The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Great turbo engines
- Excellent handling
- Approachable in-cabin tech
- M40i hits the sweet spot
Dislikes
- Styling not for all
- Pay more for less space
- Rough-riding X4 M
- Quite expensive in most forms
Buying tip
features & specs
Trading practicality for style, the 2024 BMW X4 is a sporty SUV choice for those who don’t need a huge interior.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 BMW X4? What does it compare to?
The 2024 BMW X4 is a coupe-esque SUV with cramped rear seats and unmistakable style. It’s a powerful, fun-to-drive choice worth comparing to the Mercedes-Benz GLC Class and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Is the 2024 BMW X4 a good SUV?
Space compromise aside, the 2024 X4 is a great choice thanks to its strong powertrains, great interior design, and plentiful options. It’s a 6.4 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 BMW X4?
The X4 sees no notable tweaks for 2024. This sleeker version of the automaker’s X3 trades utility for style. It’s offered in a slightly less comprehensive lineup, and it also costs more. But, as they say, if you know… you know. The X4 isn’t for everyone.
Its roofline dives dramatically rearward aft of the front seats, which trims second-row headroom and significantly reduces cargo utility, at least for taller items. It’s more traditional inside with its high-mounted touchscreen and good array of buttons and knobs compared to fresher BMW designs that are far more reliant on touchscreen inputs.
The standard 248-hp turbo-4 delivers reasonable grunt, but we’d put our money on the M40i for its robust 382-hp turbo-6, which is paired with a firmer suspension and quick-witted steering. It’s a sporty choice that’s in line with the X4’s bold styling.
The X4 M is a brutal beast with as much as 503 hp in Competition form. It’s ready for the track and more than capable once there, but it’s too stiff for daily driving needs.
Fuel economy-wise, most versions net low-to-mid 20s combined. The X4 M comes in at just 17 mpg combined.
Inside, look for comfy front seats with more power adjustment and more bolstering the more you spend. Rear-seat riders will find that the low roof hampers ingress and egress, and it limited headroom once they’re aboard. The cargo area is bigger than an equivalent sedan, but big boxes will need to find another ride home.
Though the X4 hasn’t been crash tested by the IIHS and the NHTSA, the related X3 has done well. All models have automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors, while adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and limited hands-off ability is on the options list.
How much does the 2024 BMW X4 cost?
The X4 starts at $55,995 in its cheapest form, which buys a pretty nice complement of gear including a 10.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather seats, and 19-inch alloy wheels. We’d spend the extra $11,000 for the X4 M40i, which is far more powerful and includes a few grand worth of otherwise optional goodies to help soften the extra-cost blow.
Where is the 2024 BMW X4 made?
In South Carolina.
2024 BMW X4 Styling
The 2024 BMW X4 wears distinct, unusual styling.
Is the BMW X4 a good-looking car?
It’s a standout choice, that’s for sure. It largely echoes the conservative BMW X3 up front, before the tapered roofline gives way to a far more svelte side profile. We score the 2024 BMW X4 at 7 out of 10, with points each for its daring exterior and its divine cabin.
Up front, look for big kidney grilles that work better here than nearly any other model in BMW’s lineup. The front bumper boasts plenty of angular lines for a fresh, modern look. Big 19-inch-or-larger wheels fill big wheel wells nicely, too.
That roofline arches up slightly from the windshield before it dives rearward to an integrated spoiler. It’s a unique look that works better here than in nearly any other coupe-like SUV.
Inside, the X4 is relatively ordinary—but that’s no putdown. The cabin has intriguing angles and many gorgeous touches, which stand out with one of the two brown hues or the dark red option. It’d be a shame to drape this cabin in black synthetic leather.
2024 BMW X4 Performance
The 2024 BMW X4 is ready to be hustled down a curvy road.
The 2024 BMW X4’s personality varies greatly by model. Base X4 xDrive30i SUVs have a comfortable ride and decent grunt, which earns them a 7 on the TCC scale. Other models might net an extra point for having even more power, though the X4 M is quite stiff.
Is the BMW X4 4WD?
