Used 2018 BMW X4 for sale 

The BMW X4 is available in two trims viz. the xDrive28i and the M40i which includes the M sports package of the BMW. The xDrive28i houses a 2.0-liter inline-4 cylinder engine while the M40i has a more powerful  3.0-liter inline-6 cylinder engine under its hood. The xDrive28i is equipped with BMW's iDrive infotainment system, and the M40i comes packed with a Premium Harman Kardon music system. The tilt and telescopic steering are standard in both the trims along with the 19-inch alloy wheels.

As mentioned earlier, the base variant of the 2018 BMW X4 xDrive28i is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers 240-hp along with 260 lb-ft of torque. The high powered 3.0-liter engine produces 355-hp along with 343 lb-ft of torque.

Both the engines are mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled to select the appropriate gears as per the speed of the vehicle. The power is delivered to all the wheels as standard and provides great handling capabilities. 

The 2018 BMW X4 does not house the most powerful engine among its competitors. Even though all of the vehicles in comparison have the same engine configuration, the 2018 Audi Q5 provides the most power output at 252-hp which is followed by the 2018 Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum with a power output of 250-hp. The BMW X4 surely starts at a higher base price of $47,600 while the more powerful vehicles start at a lower price point. 

Is the 2018 BMW X4 quick in acceleration?

The 2018 BMW X4 xDrive28i’s 2.0-Liter engine is quite responsive and the unique thing about it is that the 260 lb-ft torque is produced from a range as low as 1450 rpm to 4800 rpm which makes it stay strong against its rivals. That’s the reason for it being the second-fastest car among its rivals that reach 60 mph from a standstill in a respectable 6.0-seconds.

A similar performance is seen in the quarter-mile acceleration where the BMW X4 covers the distance in 13.6-seconds. 

The Audi Q5 Premium is slightly ahead of the X4, a margin so insignificant it could simply be neglected. The more powerful Volvo VC60 disappoints here by being the slowest among the competitors. It is almost 1.3-seconds slower than the BMW X4 in the 0-60 mph acceleration. The BMW X4 can reach a maximum speed of 155-mph is greater than any other vehicle in consideration. This is followed by the Volvo XC60 which can achieve a top speed of 140-mph.

How is the Ride and Handling of the 2018 BMW X4?

BMW has implemented its own “Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System”, the xDrive that works with dynamic stability control, powering all four wheels independently. This assists the BMW to flat out the majority of the bumps it encounters on the road. It is almost the same technology as the torque vectoring system which is implemented in the Mercedes and Range Rover Sport.

The ride quality and comfort of the BMW X4 is immaculate and its precisely smooth handling makes the driver fall in love with it. The suspension in the X4 iDrive28i is soft while the one in the M40i is more on the firm side. The stiffer suspension on the M40i gives it sportier driving dynamics than the base trim. The cabin insulation is impressive and there is very little noise inside the cabin even at highway speeds.

How is the braking on the 2018 BMW X4?

The braking system of the 2018 X4 is fantastic with shorter intervals. Since the Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system enables power distribution to each of the four wheels, it also has a relative effect on the braking of the X4 making it responsive, which gives it a perfect touch. The brakes on the BMW X4 are not the largest, and thus lacks a bit on the performance to control this heavy vehicle. The X4 is equipped with a 12.9-inch disc at the front while has a slightly bigger 13.0-inch disc at the rear. This setup on the X4 allows it to come to a standstill from 60-mph in 123-feet. 

The brakes on the BMW X4 are smallest than its rivals, and hence the effect can be seen on the deceleration of the vehicle. The Volvo XC60 has the biggest brakes which are followed by the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The Audi Q5 has almost a similar brake setup but manages to produce considerably more braking force than the BMW and thus manages to stop the vehicle from 60-mph in just 112-feet. 

The BMW has proven itself in the past, winning over its rivals hands-down in terms of fuel economy. But, that’s not the case with the 2018 BMW X4. The X4, which gives a fuel economy of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. Combined together, it provides a mileage of 23 miles per gallon. Even with their higher power output, the rivals manage to provide better fuel economy than the BMW X4. 

When it comes to combined fuel economy, the Audi Q5 Premium stands out to be on top with 25 mpg followed by Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum with 24 mpg. The BMW X4 equals it to that of Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 with 23 mpg. Along with higher fuel economy, the Audi Q5, and the Volvo XC60 also has a larger fuel tank capacity which helps them cover way more distance than the AMW X4. The 2018 BMW X4 has a fuel tank capacity of 17.7-gallons which helps the vehicle to cover a maximum distance of 497-miles on a full tank of gas. 

The low seating position in the 2018 BMW X4 adds more to the sporty feel of the car. The electronically adjustable bolsters in the seats give great comfort to the passengers. But, the rear seats are not just up to the mark in terms of space.

