2023 BMW X4 M

Overview

Does the 2023 BMW X4 M strike you as an SUV or a sports sedan? Its styling is certainly sporty, what with its fastback roofline bulging fenders, but its tall seating position ultimately gives it away as an SUV—it’s based on the squarer and more conventional-looking X3 SUV, after all. The X4 M’s performance is all sports car, though. You can expect explosive performance from the fab turbocharged inline-six, which makes up to 503 horsepower in Competition guise. In our testing, it rocketed the X4 M to 60 mph in a scant 3.2 seconds. To match its brutal acceleration, the X4 M is fitted with a stiffly sprung suspension that’s been tuned to maximize cornering grip, albeit to the detriment of ride comfort. Besides its unforgiving ride, the rest of the X4 M is premium and befitting of its premium price tag. But if you’re looking to haul people and cargo with similar speediness, you may find the X3 M the more practical package.

What’s New for 2023?

Following a thorough freshening for the 2022 model year, BMW has made no changes to the X4 M and X4 M Competition for 2023.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Competition model’s higher-output engine is attractive but its unforgiving suspension setup is too stiff for daily driving. Instead, we’d save the money and go with the more compliant and still plenty powerful standard X4 M. We’d also splurge on both the Driving Assistance Plus package, which adds adaptive cruise control and more advanced driver-assistance features; the Executive package is also an intriguing add as it includes an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, a head-up display, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a self-parking feature.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Both models come with a turbocharged inline-six, standard all-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The X4 M’s engine produces 473 horsepower, but the Competition model gets dialed up to 503. When we tested the Competition at our test track, it delivered brutal acceleration, jumping to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. That beats the X4’s main rival, the Mercedes-AMG GLC63, which blasted from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. In fact, the X4 M Competition even out-accelerated BMW’s famed M3 sports sedan in part due to the added traction that comes from its standard all-wheel-drive system. (The M3 in question was the rear drive version; all-wheel drive was added as an option in 2022).-The standard X4’s driving character is already sharp, and the M division’s retuning of the suspension has provided an even firmer ride and dialed in even more impressive cornering grip.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

When it comes to high-performance SUVs, we don’t expect much in the way of fuel efficiency, and with the X4 M it’s a case of expectations met—at least, in terms of its government estimates. The X4 M’s EPA fuel economy ratings are atrocious at 15 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. The Porsche Macan GTS earns ratings as high as 22 mpg highway, and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio carries a 23-mpg highway rating. Luckily, the X4 M Competition does overachieves in the real world. It surprised us on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route by delivering an impressive 26 mpg; the Stelvio Quadrifoglio managed just 21 mpg, and the Macan GTS was good for only 22 mpg. For more information about the X4 Ms fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Upscale and sporty, the X4 M’s cabin is crafted from top-quality materials, its layout is driver-focused, and it’s easy to find just the right seating position. A host of luxury features is standard, including 14-way power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, a power rear liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, interior ambient lighting, heated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The sloped roofline doesn’t intrude into rear-seat passenger space as much as expected, and most average-height passengers will find the rear seat plenty comfortable. Cargo space is more limited here than in the X3 M, but we still managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases behind the rear seat and a total of 18 with the rear seats folded flat.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

All X4 M models come with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with the latest iteration of BMW’s iDrive interface. Navigation is standard and all models also come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An onboard Wi-Fi hotspot and a wireless smartphone charging pad are part of the optional Executive package. In lieu of analog gauges, the X4 M and X4 M Competition come standard with a 12.3-inch reconfigurable digital gauge display. Audiophiles will be happy that a Harman/Kardon 16-speaker stereo is standard, so there’s no need to pay extra to upgrade.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

BMW offers its Active Driving Assistant package, which includes basic driver-assistance features, as standard, but more advanced technology is optional. For more information about the X4 M’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Like all other new BMWs, the X4 M and X4 M Competition come with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty and a generous three-year/36,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance plan. Mercedes-AMG offers no such maintenance plan, but the Jaguar F-Pace SVR one-ups the BMW with longer warranty terms and up to five years of free maintenance.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2022 BMW X4 M Competition

Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE

Base/As Tested: $81,595/$86,345

Options: M Driver’s package, $2500; Executive package (heated front and rear seats and steering wheel, head-up display, wireless device charging, rear view camera, parking assist), $2250

ENGINE

twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 183 in3, 2993 cm3

Power: 503 hp @ 6250 rpm

Torque: 479 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm

TRANSMISSION

8-speed automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink

Brakes, F/R: 15.6-in vented, cross-drilled disc/14.6-in vented, cross-drilled disc

Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

F: 255/40ZR-21 (102Y) ★

R: 265/40ZR-21 (105Y) ★

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 112.8 in

Length: 187.5 in

Width: 75.9 in

Height: 63.8 in

Passenger Volume: 96 ft3

Cargo Volume: 24 ft3

Curb Weight: 4555 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 3.2 sec

100 mph: 8.0 sec

1/4-Mile: 11.6 sec @ 119 mph

130 mph: 14.5 sec

150 mph: 22.0 sec

Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.

Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.4 sec

Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.5 sec

Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec

Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 177 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 154 ft

Braking, 100–0 mph: 300 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.96 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 19 mpg

75-mph Highway Driving: 24 mpg

Highway Range: 410 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/City/Highway: 17/15/20 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs