MotoMan, BMW GENIUS from BMW Gallery Norwood Massachusetts here, been watching your channel for a long time now and i can tell you that what the eco pro mode does in our car is slows down the throttle response , activates the auto start/stop feature, and keeps the transmission in the highest possible gear as well as alters the climate control settings to use less energy, it also when coasting de-couples the axles from the transmission for an anti roll Resistance coasting. however when you go into eco pro and manually shift like you did here and keep it at 4 thousand RPM'S its kind of hard to tell how it works. also the estimated amount of power going to the rear wheels is about 70%rw 30%fw with the ability for straight 50/50 -Brandon DiMartino
I feel like they're making something just right, I see more of their niche cars on the road than the regular models. Some people want to be different and that's not a bad thing at all.
I always feel hesitant to click on a nearly 20 minute car review, but I never regret doing it with this channel.. Even the reviews of cars I'm not a fan of keep me interested. You have an excellent host!! Easily one of the best.
I just drove a M40i yesterday, WOW. The steering is so accurate and responsive, truly surprising considering the issues BMW has had with electric assisted steering. The breaks are typical BMW, meaning perfect!!!! The engine has plenty of trust and the exhaust sound (real and fake) work together to give you that little rush enthusiasts want. I also completely agree with the statement about the cabin, "It's a nice place to be". The only real issue I have with it, is looks, it's odd... let's leave it at that. So, If you're in the market for a performance oriented daily driver, and the looks don't turn you off, I strongly recommend this "hot hatch" of a crossover.
Great review! You are becoming one of my favorite reviewers in regard to getting comprehensive descriptions on all the in's and out's that a prospective buyer wants to know.
I had an X3 35i which I did the Dinan tune (360 hp/392 tq), nice sleeper vehicle, but it really pushed when cornering hard. I never tried a vehicle with the dynamic dampers, but it sounds like this X4 solved some of the cornering issues. The engine/trans are hidden gems in the automotive world, worth every penny over the competition.
I think this car gets a lot of undeserved hate, it's not the best looking car out there, but it's far from ugly. Would love to see a video on the BMW 340i :)
Marius this x4 is amazing to drive i had this on our show andbwe really put this car through some winding roads and it excelled. The power is absolutely good enough. The sound is really great. Bmw has made the sound amazing
I test drove one last week. Will place order when my lease is up soon. Drive is amazing fine for every day driving. Getting one because it's not practical, different hopefully I won't see too many. Carbon black & oyster non run flats will make a huge difference in ride. Excited about it.
Hey man, I think you were trying too hard to find something to hate on the x4, the idrive is one of, if not the best infotainment systems available. The mercedes uses fonts from 1997...
+Mulkyan Thanks for watching and weighing in however VERY much disagree with you on this . . . I appreciate your view if you are most likely a BMW guy, however I have spent an extensive amount of time in other episodes slicing and dicing these systems - and if you have a look at our Audi TT TECH REVIEW (ua-cam.com/video/-TT8NZiZHJo/v-deo.html) or our Audi TT FIRST DRIVE REVIEW (ua-cam.com/video/I3jYaj7O-gs/v-deo.html) you will see a FAR better system - everything from the UX to the input interaction to the design . . . And this coming from someone who is NOT AT ALL an Audi guy . . . Audi aside, there are better systems out there than the BMW - have yet to drive the new Mercedes E Class but did play with the new system in that car extensively and that is yet another step forward. As I said in the episode, it is not that the BMW system is bad, there are just better mouse traps out there now . . . Good discussion.
I agree with you, having tried all these systems, iDrive has the best UX and UI. Also no mention of iDrive 5.0 with touchscreen on the new 7 (which he drove) which will trickle down to the rest of the lineup in the next few years. This X4 won't be here for long. It's being replaced right after the new X3 comes out this year G01/G02.
I had a Dinan-tuned X3 35i (360 hp/394 tq), it was great! Very quick indeed. Eco Pro mode is to slightly dull throttle but if you press past the kick-down, it will react the same as normal or sport mode. It also makes the climate system a bit more efficient but it isn't very useful for fuel savings; I kept it at comfort or sport most of the time.
Love this suv. very stylish and sporty and the engine is worth the price of admission. with the adjustable suspension you get the driving diversity to make this a daily driver and weekend joy ride. I don't mind that BMW is slicing up their 3 platform. it's a great foundation to build off of and I think they are wise to take full advantage.
