Great engine, shame about the roofline

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

**BMW X4 M40i

Base price:** $126,500

Powertrain and performance: 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline six, 265kW/500Nm, 8-speed automatic, AWD, Combined economy 9.2 litres per 100km, 0-100kmh 4.8 seconds.

The X4 isn't the prettiest BMW, but at least the M40i is fast enough that people mightn't notice.

Vital statistics: 4752mm long, 1621mm high, 2864mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 525 litres, 21-inch alloy wheels with 245/40 tyres front, 275/35 rear.

We like: Superb engine and transmission. Sharp handling.

We don't like: Firm ride. No Android Auto. Those looks…

BMW's absolutely superb turbo petrol inline six is every bit as good in the X4 as it is in everything else.

The latest incarnation of the BMW X3 is a very good thing to drive, meaning that the X4 'coupe' based on it is as well. So how about a powered up version with BMW's superb inline six-cylinder petrol turbo engine?

So what's new?

Basically the fact that BMW has jammed its fantastic 265kW/500Nm turbo six into the humpy X4m making it the top of the tree - performance wise - in the X4 range, at least until the mad X4M drops later this year.

The interior is traditional and conservative, but is put together extremely well.

* Good oil: diesel BMW X3 M40 is just as fast as the petrol one

Ever wanted an X3, but with less practicality? Well, does BMW have a deal for you.

* Coupe wars: New Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe takes aim at BMW X4**

Befitting its status as the top-shelf X4, the M40i is also packed with equipment over and above the already generously-equipped standard cars, including monster 21-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, gesture controls, a Harmon Kardon audio system and, most importantly, an M sport differential.

How does it all come together?

When you have an engine as superbly smooth and effortlessly powerful as BMW does in this particular six, you can understand the penchant for jamming it in everything it will fit into. Even if it does look like the X4.

Yeah, okay, let's get that out of the way first - the X4 is ugly. You'll find no defense of it from me; it sickens and appalls me as much as it does most you.

But, hey - no ones said everything had to be pretty. Sometimes it is enough just to look cool. Which - let's be clear - the X4 definitely doesn't do either. Oh, but they way it goes is most certainly very cool indeed,

As I may have mentioned earlier, the engine is simply superb, with power on tap anywhere and everywhere, all accompanied by that wonderful BMW inline six mechanical snarl.

Dynamically, the M40i is pretty damn spectacular as well, thanks to that sports diff and adaptive suspension, although the distant steering does like to keep you at arm's length from the real fun and even that brilliant suspension can't disguise the aggressively firm ride from those massive wheels at low speeds.

Going into, through and out of corners, however, is spectacularly fun and ruthlessly efficient. The M40i can be hammered brutally into a corner and it doesn't bat an eyelid. The same goes for jumping on the throttle way too soon - it simply ignores your ineptitude and goes about its business of going very, very fast.

But unfortunately for the M40i, the net effect of all that superb competence, ability and searing performance is to simply remind you that this brilliant powertrain is available in a number of BMWs that have a much lower centre of gravity and, more importantly, don't look like an X4.

Any other cars I should consider?

The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 coupe is pretty much line-ball with the BMW, even down to its price, so it would come down to what badge preference you had when buying an awkward, humpy-looking less practical 'SUV'.

If you were willing to look at something with a less melted aesthetic, then there is no shortage of fairly ferocious sporty SUVs in the segment, not the least of which is in the BMW family in the form of the X3 M40i that gets the same kit, but is cheaper.

Or if you are the patient type and don't hold with this 'sporty SUV' nonsense, then the M40i version of the new (and thoroughly fantastic) 3 Series sedan is not far off, with a no-doubt inevitable wagon following at some stage.