BMW claims the X4 xDrive35i requires just 5.2 seconds to hit 60. With standard all-wheel drive, the 2016 BMW X4 should prove capable on snow-covered roads.Īt the Edmunds test track, an X4 xDrive28i sprinted to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, which is pretty quick for the entry-level trim and notably quicker than an X3 with the same engine. The all-wheel-drive system includes standard torque-vectoring (' Performance Control') to maximize handling precision. Both send power to all four wheels via a standard sport-tuned eight-speed automatic transmission (an extra-cost option on the X3). The X4 xDrive28i uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the xDrive35i gets a turbocharged six-cylinder that packs 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. It's easy to fixate on the similar X3's superior versatility, but if you look at what else is out there, you'll see that the Edmunds 'B' rated X4 could actually make sense for the right shopper. As for the 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, it certainly has head-turning looks, but its mandatory turbo four-cylinder engine is rather unappetizing, and its handling is no great shakes, either.Īt the end of the day, then, the 2016 BMW X4 has more going for it than the skeptics might think. The sleek 2016 Porsche Macan is a tough match-up with its superior power and handling, but it might be hard to find one you want in the X4's price range. You've got to try the 2016 BMW X3, of course, but it's a traditional crossover with a different look altogether. If you're looking for X4 alternatives, there aren't many that fall into the same category. At heart, it's just a different flavor of X3, and if you drive them both, who knows? The X4 just might feel like a better fit for your lifestyle.

Its features are largely the same, too, which means it offers a very generous array of convenience and technology items. But if you think the BMW X4 looks cooler than the X3, who are we to tell you otherwise? Under the skin, the X4 shares its superb four- and six-cylinder turbocharged engines with the X3, lacking only the latter's optional turbodiesel four. The 2016 BMW X4 isn't exactly a track star, but it's a decent handler by crossover standards. You lose some cargo and passenger space in the deal, but you theoretically gain some style and sportiness. What does it mean? Well, in practice, it refers to an existing BMW crossover: in this case, the exemplary X3, which has undergone some serious cosmetic surgery, emerging as a beefy hatchback with a rakish fastback roof line. The 2016 BMW X4 marks the second year of production for this so-called 'sports-activity coupe.' That's BMW's term, mind you, not ours.

Idrive reviews 2016