Idk i think im the minority here but i love the way the car looks . Its a car in a suv body. Basically the 3 series with a lift and adding a few inches in every direction
I'm getting the feeling you are a new X4M owner like me. I also have a 13K mile 01 S54 M Roadster and an 09 135i. For the past dozen years since I acquired my first 01 M Roadster I have built a database of every one built and it history as to owner(s), location, colors, option, mods, and info each time it was sold.I have decided to start the same with the X4M. It's a bit different because these are all new where the M Roadsters were all 6 years old when I started, were all sold and all over the US, and there were 3 times as many. I've always had great support in my updates by the owners with my promise that I will not release any personal information on their car without their permission and I will give public record , Ebay records, BMW records, etc information on cars that are publically listed for sale and they contact me for any information I may have acquired over the years. Fortunately I was able to secure some BMW information on these cars directly from BMW.I plan on using the same predicates for the X4M although data will be slim to begin with. I have already done my database listing the VIN's of every NA X4M built and would like to tie your VIN to your name if you'd like. I have #36 and in doing my DB, I find I may have the 1st M4N released for sale to the public. My car was actually built in Nov 2015 but not released to the dealer for sale until March 2016. The 1st 35 VIN's have never been registered (yet) in the US although it's likely they will be after BMW gets done with them and unloads them. These will be the press cars, show cars, photo cars, etc.I'd also like to start a channel of people interested in documenting mods, tips and tricks that people do to their X4M's as the current site seems real weak on content and participation. The first project I am going to try is to build a quad exhaust rear panel and fit proper quad tips to our OEM exhaust. There are a couple pieces like that out for the X4 but its rear panel is constructed different that the X4M even though it looks similar. If you're interested in being part of this, please let me know.Also to any other X4M owners out there, please contact me here and we can set up a less cumbersome communication method, Thanks,Jim in Tampa
bmw is definitely pushing it with so many models and variants. however, i believe they can obtain this goal quite readily because they just swap the engine and platform. saves them plenty of money instead of having to create new engine and suspension and platform for every model. i also believe they were testing the waters with initial models like x6 in order to expand. everybody thought x6 wouldn't succeed. bmw has sold a great amount of x6s. since this niche was successful, why not try x4...or x3...or x1...perhaps x7? m7? 8 series? future will reveal. motoman...awesome review!!! we want more of same...more please. really enjoy these videos. and they're quite informative too.
Hey Motorman thanks for the episode. I feel that all the niche products that BMW is creating is drawing resources away from its core products. What I mean is that not too long ago the 3, 5 and 7 series sedans were considered the benchmarks in their categories which I don't think holds true today. I understand that the competition these models experience today is much greater than in the past but I still feel resources are being spread thinner with all the variants that come off these platforms. Just my opinion and keep up the great work!
Monterey got some beautiful roads. To be fair, the X4 have the older iDrive system, only the 7er have the new iDrive Touch system with the gestures & dual screens. I agree regarding the interior color & to be honest the X3/4 interiors aren't Munich's best work… always felt basic & utilitarian to me. I do support BMW's decision to experiment with various body styles & designs… who says we have to be limited to either a sedan design or a long roof design variation… why not let the Designers' imagination run wild every now & then. Now, the elephant in the room you've been dancing around it the entire episode… what do you think of the way it looks? As always, excellent work M!
love the car! I think how necessary/unnecessary these niche cars are depend on what market you look at. For the US perhaps these cars really are targeted at very few people who are in the market for something like this. But if you look at other markets such as asia, they love cars like this! Cars that don't seem to sell well here (3/5GT, R-class etc) sell well there so perhaps other markets is what BMW really made the x4 for, but we get the benefit of getting it stateside in case some people want it :D now if only they would bring some of their other cars here (m135i, 5 series wagon) love watching you're reviews btw
The X4 and the X6 are the Pontiac Aztek of the BMW line- every time I see one on the road I shudder in pain and wonder why and who would buy that thing...?!?! I can not imagine that this will be around in 10 years, or even 5 for that matter (at least I hope not).
I had an original X6 4.0d but was looking to downsize, so what did BMW give me to test? A X4 2.0d. Needless to say, I now drive a Porsche Macan S Diesel. I still miss my X6, but don't think the SUV coupe style works in a car that is the size if the X4. Just like Grand Coupe doesn't work on the 4 Series body size, while it looks beautiful on the 6 Series. I wouldn't have considered a X3 or X5 because it doesn't fit with what I want, so no, I don't think BMW are a niche too far.
