BMW X4 xDrive30d M Sport: the junior sports activity coupe

The X4 is one of those few cars that combine real-world efficiency with versatility and practicality.

Comfortable and supportive sports seats make for an enjoyable drive.

When  BMW launched the X5 in the mid-90s, it created an entire segment, a trend which to this day is unabated. SUVs and the like are growing in huge demand. And premium car companies such as BMW are keen to fill in every niche and gap in the market as the entire global automotive landscape becomes more sophisticated, more demanding and more discerning.

The X4 fills the gap between the X3 and X5: It’s roughly the same size as an X3 but has a more stylish sloping roofline. It’s roomy inside, with a surprisingly large amount of space, especially with the seats folded down. I had it for five days and used it as most typical X4 owners might use it for: to carry stuff. And I mean loads and loads of stuff.

Power comes from BMW’s tried and tested 3.0 inline six diesel engine that delivers a healthy 255 horsepower and a massive 560 Newton-meters of torque, driving the rear wheels on default, but can channel power to the fronts as needed, thanks to BMW’s X-Drive all-wheel drive system.

Power is channeled from the engine to the wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, which in the M Sport variant has shorter gear ratios, giving it unbelievable acceleration with a small penalty for top speed.

The M Sport comes with a few details which sets it apart from regular X4s: the 19-inch M double-spoke Style 622 alloy wheels with a staggered setup running 8.5×19 fronts and 9.5×19 rears shod with run-flat sport performance tires sized 245/45R19 fronts and 275/40R19 rears, plus the full-on M aerodynamic package.

Being a modern German premium luxury car, the X4 comes with LED fog lamps, LED brake lights and daytime running lamps and xenon headlights.

The differentiation continues inside with 14-way electronically adjustable sport seats and a chunky leather-wrapped M Sport steering wheel with buttons for the iDrive multimedia system and cruise control. Of course, paddle shifters are mounted at the back for the full-monty M driving experience.

Dropping the 40:20:40 split folding seats, I hauled a complete set of wheels, a pair of OEM car seats, two large 60-liter plastic boxes full of car parts and other personal effects to DTM Motorsports. The goal? To return my much-loved Yaris back to stock as the time had come for me to part ways with my beloved beast of burden for the last seven years.

Having the X4 that weekend proved providential as it made it easy for me, who was still reeling at the reality of losing my dearly beloved everyday little racer for something new. An impromptu gathering of fellow Yaris club owners showed up to snap up all the parts I was removing from my Yaris that day.

All were impressed by the sheer amount of cargo space the X4 possessed. Later that day, my wife remarked that the X4 is the perfect size for self-driven car owners, and even the missus found the X4 quite easy to drive as she maneuvered it in and out our tiny carport and the road.

Of course, moving in tight car parks is made easier with the standard Park Distance Control and rearview reverse camera, displayed on the iDrive’s 8.8 TFT LCD screen. The screen also predominantly displayed BMW’s excellent navigation system, which we tested continuously to see how accurate and quickly it could detect our location.

Hopefully, other premium luxury brands would follow soon with their own navigation system.

On the open road, the X4 flies like the proverbial first class jet: Without paying attention, the X4 will more than easily soar past the speed limit, all the way to an indicated 225 kilometers per hour (speed limited), although based on its power, is probably nudging towards 250 kph.

It would have been great to try it out on the SCTEx/TPLEx or even the Skyway, but unfortunately yet  thankfully, common sense—and the fear of losing one’s license—kicked in.

The brakes retain that firm, well-modulated feel and the suspension, despite being a standard coil and spring setup (no active air suspension trickery here), gave a surprisingly stable, compliant and comfortable ride while still delivering excellent feel, response and feedback on the road.

Even on  broken tarmac, the X4 simply smothered imperfections away.

Should you lose the plot, get overwhelmed with speed, and be spoilt with the power, the X4 is pretty safe: ABS brakes, dynamic stability and dynamic traction controls are standard, so are the eight airbags in and around the cabin to keep your noggin safe.

Trust me, it is easy to get spoilt with all the power. Case in point: I took my friend Carlo Jacinto of HP Racing fame for a ride in the BMW X4. He tunes cars for a living, quite a few of them in the 600-700-HP range and holds a few records in drag racing under his own belt. He knows fast indeed.

I dropped by their shop to see my other project, the Supra, undergoing fiberglass body work. Upon seeing the X4, he was impressed with the interior and asked to be taken for a ride. I indulged him and as soon as the road opened up, I floored it and his already pasty complexion turned even whiter as the X4 hurled forward at an alarming rate.

Perhaps this wasn’t what he was expecting from a classy, refined large SAV, but he came out impressed and commented that the X4 pulls harder and faster than a completely stock Lancer Evo or Subaru STI. High praise indeed for someone who makes already fast cars go even faster!

It’s not just all fun and games with the X4. Driving in EcoPro mode (there’s also Normal, Sport and Sport+, which turns off some of the electronic safety nannies), the X4 returns an amazing 8.8-9.2 km per liter in the city, and an amazing 14 kpl out on the highway.

The engine is quite new and still tight so it should improve as the mileage accumulates.

There’s an excellent hi-fi surround sound system with both Bluetooth and Aux-in mobile device integration.

So do we need another premium-niche-busting luxury sports activity vehicle? Nope. But it is cars like BMW’s X4 that goes to show how we are in a new golden age of motoring because we are spoilt for choices.

And the X4 is one of those few cars that combine real-world efficiency with versatility and practicality, plus loads of driving enjoyment. Joy to the motoring world indeed.