Fully revised for 2019, the BMW X4 builds on the previous generation’s success. The X4 a little more style-oriented than its utilitarian brethren X3, but it’s still one of the most tempting and well-built luxury crossovers on the market.
What's New for 2019
The new X4 is redesigned in almost all aspects. It’s longer and wider than the previous generation, with a lower center of gravity. Rear passengers gain an inch of legroom, and the sport seats have been redesigned. The standard moonroof is larger as well. Technology wise, all 2019 X4s boast a larger touchscreen display, an upgraded heads-up display for the driver, and a new lineup of safety tech.
Choosing Your BMW X4
The X4 is lavish from the get-go, as you’d expect from a luxury marque like BMW. A 10.3-inch infotainment display is standard, complete with navigation. The moonroof is standard, as are 19-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and cornering LED headlights. On the interior is an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rearview camera, and various seat and climate control memory settings. BMW is also proud of its new standard safety features, which include collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, speed limit information, and various pre- and post-crash safety systems. All-wheel drive is standard on all models.
The chief difference between the X3 and X4 is in the rear, where the X4 features the sloping roof of a classic coupe shape. It’s part of the growing market for heavily styled crossovers, but it does cut into cargo capacity—there’s only 18.5 cubic feet behind the seats, and just 50.5 with the rear seats down.
BMW offers both “Tiers” and “Packages,” both of which function like regular packages do for other brands. At launch, buyers will have their choice between two X4s, each with their own choice of engine: the xDrive30i and the M40i.
CarsDirect Tip
The X4 comes ever-closer to bringing sports-car dynamics to a crossover package, but it’s still best in basic form. Spec the well-equipped xDrive30i with the features you need and enjoy it as a stylish alternative to more mainstream options.
While a crossover coupe may seem like a paradox – how can a SUV share any of the same attributes as a two-door coupe? – automakers like BMW have paved the way forward for the extremely specific body style. Sitting on the same chassis as the BMW X3 and offering the same powertrains, the 2019 BMW X4 is a more stylish take on a SUV. In addition to having a more stylish design, the X4 is also more enjoyable to drive than regular crossovers and SUVs.
Best Value
Enthusiasts will naturally gravitate toward the more powerful X4 M40i with its 355-horsepower, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, but the entry-level X4 xDrive30i is the option that offers the most value.
The xDrive30i comes with a lot of features that buyers look for in a luxury vehicle. Things like 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and fog lights, heated exterior mirrors, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, 10-way power front sports seats, BMW's SensaTec upholstery, a 12-speaker audio system, three-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power liftgate, and a universal garage door opener are all standard.
As always, BMW continues to offer an impressive amount of optional packages and features to create the ultimate X4. If we were going to build a X4, here's how we'd spec one:
Model:2019 BMW X4 xDrive30i
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Output:248 hp / 258 lb-ft
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Drivetrain:All-wheel drive
MPG:22 City / 29 Hwy
Options: Premium Tier ($2,600, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, gesture control, keyless entry, lumbar support, satellite radio), Driving Assistance Package ($500, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection), Driving Assistance Plus Package ($1,700, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane keeping assist, side collision avoidance, front cross-traffic alert, traffic jam assist, evasion aid)
Base Price:$51,445 (including the $995 destination fee)
Best Value Price:$56,245
Performance
The base xDrive30i utilizes BMW's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's found in a handful of other machines. While 248 hp may not sound like a lot of power for a vehicle that weighs over 4,000 pounds, the turbocharged unit does a respectable job of getting the crossover down the road. Consumers willing to shell out an extra $10,000 on the X4 M40i model are treated to a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that generates 355 hp and 343 pound-feet of torque. The larger, more powerful engine helps the model get to 60 miles per hour in just 4.6 seconds. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard for both engines.
Neither engine is actually fuel efficient, but the turbo-four is the more frugal option, as it's EPA-rated to get 22 miles per gallon city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 combined. Opting for the larger engine brings lower fuel economy figures, obviously. The EPA rates the larger six-cylinder at 20/27/23 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Style
Crossover coupes like the X4 put styling above all else, which could be seen as a bad thing for some. At the front, the X4 is like any other crossover, but the difference lies in the back where the sloping roofline and dramatic rear end paint a different picture. The design won't be to everyone's tastes, that's for sure, but the X4 does stand out as one of the more unique crossovers on the market.
The unique design, thankfully, doesn't carry over into the X4's cabin, which shares an overall look that's more in line with the brand's other vehicles. High-end touches and materials are found throughout the entire cabin, while the modern center stack features a slim, horizontal design. It will all look familiar to anyone that's spent some time with other BMWs. Because of the X4's unique blueprint, it loses some interior space over the X3 that it's based off of.
The Best and Worst Things
Unfortunately, the X4's exterior design is its best and worst feature. On one hand, it's the reason some consumers will choose to buy it over the X3 and other more mainstream SUVs. On the other, the polarizing design will naturally lead some into another option.
As we alluded to before, the coupe-like blueprint comes at a cost – interior space. While the X3 offers you with 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, the X4 lags behind with 18.5 cubic feet of space. It's a similar story for maximum cargo capacity: 62.7 cubic feet for the X3 and 50.5 cubic feet in the X4. The X4 also loses an inch of rear leg room over the X3 and nearly two inches of rear head room.
Right For? Wrong For?
Couples that don't have children and don't spend a lot of time with a full vehicle will enjoy the sportier styling and athleticism that the X4 offers over regular SUVs. If you don't see yourself using the rear seats or needing the extra cargo capacity on a regular basis, opting for the sportier X4 is an easy sell.
If you plan to use the X4 as a family vehicle, you can forget about it. The X4's rear seat isn't exactly spacious and the tight cargo area is a no-go for those looking to haul a large amount of cargo.
The Bottom Line
No, the 2019 BMW X4 isn't the perfect crossover that'll appeal to everyone, but it's a more stylish and sportier take on the old SUV formula. If standing out in the crowd and being able to have a good time on curvy roads is high up on your list of must haves for a vehicle with some ground clearance, than the X4 fits the bill over other crossovers and sedans.
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Specs & Features
Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
Not Available
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
2.0L I-4 / 248 HP / 258 ft.lbs.
Transmission
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
8-spd STEPTRONIC w/OD
Drive Type
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
Xdrive Full-time All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
22 / 29 / 25 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
This Safety Rating comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which evaluates how this vehicle performs in crash tests. NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways. This Overall Crash Safety Rating combines scores for these three crash tests.