Compact SUVs with more performance than utility is the hotter sector right now, from Evoque to Macan and the up coming F-Pace. They just can't make them fast enough. It totally makes sense for BMW to dip in the market. BTW, how is X4 compared to Macan? With options, they are fairly close in price. Thanks, Motoman
+Catlin Young Hey Catlin - Thanks for reaching out. Sadly, there are some OEMs we don't feature on the show - JLR is one of them. The reason being is timely access to cars. While we LOVE what we do, it is still very much a business. As such, if an OEM gives us access to a car too late, the earnings from the views will not cover the cost of production. No matter how much we may love a car - Jaguar F Type or Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 - we cannot feature a car if we are going to lose money on production. We have tried to work with JLR many times on fixing this but as of this writing, sadly not movement on their part. We remain optimistic that this will change . . .
+MotoManTV Understood, sir. Thanks for the quick reply! While I will not be in the market for a new vehicle for the next few years, the two I am keeping my eyes on right now are the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG and this new Jaguar F-Pace S. I know they are two totally different vehicles, but I like them both (and I have driven the GLA 45). However, on some different forums and through word of mouth, I have heard that Jaguars are extremely unreliable (i.e. severe mechanical issues) and are always getting "wrenched" on. Do you have any personal experience with Jaguars or do you know of these types of issues? Your help is greatly appreciated. I really like your reviews and respect your opinion and it would help me in deciding which vehicle I may end up going with. Thank you, sir.
+Catlin Young Would be very tough for me to weigh in on this decision because I will most likely not be driving the F Pace. That said, you have answer three questions for yourself: 1.) What are you doing with the vehicle? 2.) Where do you live? 3.) How long do you want to keep it? The first two limit the type of vehicle you would get. The second would limit which brand. For example, if you want to keep this car for 5 years or less, you should be fine with anything because most issues would be sorted with the warranty. Beyond 5 years, the list gets a lot shorter . . .
You show an M emblem on the front fender at the Detroit show and represent this as the "NEW" X4M40i. I just bought one and the M emblem is missing. I would like BMW to give me the car it advertises at a US (Detroit) auto show as that is the car I expected to receive. Please provide me the emblems as this is not the dealers responsibility
+OnTheSnap1 Hasnt been compared yet but the X4 35i vs Macan S was able to outperform it in real life, although on paper Macan looks better (power wise). But obviously Macan gets more expensive.
No difference between Eco Pro and Comfort? Right... maybe you should've tried not flooring it all the time. Of course there is no difference between the modes on kick-down, otherwise the difference in throttle response is huge though.
Slicing up the platforms too much? Are they selling? If they are I guess not. I will never be upset over an OEM giving us options to buy. Unless its the GTs BMW Make. Just buy a wagon, they look like a regular 3 series or 5 series hit up Dairy Queen too many times. Great episode!
BMW can make as many niche cars as they want but they cannot neglect their primary vehicles that are necessary to keep the brand alive. All major models are due for a replacement and have to represent the coming decade of automotive industry. Mercedes and Audi are already ahead with their user information systems, so I am excited to see what BMW will come up with (or not)
What I want to know is what do the dealers think about all this model proliferation? We now have the 3 sedan, wagon, GT, 4 coupe, 4 Gran Coupe all in the same price range. And that's just the cars. For SUVs, you have the X1, X3, and now X4. They are all around the same size. How do dealers keep stock and adequate inventory of so many models playing in the same price/size range? It has to be a nightmare (i would assume). Brand snobs who used to just lease the current 3 sedan or coupe are now hit with an onslaught of models competing for the same payment amount. Obviously, BMW wouldn't invest in all these models if they weren't able to sell them so from a financial stand-point, these weird niche cars must have some justification behind them. To me, they are silly but if they're moving off lots, that's all that really matters I guess!
I think that BMW is doing exactly what Samsung have done with phones, hit absolutely every possible niche and just get as many people in your club as possible. Since there are the odd numbered X models, you wonder why they have the even numbered ones. However I'd like to flip that around, imagine if they first came out with an X6 and X4 instead of an X5 and X3.... I think they're creating too many niches but I think there's good stuff within there. Having a great SUV and then making a baby version is helping someone like me go "I want an X6 but that's too much on a monthly downpayment, lets try the X4 instead". Interestingly, I ended up going for a rival vehicle but I at least made a serious consideration for the X4. An M sport option is great but it puts the car in a very different price bracket to it's intended Niche of the base model.
