exists because it’s one of the most fashionable types of car currently going. Some buyers want SUVs for their greater ride height, but don’t want to sacrifice a sporty drive and swoopy looks of the coupes they may have been used to.

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BMW thinks its latest X4 delivers on all fronts, but is it a better option than the regular X3 SUV, let alone rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, Porsche Macan and Range Rover Velar? Or should you just stick to sleek cars with no off-road pretensions like the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe or Audi A5 Sportback?

BMW X4 vs BMW X3: what’s different?

From the front, you’d be hard-pushed to tell the difference between the two cars. It’s when you view them side-on or from the rear that the visual differences are very clear to see.

BMW’s even-numbered X-cars are the more rakishly styled versions of the more practical odd-numbered models (X4 vs X3), so the X4 has an aggressively-raked rear end in the style of the coupe, with a unique design for the back of the car.

It’s still a five-door SUV with a hatchback-style tailgate, but the X4 has a more purposeful stance (thanks to rear tyres that sit further apart than the X3), and some sportier design elements such as more dramatic-looking 3D-effect taillights and a number plate located lower on the bumper than on the X3.

BMW X4 engines and trim levels

The majority of the X3’s engine range remains in the X4, too, with familiar xDrive 20d and xDrive 30d diesels available (the former will be the big-seller in the UK), while three performance-focused models are also on the price list – the M40i, M40d and X4 M.

All X4s come with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system as standard. There are no two-wheel drive options here, and all come with BMW’s slick eight-speed automatic gearbox.

You’re stuck with M Sport if you’re looking at a ‘regular’ X4, with the M40i/M40d and X4 M models in their own right.

BMW X4 interior: quality, and family friendly

Up front, you’ll struggle to tell the difference between the X4 and the X3’s interiors, with the same high-quality dashboard used for both. The only giveaway is that the roofline is closer to your head and that you feel a little more hunkered down in the X4, plus the view in the rear-view mirror is much more restricted.

In terms of interior design and quality, there’s absolutely no faulting the standard of the materials used and how solid it feels. Everything has a nice feel, with pleasant soft-touch leather, metal and plastics used throughout.