The compact BMW X4 takes on the winding roads of Northern Spain and does no fail to impress.
BMW introduced the X range of Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) more than five years ago on a cautious note: it did not know how its potential customers would react to such models from a company that had specialised in producing sporty cars.
Today, the X Series range make up more than 30% of BMW car sales and that is encouraging the German carmaker to expand the model line-up further.
To promote the new 4 Series range, BMW obviously saw the opportunity to include an SAC (Sports Activity Coupe) model as well and the X4 is the result.
As the name suggests, the SAC differs from the SAV in that it has a coupe profile and which BMW has tasted strong acceptance with the X6: it is a logical choice as the 4 Series is targeted at the niche segment that prefers visually exciting cars.
With the X4, BMW customers now have the alternative of a smaller dimensioned SAC over the bigger X6.
Surprisingly, we found the X4 a lot easier on the eyes than the X6.
It was as if the coupe profile fitted in well with a smaller frame than a bigger one.
The dimensional differences between the two models are significant: for starters, the X4 sits on a shorter wheelbase of 2,810mm as against the X6’s 2,933mm.
Being an offshoot of the 3 Series range that includes the X3, the X4 is built on the X3 footprint and that means they share a common wheelbase.
With a coupe body, the X4 has a 36mm lower profile and a 14mm longer body over the X3 to enhance its sporty appeal, while body width is the same.
This lower body styling has the driver and front passenger sitting 20mm lower than the folks in the X3, while the rear passengers sit even lower by 28mm.
Vehicle weight (kerb) is quite similar, varying between 1,735kg and 1,815kg for the petrol models.
BMW recently organised an international media drive of the X4 in Bilbao, the Basque region in northern Spain that draws tourists with its contemporary art Guggenheim Museum.
Originally a maritime centre for the inflow and outflow of goods and foodstuff, Bilbao with a population below 400,000 would not have enjoyed tourism were it not for the art museum that was inaugurated in late 1997.
At the time of our visit, an entire floor was dedicated to the works of Yoko Ono, the widow of John Lennon.
Our drive in the X4 began at the hotel located right in front of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum.
It was also just a stone’s throw down the road where Pierce Brosnan did a take of the James Bond movie ‘The World Is Not Enough’ in 1999 by scaling a building.
Lest we digress further, our drive in the X4 covered more than 200km of mostly secondary roads that wound along the coastal front, up hilly areas and the countryside.
The X4 provided for the international media drive was the top variant xDrive35i, powered by a 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine.
This straight-six engine might appear similar to that in the new M3 and M4 in specification but it has the TwinPower turbo technology with twin-scroll turbocharger.
The difference in power to that from the specially designed and tuned M engine is clear: the X4 delivers a lot less at 306bhp from 5,800 to 6,400rpm and 400Nm from 1,200 to 5,000rpm (M power punches out 431bhp and 550Nm).
Similarly, the transmission is also layman by comparison, being the eight-speed Steptronic automatic with Sport mode - the standard specification across the respective BMW models.
Make no mistake about its performance though, as it is first and foremost a BMW and the X4 xDrive35i sprints to 100kph in a quick 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 247kph.
While we got a feel of its gut acceleration when opportunity allowed, we did not tempt fate to experience the other extreme on Spanish roads.
We came across a fair share of police road blocks in the countryside and we resisted all temptation to put our foot down on the highways and open stretches on secondary roads that had low traffic density.
Having come fresh from driving the new M3 and M4, we noticed an immediate difference in the ride.
The X4’s ride was firm as you would expect of a BMW but this was a comfortable sort of firmness that made travel on the secondary roads pleasant.
We definitely did not experience the hard solid thumps of the M models.
We took to the respective corners along the route quick enough to enjoy the thrill of driving the ‘intelligent’ all-wheel drive X4 dynamically.
For a vehicle that is taller than a car, we did not feel much of the body leaning as we took to the winding areas, in particular a hilly section that gave us a lovely view of the countryside.
Its compact body also made the X4 more manageable to drive at a good pace through narrow country roads and manoeuvre in Bilbao city.
Despite the sharper taper of the roofline towards the rear, headroom for rear passengers is not bad and the upward opening rear door gives access to a generous 500 litres of luggage space.
With the 40:20:40 split rear seat rests, one can fold them down respectively to accommodate the specific transport needs and there is a maximum of 1,400 litres of “flexible” space available.
The main draw of the X4 is its compact frame should appeal to those who may find driving the X6 daunting or a bit too big for their driving pleasure.
Nice things do come in smaller packages.