Your question reminds me of the phrase having "you can't have your cake and eat it too". What BMW is doing is giving us cake, lots of different kinds that we as a customer base have been asking for. However we haven't really been eating these multitudes of cakes. In the past two years I have seen one 3series GT outside of a showroom. My concern is that BMW is a bit overstretched with all of these specialty cars. They aren't cheap to develop, make, or buy and frankly it's a huge risk on a business end to make a car that doesn't sell. Now I will fully admit that Michigan isn't the best market for a BMW, with all our snow and bias towards the Big Three, so I likely don't have a representative sample of the normal American auto population. However, I think my point still stands, BMW is doing too much for too few people.
I don't know that it's particularly fair to put M badges on a non M vehicle. It gives the impression that it's a different vehicle. Something alone the lines of M-Line, like Audis S-Line, would give the proper impression to someone looking at the car in a parking lot.
This should not be called an M. M cars have quad pipes, front and rear bumper change (M2), wider tires ,maybe alcantara in middle of seats, painted m calipers. Bmw should be slapped for this poor example.The X4 owners already got ripped off by not having dual pipes for the 35i model and last but not least side air slits with m logo.Those are some of things that would have made it an M.BMW should have thought of beating macan instead of taking away sells from the X6
When the X6 first came out I thought it was the stupidest thing ever. Take an already silly idea like the X5 and then remove anything that might be somewhat useful about it and there you go. A car with no space that weighs more a herd of elephants. Now many years later though I see so many of those and now this X4, an even smaller vehicle that still weighs a shit ton and I have to admit that there are a lot of morons with more money than sense.
A lot of you complaining about the design. I don't get it. You'd still rather drive this than a wagon which BMW offers. Europeans love wagons and hatchback. SUVs are for Americans because Americans are fat.
BMW makes too many niche cars. This X4 is one of the cars in BMW's immense lineup that doesn't make sense, like the X6, 3GT, and 5GT. They are ugly and less practical than the cars they are based on or the other cars on the same platform. Why not spend the money on improving the cars already in the normal lineup? They could use some of the money to improve the interior: soft-touch material look awful (too much graining), the leather is hard, rough, and feels cheap, and the interior design is boring compared to competitors. They could also use some of the money to engineer their cars to be more reliable.
MotoMan, BMW GENIUS from BMW Gallery Norwood Massachusetts here, been watching your channel for a long time now and i can tell you that what the eco pro mode does in our car is slows down the throttle response , activates the auto start/stop feature, and keeps the transmission in the highest possible gear as well as alters the climate control settings to use less energy, it also when coasting de-couples the axles from the transmission for an anti roll Resistance coasting. however when you go into eco pro and manually shift like you did here and keep it at 4 thousand RPM'S its kind of hard to tell how it works.
also the estimated amount of power going to the rear wheels is about 70%rw 30%fw with the ability for straight 50/50
-Brandon DiMartino
I feel like they're making something just right, I see more of their niche cars on the road than the regular models. Some people want to be different and that's not a bad thing at all.
I always feel hesitant to click on a nearly 20 minute car review, but I never regret doing it with this channel.. Even the reviews of cars I'm not a fan of keep me interested. You have an excellent host!! Easily one of the best.
I just drove a M40i yesterday, WOW. The steering is so accurate and responsive, truly surprising considering the issues BMW has had with electric assisted steering. The breaks are typical BMW, meaning perfect!!!! The engine has plenty of trust and the exhaust sound (real and fake) work together to give you that little rush enthusiasts want. I also completely agree with the statement about the cabin, "It's a nice place to be". The only real issue I have with it, is looks, it's odd... let's leave it at that. So, If you're in the market for a performance oriented daily driver, and the looks don't turn you off, I strongly recommend this "hot hatch" of a crossover.
Great review! You are becoming one of my favorite reviewers in regard to getting comprehensive descriptions on all the in's and out's that a prospective buyer wants to know.
I had an X3 35i which I did the Dinan tune (360 hp/392 tq), nice sleeper vehicle, but it really pushed when cornering hard. I never tried a vehicle with the dynamic dampers, but it sounds like this X4 solved some of the cornering issues. The engine/trans are hidden gems in the automotive world, worth every penny over the competition.
