The smaller X4 arrived in Ireland last summer, seeking Celtic equivalents of the Russian oligarchs who love the X6.
The style of both vehicles is an acquired taste, to my eyes. But beauty in anything, and most especially cars, is in the eye of the beholder wanting to buy. And there's no doubt that one is getting the best of every BMW high-end technology and fittings in an X4.
It's longer than an X3 mid-sized SUV, built on the same platform. It's lower, though, and from outside, this car has presence. The coupe looks set their own theme, while the car's version of the front end BMW design is, well ... formidable.
Inside, the review car reeked luxury and tech taste. An ivory leather interior, aluminium and black dashboard detailing, the familiar iDrive and screen, the traditional analogue main instruments, all provide an unmistakable BMW ethos.
The X4 is a car designed for four, though there is space in the back seat for three people if you must. The boot capacity makes the most of the considerable length behind the back seat to offer 500L of luggage volume, or some 1,400L if the seatbacks are folded. Access is by a powered tailgate, standard through the X4 range.
The review car had extras that gave it even more visual impact, including massive 20" alloys, as well as aerodynamic features for the M Sport grade. Individual to the grade door sills and other details came with the package. Underneath, M Sport also provided a sportier suspension setup.
There are 2.0 and 3.0 diesel engines available in the X4, and the larger one in the review car could thump out 258hp with a 0-100km/h of 5.8 seconds possible. The fuel consumption is rated at more than 47mpg equivalent, though I suspect belting out the full performance potential would modify that significantly.
A manual gearbox is available with the smaller engine, but the 3.0 comes with an 8-speed automatic as standard. It will tickle along very comfortably with gentle use, but a stab at the accelerator will give instant and effective overtaking power. As a BMW driving experience, it runs at the top of its class. For anyone who needs a BMW with AWD capability, with sports characteristics and looks, this is an option in the mid size.
The OTR starting price for X4 is €57,720. The 30d begins at €74,320, and the review car, with more than €15,000 worth of extras added, topped out at more than €91,000. Yep, that's definitely oligarch territory. I wonder how many Celtic oligarchs are knocking around these days?
