by Cheryl Eldridge
It’s a new year and the automotive industry has really stepped up its game. The 2015 BMW X class definitely places the word “perfection” into perspective with performance, handling and appearance.
Last week I had the pleasure to test drive one of the “Ultimate Driving Machines”, the 2015 BMW X4 xDrive 35i, which was my first BMW to ever test drive and I was impressed!
Not only did this automobile blow my mind, it was super on gas.
The BMW X4 xDrive35i was definitely engineered to impress.
I was Impressed by the styling and BMW continues to create new automotive niches, this time with the 2015 X4. With coupelike styling on a crossover SUV body, the X4 certainly looks more sporting than other luxury crossovers. But the diminished utility shouldn’t be ignored.
A TwinPower turbocharged, 300-hp six-cylinder engine takes you soaring from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. While a standard 8-speed STEPTRONIC sport automatic transmission with gearshift paddles ensures dynamic and thrilling rides tailored to your individual driving style. That’s the all-new X4 xDrive35i – and why it’s the best in its class for performance.
BMW’s exclusive Active Driving Assistant system consists of multiple important features – Lane Departure Warning, Frontal Collision Warning, City Collision Mitigation, and Pedestrian Warning. The Lane Departure Warning registers lane markings with a camera and gently vibrates the steering wheel if you drive over them without signaling. Frontal Collision Warning can actively apply the brakes at speeds under 10mph or reduce collision severity by pre-filling the braking system at higher speeds. The third feature, Pedestrian Warning, is a two-stage system that consists of an acute audible and visual warning on the iDrive screen that also pre-fills the brakes. All that means greater peace of mind ahead.
The 2015 BMW X4 is a four-door crossover with coupelike styling. There are two trim levels: xDrive 28i and xDrive 35i. The “xDrive” moniker indicates all-wheel drive, while the numbers denote whether the engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder (28i) or a turbocharged-six (35i).
The X4 xDrive 28i comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, a power tailgate, adaptive xenon headlights, LED foglights, LED running lights, power-folding mirrors, automatic wipers, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, “SensaTec” (premium vinyl) upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel (with paddle shifters on automatic-transmission models), eight-way power front seats, 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatbacks and auto-dimming mirrors. Standard electronic features include Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, BMW Assist eCall emergency telematics, BMW’s iDrive electronics interface with a 6.5-inch display and a nine-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD radio and a USB/iPod interface.
My tester, the more powerful six-cylinder engine, xDrive35i adds 19-inch wheels.
There are a number of option packages available for the X4. The Premium package includes keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery (available separately), front seat power lumbar adjustment and satellite radio. The Cold Weather package includes a heated steering wheel and heated front and rear seats. The Lighting package features full LED headlights with automatic high beam control.
The Driver Assistance package features front and rear parking sensors as well as a rearview camera. Spring for the Driver Assistance Plus package and you’ll also get adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a top-down camera system, lane departure warning and forward collision warning.
The Technology package features a navigation system with traffic reporting, an enhanced driver information display, a head-up display, BMW Apps (including Pandora and Facebook integration) and BMW Remote Services (allowing smartphone control of remote start and climate settings as well as stolen vehicle location and notification).
The M Sport package adds 19-inch wheels (for the 28i), styling tweaks that include “Shadowline” (black-out) window trim, front sport seats, a sport steering wheel and a choice of aluminum and wood cabin accents. The xLine package features 19-inch wheels and a choice of cabin accents, including dark copper.
Stand-alone options include some of the above items plus active suspension, a self-parking system, Enhanced USB and Bluetooth connectivity and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
As far as fuel economy goes, the 28i earns EPA estimates of 23 mpg combined (20 city/28 highway). It achieved an impressive 28.1 mpg on the Edmunds mixed-driving fuel economy evaluation route. The 35i, meanwhile, nearly matches that efficiency at 22 mpg combined (19 city/27 highway). All X4s come with an automatic stop-start function, which shuts off the engine when you’re stopped to save fuel.
Standard safety equipment on the 2015 BMW X4 includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Also standard is BMW Assist eCall, which includes automatic collision notification and an emergency assistance button.
Optional safety equipment includes front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a top-view camera and a lane departure/frontal collision warning system.
I loved the front compartment of the X4 that features a somewhat intimate design, with a wide center console making for a sporty, dual-cockpit feel. Overall, there is a classy ambience within the X4, with top-notch materials throughout and attractive metallic and/or wood accents sprinkled about. The sport seats that come with the M Sport package are well-bolstered, firmly supportive and comfortable on a long drive. The rear seat is well shaped for two, but headroom for taller passengers can be tight due to the sloping roof line. The latter design cue also contributes to compromised rearward visibility. As such, I would highly recommend springing for the Driver Assistance package, as it includes parking sensors and a rearview camera.
Wrapped up in the optional navigation system is a suite of smartphone-connected apps including Pandora, TuneIn and the Amazon cloud player. Controlling it all is the iDrive infotainment controller, which with navigation includes a touchpad for letter and character inputs. While iDrive responds quickly to commands, it often takes a few more clicks and spins of the knob to access desired functions as compared to some other rival interfaces.
For cargo-carrying duties, the X4 offers nearly 18 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seat or 49.4 cubic feet when folded. These are both considerably less than in most other compact luxury crossovers. That split rear bench ostensibly seats three passengers and folds in a versatile 40/20/40 configuration. A power tailgate comes standard and can be equipped with a hands-free feature that opens it when you swipe your foot under the bumper.
By the way, my sticker price was $65,075.
Until next week, drive safe, buckle up, and please don’t text and drive.