I think this car gets a lot of undeserved hate, it's not the best looking car out there, but it's far from ugly. Would love to see a video on the BMW 340i :)
Marius this x4 is amazing to drive i had this on our show andbwe really put this car through some winding roads and it excelled. The power is absolutely good enough. The sound is really great. Bmw has made the sound amazing
I own this exact car, and I love it so so so much
I test drove one last week. Will place order when my lease is up soon. Drive is amazing fine for every day driving. Getting one because it's not practical, different hopefully I won't see too many. Carbon black & oyster non run flats will make a huge difference in ride. Excited about it.
Hey man, I think you were trying too hard to find something to hate on the x4, the idrive is one of, if not the best infotainment systems available. The mercedes uses fonts from 1997...
+Mulkyan Thanks for watching and weighing in however VERY much disagree with you on this . . . I appreciate your view if you are most likely a BMW guy, however I have spent an extensive amount of time in other episodes slicing and dicing these systems - and if you have a look at our Audi TT TECH REVIEW (ua-cam.com/video/-TT8NZiZHJo/v-deo.html) or our Audi TT FIRST DRIVE REVIEW (ua-cam.com/video/I3jYaj7O-gs/v-deo.html) you will see a FAR better system - everything from the UX to the input interaction to the design . . . And this coming from someone who is NOT AT ALL an Audi guy . . . Audi aside, there are better systems out there than the BMW - have yet to drive the new Mercedes E Class but did play with the new system in that car extensively and that is yet another step forward. As I said in the episode, it is not that the BMW system is bad, there are just better mouse traps out there now . . . Good discussion.
MotoManTV Thank you for the response, it's the minimalist design that speaks to me, but I see where you're coming from. Great reviews man !
I agree with you, having tried all these systems, iDrive has the best UX and UI. Also no mention of iDrive 5.0 with touchscreen on the new 7 (which he drove) which will trickle down to the rest of the lineup in the next few years. This X4 won't be here for long. It's being replaced right after the new X3 comes out this year G01/G02.
S.T T. no, I just dont live in 1982.
S.T T. your vocabulary shows you dont even live in 1982, 1682 maybe. Go back to the middle ages kiddo, stop trolling and hate speech.
I had a Dinan-tuned X3 35i (360 hp/394 tq), it was great! Very quick indeed. Eco Pro mode is to slightly dull throttle but if you press past the kick-down, it will react the same as normal or sport mode. It also makes the climate system a bit more efficient but it isn't very useful for fuel savings; I kept it at comfort or sport most of the time.
Freaking love this channel, keep up the amazing work!
Love this suv. very stylish and sporty and the engine is worth the price of admission. with the adjustable suspension you get the driving diversity to make this a daily driver and weekend joy ride. I don't mind that BMW is slicing up their 3 platform. it's a great foundation to build off of and I think they are wise to take full advantage.
I kinda like it. Not as bad as the X6.
Idk i think im the minority here but i love the way the car looks . Its a car in a suv body. Basically the 3 series with a lift and adding a few inches in every direction
Great video, i'm going to ask you something a bit difficult, can u do a review with the Macan S vs this X4 M40i ?
I'm getting the feeling you are a new X4M owner like me. I also have a 13K mile 01 S54 M Roadster and an 09 135i. For the past dozen years since I acquired my first 01 M Roadster I have built a database of every one built and it history as to owner(s), location, colors, option, mods, and info each time it was sold.I have decided to start the same with the X4M. It's a bit different because these are all new where the M Roadsters were all 6 years old when I started, were all sold and all over the US, and there were 3 times as many. I've always had great support in my updates by the owners with my promise that I will not release any personal information on their car without their permission and I will give public record , Ebay records, BMW records, etc information on cars that are publically listed for sale and they contact me for any information I may have acquired over the years. Fortunately I was able to secure some BMW information on these cars directly from BMW.I plan on using the same predicates for the X4M although data will be slim to begin with. I have already done my database listing the VIN's of every NA X4M built and would like to tie your VIN to your name if you'd like. I have #36 and in doing my DB, I find I may have the 1st M4N released for sale to the public. My car was actually built in Nov 2015 but not released to the dealer for sale until March 2016. The 1st 35 VIN's have never been registered (yet) in the US although it's likely they will be after BMW gets done with them and unloads them. These will be the press cars, show cars, photo cars, etc.I'd also like to start a channel of people interested in documenting mods, tips and tricks that people do to their X4M's as the current site seems real weak on content and participation. The first project I am going to try is to build a quad exhaust rear panel and fit proper quad tips to our OEM exhaust. There are a couple pieces like that out for the X4 but its rear panel is constructed different that the X4M even though it looks similar. If you're interested in being part of this, please let me know.Also to any other X4M owners out there, please contact me here and we can set up a less cumbersome communication method, Thanks,Jim in Tampa
Jim, I'm in Tampa and own an X4 M40i, it rocks, I love that it is a sleeper and looks unique, even in the BMW world.
