The recent moves by BMW and Mercedes-Benz to shave the rear roof line of their mid-size SUVs – making them look less like utility vehicles and more like slightly inflated sedans –has some people scratching their heads.
Based on our week with the 2015 BMW X4 xDrive28i, we’d call it a good compromise between sport and utility on these vehicles.
Ask any parent in the afternoon pickup line at one of the local elementary schools, and he or she is likely to tell you that when looking for a familiar backpack in the crowd – or when trying to find a parking place in the shopping center – he or she prefers the high vantage point afforded by one of these crossovers.
Whether or not the statistics bear out the impression, the vehicle also offers a feeling of greater safety compared to family sedans or minivans.
On the other hand, the large high space behind the second seat of an SUV is so rarely used that the manufacturers might as well offer the slightly sleeker look of a sedan rather than sticking with the truck look of a traditionally styled SUV.
For us, having grown up in the 1950s with large sedans and station wagons, we certainly can understand the preference for a car that actually has good rear legroom, adequate headroom and enough space so that kids can be separated from one another on long rides.
Of course, given that kids need to be in car seats in the rear these days until they’re nearly into their teens, it’s also nice to be able to get them belted in without having to bend over.
Excellent handling
It’s also nice that the modern twin-turbo four-cylinder engine in this BMW can cover 20 miles or more in combined driving, and go 28 miles on the highway, on a single gallon of gas.
Even though the 240-horsepower engine generating 240 pound-feet of torque with which our 28i test vehicle was equipped is the smaller of the two available on the X4 – a six-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque is offered on the 35i for those seeking more power – it is still sufficient to accelerate to highway traffic speeds in under six seconds.
With the optional M-Sport suspension and wheels that came on our test vehicle, handling is also excellent so that drivers can negotiate winding back roads in safety.
And in the new transmission wars, BMW is definitely out in front with the eight-speed automatic offered on both models that provides absolutely unnoticeable transitions under both acceleration and deceleration.
Of course, since this is a BMW, it is fairly pricey. Our test vehicle with the smaller engine had a base price of $44,700. Add the essential rearview camera and park-distance control, the desirable navigation system and enhanced smartphone interface and the truly optional M-Sport and premium package systems, the price rises to $54,550. Only $3,300 more would be required to upgrade to the more powerful 35i.
Honestly, the only problem we really could quibble with on our X4 was the exterior styling. In a world where most designers now are simplifying exterior details, BMW designers seem to be adding additional styling lines, and we found the external appearance just a bit too busy.
But overall, in this practical world where interior passenger space is as important as exterior looks, the X4 is certainly going to be a good choice as a family vehicle.
