And then there’s also the Concierge Service
which connects you to a real person and apparently you can ask them about your
location, and get them to answer curly questions like where’s good to eat or
stay for the night. Again it’s nothing you couldn’t achieve via a quick Google
search on your phone, but it does mean you can do it on the move. We tried it,
and were connected with someone who we could understand perfectly well, even if
she had a bit of trouble understanding us...but she supplied the info requested
in a very courteous fashion. We guess it’s something a little extra to expect
from your BMW ownership experience. You get a one-year subscription to the
service included in the buying price, and your internet service is good for
three years. It would be better if you could create a hot spot in the car
enabling any non-3G-type device to go mobile and it does rely on cell coverage.
In some parts of the West Coast you’ll get a ‘network not available, please try
again later’ message. So it would have been useless had we actually needed it.
Rear
space is limited and not ideal for adults
Despite not having a smart key, the X4
comes well-appointed and we found the adaptive LED headlights highly effective,
letting you travel more safely at night. They have a high beam assistant,
dipping automatically when the camera detects oncoming lights. It all worked a
treat until the rain arrived in earnest, and then we were blinding all the
north-bound traffic. It would seem that such systems still depend on favourable
weather conditions.
Much of BMW’s active safety kit is left on
the options list; not even a City Braking function is included. That’s a pity,
given a Honda Jazz now offers this feature as standard. BMW has at least seen
fit to include an array of cameras around the X4, as the rearward vision is
awful. The Surround View system is much improved, displaying a seamless
bird’s-eye view of your immediate surroundings.
The
rear end, complete with L-shaped LED lights in exclusive X4 design and
diffuser-look styling, likewise highlights the outstanding dynamic ability of
the new BMW X4
And we’ve gotten this far without
mentioning the looks. Maybe it’s that we are used to the concept now but the X4
doesn’t seem as perverse and odd as when the X6 first dropped. The styling of
that trail-blazing SUV Coupe was unloved by critics but it has nevertheless
sold 250,000 globally and continues to go well in locales like China, Russia
and the Middle East, places well known for their humility, fine taste and sense
of style. Anyhow, the X4 seems less of a visual shock, probably because it’s
smaller than the X6, without such a huge bottom, although it still has that
hunched look about it.
The X4 has a 4+1 cabin, the rear better
than you’d imagine in terms of space, even for headroom. It’s the boot that
suffers most from that plunging roofline, much of the usable space deleted by
the slash of the designer’s pen. Despite that, there’s still some 500L under
the tailgate, but bulky loads aren’t going to fit, even if you fold the rear
seat. The tailgate is powered too, a little gimmick that seems popular with SUV
buyers.
Rear
sight-lines on the 2015 BMW X4
are constrained due to the rakish roof.
Thankfully, there’s a rear-view camera to help visibility
Rivals include upstart Macan, which is
cheaper but once you’ve added a few options to match the specification level of
the X4 it’s more expensive. And the Macan owner can’t tick a power-up option to
match the output of the 35d. The Macan has a more desirable form and badge
though. The Range Rover Evoque is a better look too, and cheaper, though there
are spec differences, including a deficit of power.
So the X4 is therefore rather sound value
in this little segment of the market, especially once you take into account
BMW’s drive-away pricing and service and warranty schedule. The X4 is yet
another seriously talented driver’s machine filling yet another niche to appeal
to the folk that want something that little bit different. It’s too flashy for
West Coasters but it’s a great carriage for the journey down it.