bmw is definitely pushing it with so many models and variants. however, i believe they can obtain this goal quite readily because they just swap the engine and platform. saves them plenty of money instead of having to create new engine and suspension and platform for every model. i also believe they were testing the waters with initial models like x6 in order to expand. everybody thought x6 wouldn't succeed. bmw has sold a great amount of x6s. since this niche was successful, why not try x4...or x3...or x1...perhaps x7? m7? 8 series? future will reveal.
motoman...awesome review!!! we want more of same...more please. really enjoy these videos. and they're quite informative too.
rearward weight shift seems OK if it's rear biased AWD.
Please do review on X5 40e.. and GLE coupe 350D Thank you very much
is it xDrive? awd?
Good work!
Hey Motorman thanks for the episode.
I feel that all the niche products that BMW is creating is drawing resources away from its core products. What I mean is that not too long ago the 3, 5 and 7 series sedans were considered the benchmarks in their categories which I don't think holds true today.
I understand that the competition these models experience today is much greater than in the past but I still feel resources are being spread thinner with all the variants that come off these platforms.
Just my opinion and keep up the great work!
How would you say the GLA 45 AMG compare to this car?
Monterey got some beautiful roads.
To be fair, the X4 have the older iDrive system, only the 7er have the new iDrive Touch system with the gestures & dual screens.
I agree regarding the interior color & to be honest the X3/4 interiors aren't Munich's best work… always felt basic & utilitarian to me.
I do support BMW's decision to experiment with various body styles & designs… who says we have to be limited to either a sedan design or a long roof design variation… why not let the Designers' imagination run wild every now & then.
Now, the elephant in the room you've been dancing around it the entire episode… what do you think of the way it looks?
As always, excellent work M!
i saw this irl. It was sooo cool
I love my x4👌😍😘
I’m considering buying this car but I’ve never had a luxury vehicle. How much do you spend in gas, if you don’t mind me asking?
I like bmw i think it will my first car soo good
should've reviewed the 340i m sport.
What is Moto Man's daily driver?
love the car! I think how necessary/unnecessary these niche cars are depend on what market you look at. For the US perhaps these cars really are targeted at very few people who are in the market for something like this. But if you look at other markets such as asia, they love cars like this! Cars that don't seem to sell well here (3/5GT, R-class etc) sell well there so perhaps other markets is what BMW really made the x4 for, but we get the benefit of getting it stateside in case some people want it :D now if only they would bring some of their other cars here (m135i, 5 series wagon)
love watching you're reviews btw
The X4 and the X6 are the Pontiac Aztek of the BMW line- every time I see one on the road I shudder in pain and wonder why and who would buy that thing...?!?! I can not imagine that this will be around in 10 years, or even 5 for that matter (at least I hope not).
I had an original X6 4.0d but was looking to downsize, so what did BMW give me to test? A X4 2.0d. Needless to say, I now drive a Porsche Macan S Diesel. I still miss my X6, but don't think the SUV coupe style works in a car that is the size if the X4. Just like Grand Coupe doesn't work on the 4 Series body size, while it looks beautiful on the 6 Series. I wouldn't have considered a X3 or X5 because it doesn't fit with what I want, so no, I don't think BMW are a niche too far.
Compact SUVs with more performance than utility is the hotter sector right now, from Evoque to Macan and the up coming F-Pace. They just can't make them fast enough. It totally makes sense for BMW to dip in the market. BTW, how is X4 compared to Macan? With options, they are fairly close in price. Thanks, Motoman
Hey MotoMan! Any plans on reviewing the "S" version of the Jaguar F-Pace when it's released?
+Catlin Young Hey Catlin - Thanks for reaching out. Sadly, there are some OEMs we don't feature on the show - JLR is one of them. The reason being is timely access to cars. While we LOVE what we do, it is still very much a business. As such, if an OEM gives us access to a car too late, the earnings from the views will not cover the cost of production. No matter how much we may love a car - Jaguar F Type or Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 - we cannot feature a car if we are going to lose money on production. We have tried to work with JLR many times on fixing this but as of this writing, sadly not movement on their part. We remain optimistic that this will change . . .
