BMW’s sporty update is gorgeous but not as spacious as its X3 sibling

Another week and another update. It seems to me that car manufactures are more concerned with updating models these days than actually building new ones altogether.

A few weeks back we told you that BMW had given its X3 SUV (or SAV – Sports Activity Vehicle) a mid-life makeover.

Well, at the same time it also refreshed the X3’s more sportier sibling – the X4 SAV. Sales figures show that the X3 is by far the more popular option for Irish buyers with the model outselling the X4 by close to 125 units.

It’s understandable really as it is far more spacious and practical family mobile.

There is no doubt in my mind that the X4 is the better looking of the two but it does compromise a lot when it comes to the interior space on offer.

Much like the X3, the X4 has undergone some light surgery for 2022 and has been treated to a new a new front grille drops slightly deeper although, yet again, they have refrained from fitting the new controversial oversized one that a lot of the other models display.

Other notable changes come in the form of updated LED lights, front and rear, a new sate-of-the-art infotainment system with BMW’s latest software and, most importantly, the introduction of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that boosts the 2.0-litre diesel engine’s fuel efficiency.

On the inside, there is no doubt that space is compromised by the vehicle’s sloping roof-line. The headroom is nowhere near as good as that found in its X3 sibling.

Anyone with a similar six-foot frame to myself will find their hair being caressed by the cloth roof-liner – another vehicle I wouldn’t fancy doing a long-distance journey in. Still though, the seats are extremely comfortable and the leg room on offer is ample – even for taller passengers.

Elsewhere around the cabin, a new centre console takes pride of place on the X4’s dashboard that features a 10.25-inch diagonal screen as standard, or there’s a 12.3-inch version of the touch display available as an option.

There’s also a new centre console similar to that found in the current BMW 4 Series with control island for the BMW controller, gear selector lever, engine start button, buttons for the start/stop system, electric parking brake, hill descent control and the various driving experience functions.

Pricing for the BMW X4 start at €75,844, for the 2.0d xDrive M Sport, which was my test drive for the week. The only other engine option with M Sport trim is the 3.0d xDrive,

The price between the two is just north of €10k Both models are four-wheel drive and come with BMW’s eight-speed automatic gearbox.