When it comes to buying a family hauler, I must admit I’m a bit of a pain.
Owner: Geoffrey
When it comes to buying a family hauler, I must admit I’m a bit of a pain. The guidance as given by my wife was to replace the current premium SUV with another. Overlaid atop this simple expectation were the following minimum requirements, as stipulated by yours truly.
The next SUV had to be decent to look at with a high level of refinement. Furthermore, it needed to offer decent handling, arguably a rarity in SUVs, contain a good stereo, possess autonomous braking and modern collision avoidance features, exceed the fruit of the last car, and have a degree of get-up-and-go. CVT gearboxes were a no and electric options, while desirable, were deemed too expensive.
BMW, Lexus and Mercedes made it onto the short-list. However, we soon discovered that the face-lifted version of the Mercedes model we wanted to replace had increased in price by around $25,000 over what we’d paid six years earlier. Thanks Mercedes, your current fixed price, no-haggle model is wonderful for the consumer! Lexus also had stock issues and my wife struggled with their design. In the end we opted for a BMW X4 in the M40i specification tailored for passionate enthusiasts – hurrah!
I’ve always appreciated BMWs in white and there it was on the lot. My wife first laid eyes on it and asked whether we should drive it. I recall replying that it would be the not so sensible option from a fuel perspective, though I also recall telling myself we’d cope fine for the 5000–6000 annual kilometres. After all, our previous diesel car was only efficient on long journeys and not for everyday tasks like the school run or occasional office commutes.
While it is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, to us, the M40i boasts a striking and athletic exterior design that captures attention without shouting yobbo. With its aggressive stance and sleek lines, this performance-oriented SUV showcases a perfect blend of sportiness and elegance. We often get comments about the car, which is kinda cool if we’ve got time for a chat at the servo.
The interior of the BMW X4 is a testament of comfort, ergonomics and contemporary design. The layout and driving position are fantastic and premium materials generally envelop the cabin, perhaps not to the same level of detail you’d find in a Range Rover, Audi or Porsche mind you.
It still has tactile buttons too – yeah Tesla and VW Group! We love the digital display, voice command capability and all the expected luxury accoutrements, especially the colour head-up display. The seats score highly for comfort and adjustment, the steering wheel is well weighted, and despite the sloping roof line and panoramic roof, there’s plenty of space for four adults and the fluffy dawg.
The M40i is loud on a cold start, and I was a bit self-conscious of how our small street might perceive it, and yet my confidence was boosted when my neighbour full of enthusiasm popped over to see what the fuss was about – grinning. Gladly the noise abates once you put the car in gear or let it idle for about 40 seconds. The exhaust is valved, and with the Sports Plus driving mode activated, the M40i sounds amazing when given some spirited revs. This is best left for country driving, otherwise you’ll appear to be a menace competing with backstreet econobox hoons.
The X4 M40i has super-good driving dynamics, though is perhaps not quite as balanced as a Porsche Macan. For most on the school run or out and about town, nought will care. Steering feedback is impressive, and for a nearly two-tonne car it defies gravity on the twisty stuff. The trade-off is usually ride quality and, yes, it’s firm, though it doesn’t jar over bumps and rough surfaces.
The acceleration is notably quick thanks to the B58 engine and the ZF gearbox. I’m surprised how good a torque converter can be in keeping the M40i exactly where it needs to be in the rev range.
The B58 inline six is quite an engine, silky smooth, and its marriage to its ZF tranny is 11/10 great. In case you don’t know, the B58 began life in 2015 and is found in numerous BMW models along with the Toyota Supra. The other thing this X4 machine can do is put its power down, unlike some hyper-powered non-xDrive rear-wheel-propelled BMWs of late.
Consumption-wise, the car likes a drink to the tune of 12.5 litres per 100km in mixed driving conditions and under 10 litres per 100km on the open road. For some this could be a deal-breaker, but our last car did 10.5 in traffic and it was a diesel. Environmentally, C02 could be another concern, and for us it would be if we’d intended to be undertaking a lot of mileage.
There are always downsides to cars, so here goes. Lower-level cabin plastics dull the ambience of what is otherwise a well-finished car. For the price, this smacks of cost-cutting, and having looked around the ‘big three’ German marques they seem to be getting better at it.
The front nose or overhang makes it difficult to determine the car’s dimensions when manoeuvring through tight spaces. Apple CarPlay is an expensive option available via the BMW App, so, no thanks, as BMW’s iDrive is very capable and simple to operate, although music connectivity can sometimes be problematic with iPhones.
Other aspects: the foot-operated sensor to open the boot behaves like a moody teenager having a sulk, and the uprated Harman Kardon stereo has a ton of bass and yet poor clarity compared to VW and Audi models I’ve owned. The stereo can be improved by tuning the equaliser, and Google has been a good friend in this regard.
Simply put, does the X4 M40i fit the brief for a car enthusiast who has been ‘encouraged’ to own a SUV? It easily exceeds expectations and leaves a grin on my face in most situations – other than carparks.
In terms of improvement, BMW doesn’t need to do much, though perhaps could consider a mild-hybrid variant and update some of the interior trim. They’ve even got the run-flats down pat, something others could learn from.
Owner: Geoffrey
MORE: Everything BMW
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