+MotoManTV Understood, sir. Thanks for the quick reply! While I will not be in the market for a new vehicle for the next few years, the two I am keeping my eyes on right now are the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG and this new Jaguar F-Pace S. I know they are two totally different vehicles, but I like them both (and I have driven the GLA 45). However, on some different forums and through word of mouth, I have heard that Jaguars are extremely unreliable (i.e. severe mechanical issues) and are always getting "wrenched" on. Do you have any personal experience with Jaguars or do you know of these types of issues? Your help is greatly appreciated. I really like your reviews and respect your opinion and it would help me in deciding which vehicle I may end up going with. Thank you, sir.
+Catlin Young Would be very tough for me to weigh in on this decision because I will most likely not be driving the F Pace. That said, you have answer three questions for yourself:
1.) What are you doing with the vehicle?
2.) Where do you live?
3.) How long do you want to keep it?
The first two limit the type of vehicle you would get. The second would limit which brand. For example, if you want to keep this car for 5 years or less, you should be fine with anything because most issues would be sorted with the warranty. Beyond 5 years, the list gets a lot shorter . . .
You show an M emblem on the front fender at the Detroit show and represent this as the "NEW" X4M40i. I just bought one and the M emblem is missing. I would like BMW to give me the car it advertises at a US (Detroit) auto show as that is the car I expected to receive. Please provide me the emblems as this is not the dealers responsibility
Shouldn't it technically be "pushing power," since the X5 is rear wheel drive?
How does this compare to the Porsche macan gts?
it loses in any way, of course.
+OnTheSnap1 Hasnt been compared yet but the X4 35i vs Macan S was able to outperform it in real life, although on paper Macan looks better (power wise). But obviously Macan gets more expensive.
Lycan-BMW X3 and Macan is way more alluring
Nik Brudar That's an opinion not a fact
Lycan-BMW X3 that's actually a fact.
There are too many SUV models made by BMW that sometimes you simply just don't know which model to compare it with other manufacturers.
No difference between Eco Pro and Comfort? Right... maybe you should've tried not flooring it all the time. Of course there is no difference between the modes on kick-down, otherwise the difference in throttle response is huge though.
Why did you guys say the 2016 Lexus RX 350 f sport is slow it looks better than the BMW x5 m sport
Slicing up the platforms too much? Are they selling? If they are I guess not. I will never be upset over an OEM giving us options to buy. Unless its the GTs BMW Make. Just buy a wagon, they look like a regular 3 series or 5 series hit up Dairy Queen too many times.
Great episode!
Why is he stand far away in the grass???
BMW can make as many niche cars as they want but they cannot neglect their primary vehicles that are necessary to keep the brand alive. All major models are due for a replacement and have to represent the coming decade of automotive industry. Mercedes and Audi are already ahead with their user information systems, so I am excited to see what BMW will come up with (or not)
This x4 have the B58 engine? Sounds less like straight six (n54/55) more like a cross between a V6 and V8 if that makes sense.
Tuned n55 engine
What I want to know is what do the dealers think about all this model proliferation? We now have the 3 sedan, wagon, GT, 4 coupe, 4 Gran Coupe all in the same price range. And that's just the cars. For SUVs, you have the X1, X3, and now X4. They are all around the same size. How do dealers keep stock and adequate inventory of so many models playing in the same price/size range? It has to be a nightmare (i would assume). Brand snobs who used to just lease the current 3 sedan or coupe are now hit with an onslaught of models competing for the same payment amount. Obviously, BMW wouldn't invest in all these models if they weren't able to sell them so from a financial stand-point, these weird niche cars must have some justification behind them. To me, they are silly but if they're moving off lots, that's all that really matters I guess!
So another BMW with lots of m's but not a true m, but I must say the engine is genius though I suppose if it sells they will develop an m version
I think that BMW is doing exactly what Samsung have done with phones, hit absolutely every possible niche and just get as many people in your club as possible. Since there are the odd numbered X models, you wonder why they have the even numbered ones. However I'd like to flip that around, imagine if they first came out with an X6 and X4 instead of an X5 and X3....