There is not much of thigh support for the passengers on the rear which means that it’s not going to be easy during long trips. The rear is just cramped and lacks space. There is an ample amount of legroom in the rear but the headroom is not just enough for adults, the reason being the dip of the roofline to the rear.

All the cars in this segment can accommodate up to 5 passengers comfortably. While not exactly cramped, the GLC offers the least amount of headroom inside the cabin. Rear seat passengers would enjoy themselves the most in the XC60, owing to its generous legroom.

How much Cargo Capacity is available in the 2018 BMW X4?

The cargo capacity in the 2018 BMW X4 is 33% less than that of its platform-mate X3. The form factor of the X4 limits the interior space along with the cargo capacity of the vehicle. The dropping roofline creeps into the rear causing a remarkable decrease in the cargo capacity and thus is less than most f its rivals. 

The 2018 BMW X4 is just ahead of the Mercedes Benz GLC 300 with regard to cargo capacity but substantially lower than the Audi Q5 Premium and the Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum. The Volvo XC60 can fit in almost anything with a cargo volume of massive 63.3 cu.ft with its second row folded. With the rear seats folded, the BMX X4 has a cargo volume of just 49.4 cu-ft. 

How intuitive is the Infotainment System in the 2018 BMW X4?

The iDrive infotainment system in the BMW X4 uses the latest control system enabled with fingerprint recognition. Along with that it is equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display and has a smartphone integration system like Apple Carplay as standard. The Harman Kardon surround sound system does provide crisp high-quality sound that enhances the in-cabin entertainment system. A few other infotainment features include:

• GPS- enabled navigation system.
• Apple Carplay.
• Wifi hotspot.
• Voice input messaging.
• Bluetooth phone and streaming audio.
• A nine-speaker CD player with HD radio and USB-auxiliary input.
• Harman Kardon music system with satellite radio.

The 2018 X4 has almost the same length as that of the BMW X3 while the major difference is found at the rear end, for the reason of being called a coupe. The dropping roofline from the front to the rear cuts down the rear headroom.

The overall stature of the 2018 BMW X4 is quite sporty with its front slit grille and LED headlamps giving it a menacing look. With a clean profile on the sides, the roof slopes over the rear while finally integrating with the deck-lid. 

The 2018 BMW X4 is the heaviest among its competitors weighing at 4130-pounds. It measures almost the same as the Volvo, but the XC60 has a bigger overall footprint on the road. The BMW X4 does sit higher from the ground at 8.0-inch which helps it tackle a multitude of terrains with ease. 

This German manufacturer has always placed more importance on the safety factor of their vehicles. Thus the BMW X4 has great strength at a structural level which helps it absorb impact forces in case of an accident. The vehicle has not been crash-tested either by the NHTSA or the IIHS. But the vehicle is been equipped with plenty of safety features along with driver-assistive technologies that help improves the safety factor of the vehicle. The standard safety features in the X4 are listed below:

• Head Protection System (HPS), front and rear
• Impact sensor that activates Battery Safety Terminal disconnect of alternator, fuel pump and starter from battery; automatically unlocks doors; and turns on hazard and interior lights
• LATCH for child-restraint safety-seat installation
• Anti-theft alarm system
• BMW Assist eCall includes Emergency Request (SOS button) and Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification
• Electronic stability control
• ABS
• Traction Control
• Night Vision

BMW X4 vs Audi Q5 Premium

The Audi Q5 Premium has much better engine refinement than that of the BMW X4. The Q5 is priced at $41,500 while the X4 is clearly expensive with a base price of $47,600.

The Q5 is certainly a classic SUV with amazing ride quality but it is not as sportier as the X4, especially the M40i version of the X4.

BMW X4 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is priced at $40,050. In terms of specifications and design, the X4 and GLC 300 are almost identical.

So, how far is it wise to put in $7,000 extra to buy the X4 is a serious question. The high pricing for the 2018 BMW X4 looks completely unfair in this highly competitive segment.

BMW X4 vs Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum

Priced at $41,500, the XC60 T5 Momentum has an 8-speed 2.0L Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 250 HP and 285 lb-ft of torque.

The T5 has a slightly more powerful engine than that of the X4. The T5 has top-class safety equipment but the design of the car looks like a compromise. On the other hand, the X4 has got the best of looks and design and top-class interiors.

If you are fastidious about the design of the car, then the X4 is definitely a good choice as it has got a trendy design with every detailing of a decent SUV. But this attractive vehicle comes with its higher price tag than its rivals. The 2018 BMW X4 holds a powerful engine with amazing handling but lacks the usability of a typical SUV over the undersized cargo and narrow rear compartment. So, you have fair enough options in the segment to look for in the form of the Audi Q5 Premium, GLC 300, and the XC60 T5 Momentum.