10 Things You Need To Know About The 2015 BMW X4

2015 bmw x4 ・ Photo by BMW

The 2015 BMW X4 is the latest salvo in the German automaker's effort to occupy nearly every product niche possible.  Slotted in between the compact BMW X3 (with which it shares its platform), and the larger mid-size BMW X5, the BMW X4 makes a play for style-conscious shoppers who aren't necessarily interested in the family aspects of owning an SUV.  This is because the X4 sacrifices practicality in favor of cutting a dashing profile, a strategy developed by the big X6 that preceded it and one which has become an integral part of BMW's product planning.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2015 BMW X4.

01. The 2015 BMW X4 Is All-New

The 2015 BMW X4 is brand new for the current model year, but given that it's based on the chassis of the BMW X3 there's a lot about the entry-level SUV that will be familiar to BMW fans.  This is especially true inside the vehicle, where the BMW X4 has lifted the dashboard, instrument panel, and trim word-for-word from the X3.  On the outside, of course, it's a different story: although the two vehicles share the same hood, there's a beefiness to the X4 that's absent from its compact sibling - and then, of course, there's that dramatically-sloping rear roofline and meaty haunches that serve as the new suv's calling card.  In fact, the 2015 BMW X4's styling can best be thought of as imitating the larger BMW X6 on a shorter, less brutal scale.

02. The 2015 BMW X4 Shrinks Down Its Interior

You might be concerned that chopping the roof of the 2015 BMW X4 has had a negative impact on the amount of interior room that it has to offer, and you would be correct.  In fact, the BMW X4 offers 1.5 inches less headroom in the rear than the X3 it is based on, and although the vehicle's seats have been mounted lower in an effort to offset this loss, this has had a couple of no doubt unintended effects.  The lower seat makes it more difficult to lean comfortably against the armrest, which is still at X3-height, while the loss of almost two inches of legroom behind the driver and front passenger indicates that the X4 isn't as accommodating as its stable mate.

03. The 2015 BMW X4 Isn't Quite Practical

The plunging roofline found with the 2015 BMW X4 also impacts the vehicle's cargo capacity.  The BMW X4's 17.7 cubic feet of storage room between the rear seatback and the tailgate is about the same as what one would find in a full-size sedan, but it's a far cry from the 27.6 cubes offered by the X3.  Intrusion from above by the sloping glass of the hatch is the biggest cause for concern for those seeking to actually use the SUV for a practical purpose.  In a pinch, folding the back row flat reveals nearly 50 cubic feet of room for hauling your gear, but again, this is 13 cubic feet fewer than the more generous X3.

04. The 2015 BMW X4 Offers Two Engine Options

The 2015 BMW X4 starts out with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood in the xDrive28i model that's good for 240 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.  If you are looking for more grunt, then it's readily available in the form of a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder motor that's rated at 300 horses and 300 lb-ft of twist.  Although these are the official figures for the BMW X4 xDrive30i, time spent behind the wheel of the vehicle - along with unofficial dynamometer reports from owners of BMW models with the same engine - indicate that the motor is most likely seriously underrated.

05. The 2015 BMW X4 Comes Exclusively With An Automatic Transmission

The days of being able to shift your luxury suv using a clutch pedal has largely faded into the past, and the 2015 BMW X4 is no exception.  At the very least, the eight-speed automatic transmission that comes standard with both versions of the BMW X4 is one of the best in the business, offering rapid, yet smooth shifting when kept in Comfort mode, along with brisk, firm gear changes when set to Sport or Sport+ modes.  You can also choose to control each ratio yourself by way of small shift paddles mounted behind the SUV's steering wheel (or by tapping the shift lever mounted on the center console).

06. The 2015 BMW X4 Features Standard All-Wheel Drive

Another way in which the 2015 BMW X4 sets itself apart from the X3 is its standard all-wheel drive.  Although it's possible to order a rear-wheel drive version of the base X3 SUV, all editions of the BMW X4 offer the extra traction of all-wheel drive, which gives them a leg-up not just during inclement weather, but also during high performance driving (thanks to the additional grip offered by the system).  It would be a mistake to consider the X4 a true off-road capable vehicle, as it doesn't feature any low-range gearing, but it does offer respectable ground clearance that should make short work of any ruts or rocks on a muddy gravel road.

07. The 2015 BMW X4 Delivers Respectable Fuel Mileage

Despite its all-wheel drive-only status, the 2015 BMW X4 offers reasonable fuel economy for a compact luxury SUV.  Thanks in part to an automatic engine start/stop feature, as well as the fuel-saving ECO PRO setting for its drivetrain, the four-cylinder version of the BMW X4 turns in 20-mpg in city driving and 28-mpg during highway cruising.  The more powerful six-cylinder X4 somehow manages to lop only a single mile per gallon off of each respective measure - 19-mpg in stop and go driving and 27-mpg on the highway - due to its ability to leverage the same efficiency-oriented technologies.

08. The 2015 BMW X4 Is Intended To Out-Handle Rivals

The 2015 BMW X4 is slightly heavier than the very-similar BMW X3, but it would be a mistake to think that this has in any way impacted its performance.  In addition to offering better acceleration than the X3 (0-60 mph in a respectable 5.2 seconds for the xDrive30i), the BMW X4 also features a more aggressively tuned suspension system as well as the option of Dynamic Damper Control to actively counter roll during cornering.  The result is a ride that is not at the same level as that of, say, the BMW 3 Series Touring, but definitely better than that of the X3 and near the front of the pack when compared to other entry-level sport-utility vehicles.

09. The 2015 BMW X4 Provides Advanced Safety Gear

The 2015 BMW X4 comes standard with a full complement of airbags as well as electronic traction control and stability control.  To these basics one can also add the Driver Assistance Plus package, which introduces a lane departure warning system as well as forward collision warning and a blind spot monitoring feature.  The BMW X4 is additionally available with a surround view camera system that provides a top-down look at the area immediately surrounding the SUV, along with a more basic rearview camera and parking sonar arrangement intended to enhance low-speed safety.

10. The 2015 BMW X4 Is Priced Above The X3

The 2015 BMW X4 features a starting MSRP of $44,700, which is a startling $6,300 more than the base rear-wheel drive X3.  Upgrade to all-wheel drive for the X3 and the difference shrinks to $4,300, but that's still a significant premium to pay for what is essentially a styling exercise that is slightly quicker and offers better handling.  A similar price gap exists between the X5 and X6 platform twins, which also ask buyers to make a decision between practicality and looks.  There's also versatility to consider: while you can purchase diesel versions of both the X3 and the X5, the X4 and X6 remain gas-only in keeping with their performance-oriented mission statement.