I think they're creating too many niches but I think there's good stuff within there. Having a great SUV and then making a baby version is helping someone like me go "I want an X6 but that's too much on a monthly downpayment, lets try the X4 instead". Interestingly, I ended up going for a rival vehicle but I at least made a serious consideration for the X4. An M sport option is great but it puts the car in a very different price bracket to it's intended Niche of the base model.
perfect !
Your question reminds me of the phrase having "you can't have your cake and eat it too". What BMW is doing is giving us cake, lots of different kinds that we as a customer base have been asking for. However we haven't really been eating these multitudes of cakes. In the past two years I have seen one 3series GT outside of a showroom. My concern is that BMW is a bit overstretched with all of these specialty cars. They aren't cheap to develop, make, or buy and frankly it's a huge risk on a business end to make a car that doesn't sell. Now I will fully admit that Michigan isn't the best market for a BMW, with all our snow and bias towards the Big Three, so I likely don't have a representative sample of the normal American auto population. However, I think my point still stands, BMW is doing too much for too few people.
shock loss great
I don't know that it's particularly fair to put M badges on a non M vehicle. It gives the impression that it's a different vehicle. Something alone the lines of M-Line, like Audis S-Line, would give the proper impression to someone looking at the car in a parking lot.
I mean it will be my first car to buy bmw company
U look dashing in the ur outfit but u wear it in every video
B to the M to the W...
This should not be called an M. M cars have quad pipes, front and rear bumper change (M2), wider tires ,maybe alcantara in middle of seats, painted m calipers. Bmw should be slapped for this poor example.The X4 owners already got ripped off by not having dual pipes for the 35i model and last but not least side air slits with m logo.Those are some of things that would have made it an M.BMW should have thought of beating macan instead of taking away sells from the X6
its an M performance model, which means it is in between regular BMW and M GMBH just like the M135i and M235i
All the driving aids and fancy engine options don't hide the fact that this is one ugly monster! I am a BMW guy too. Great review however.
Looks like a panda
The texture of the black synthetic material used in these interiors is so fugly.
When the X6 first came out I thought it was the stupidest thing ever. Take an already silly idea like the X5 and then remove anything that might be somewhat useful about it and there you go. A car with no space that weighs more a herd of elephants. Now many years later though I see so many of those and now this X4, an even smaller vehicle that still weighs a shit ton and I have to admit that there are a lot of morons with more money than sense.
Yet they all have more money than you and can buy cars like this. Who is the moron here?
+Mulkyan financially I have no problem buying one - all these idiots are so in debt it isn't funny. My mortgage was paid long ago otoh.
I will do this order: engine, interior and rear = the good, the bad and the ugliest!
👍
This trend needs to die IMO, looks like the rear was squished down.
355HP is nothing for a truck that is a big.
A lot of you complaining about the design. I don't get it. You'd still rather drive this than a wagon which BMW offers. Europeans love wagons and hatchback. SUVs are for Americans because Americans are fat.
The dashboard looks as boring as other Audis.
"X4 M40i", that gotta be the WORST and most horrible car name ever, why didnt they just named it X4 M Performance?
"Not the biggest of SUVs", but sure is the ugliest.
this one is cuter than the X6, though.
Maybe so, it's wiped from ones memory.
+Arman Jina Women.
+Stephen Butler That started with the eX6
Sq5
Second
third
It looks like an overweight Guinea Pig :/
Countey man does not understand, what driving modes does.... Aaah like who cares
fourth
first!!!
why do BMW and Merc make all of these ugly non-SUV's.
because they're selling like cupcakes, of course.
+Eric Marcotte , because there are people that will buy them. Why does it matter?
+Eric Marcotte Mercedes copied BMW because BMW has been selling them! Merc cost more and are slower at that.
Lycan-BMW X3 and look even worse
BMW makes too many niche cars. This X4 is one of the cars in BMW's immense lineup that doesn't make sense, like the X6, 3GT, and 5GT. They are ugly and less practical than the cars they are based on or the other cars on the same platform. Why not spend the money on improving the cars already in the normal lineup? They could use some of the money to improve the interior: soft-touch material look awful (too much graining), the leather is hard, rough, and feels cheap, and the interior design is boring compared to competitors. They could also use some of the money to engineer their cars to be more reliable.
You sir have no idea how the auto industry works, go watch a cnet video on fridges or something
+Mulkyan Typical BMW fanboy response...
dcharizard91 I drive an audi...
You talk too much mate..
great review . ugly suv
Ugliest SUV out right now.
So much plastic....