All-wheel drive is standard, but don’t look to take these little SUVs far off-road.
How fast is the BMW X4?
Even the base version can zip to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds thanks to a 248-hp turbo-4. It’s not particularly powerful, but it’s aided by a slick 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. We’re more enamored with the M40i’s sweet 382-hp 3.0-liter turbo-6, which slices a second and a half off of the run to 60 mph. That engine also includes sharper steering, adaptive dampers, and bigger wheels. It makes a nice, refined snarl that fits its personality, too.
Base and M40i cars have a great balance between day-to-day utility and winding road fun. They’re polished, balanced performers, with good steering feel and quick responses. They lean far less into corners than their compliant suspensions would otherwise suggest, too.
Then there’s the X4 M, which runs between 473 and 503 hp, with that extra 30 hp unlocked via the $7,000 Competition Package. The X4 M is more than just fast thanks to its tightened-down suspension, stronger brakes, and sport differential. It’s far too stiff for daily-driver use, which makes it best suited to on-track use. But why would you want a high-riding SUV if you’re going to spend your time on a closed course? That’s the realm of the lower M3 and M4 models.
2024 BMW X4 Comfort & Quality
It may not be SUV-level spacious inside, but the 2024 BMW X4 has a comfortable cabin.
The 2024 BMW X4 is a plush choice, so long as you are up front. Its power-adjustable front seats offer all-day support, which earns a point. We toss in another for a cargo area that’s bigger than a sedan, even if it trails the X3. The 2024 X4 rates 7 here.
Rear-seat riders will find tight headroom and a cramped door opening compared to the X3.
Behind the rear seats, you’ll find an 18.5 cubic-foot trunk, which is about two-thirds of what you’ll find in an X3. The rear seatbacks flop down individually to open up a maximum of 50.5 cubic feet of space, though you won’t be able to lug tall items.
BMW does a nice job hiding plastic bits. Optional leather dresses things up, though we’re surprised it’s only standard on the X4 M.
2024 BMW X4 Safety
While the X4 has yet to be crash tested, its X3 sibling has done well.
How safe is the BMW X4?
It’s likely to be a very safe choice, though neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has smacked one into a wall just yet. The related X3 earned top scores from both independent and federal testers, though.
Like the X3, the 2024 X4 comes with automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and limited hands-off driving is available, too.
Outward vision suffers due to the sleek roofline. The X3 is better in this regard.
2024 BMW X4 Features
The 2024 BMW X4’s feature set is commensurate with its price tag.
Far from cheap, the 2024 BMW X4 is also far from basic. It’s offered in three basic flavors, starting around $55,995 for the base version with all-wheel drive, adaptive LED headlights, synthetic leather trim with power-adjustable front seats, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
BMW’s 4-year/50,000-mile warranty is luxury-car typical, but the automaker goes an extra step with three years of free maintenance.
Good standard fare, a big screen, plenty of options, and a great warranty elevate the X4 to a 9 on the TCC scale for features.
Which BMW X4 should I buy?
We’d step up to the M40i, which costs around $11,000 more and adds a hearty dose of power, plus zippier M Sport styling (a $3,000 upcharge on the base model alone), plus adaptive dampers, twin 12.3-inch screens, and a few other nice bits. Add adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, metallic paint, and leather seats, and you can nudge one up to $75,000 or so.
How much is a fully loaded BMW X4?
The X4 M starts at $80,095, plus $7,000 for the Competition Package with its 30 hp bump, 21-inch wheels, and sports seats. Work your way through myriad options and it’s possible to spend $90,000 or so on one.
2024 BMW X4 Fuel Economy
More power means more fuel needed when it comes to the BMW X4.
Is the BMW X4 good on gas?
The X4 can be reasonably thrifty if you stick with the base turbo-4, but dialing up power also dials up fuel consumption. We rate the range at just 2 due to the base version’s 21 mpg city, 28 highway, 24 combined rating.
The M40i checks in at 21/26/23 mpg, which isn’t a huge penalty. But the X4 M is a guzzler. Look for just 15/20/17 mpg.
