Introducing the BMW iX4
The BMW iX4 is the first fully electric X4, and it brings Neue Klasse technology to a coupé-shaped SUV. The X4 name has long been BMW's shorthand for a sportier kind of SUV, and the iX4 certainly looks the part, with muscular wheel arches and short overhangs that give it an athletic stance. The upright front end will be familiar from the iX3. From the B-pillar back, the iX4 takes a bolder line, with a roof that sits around 40mm lower than the iX3's and sweeps down to a pronounced rear spoiler.
Two versions are available, both with all-wheel drive. The 40 xDrive is the entry point to the range. The 50 xDrive carries a larger battery and, with it, a good deal more range.
Everything about this car is designed to be noticed, and that includes the view from behind. Slim L-shaped rear lights frame a sculpted recess that holds the BMW badge, a finishing flourish that rewards a second glance.
Design and Practicality
The drama is not confined to the silhouette, and it starts at the door, where the handles extend and retract automatically. Every iX4 has a panoramic glass roof that runs the full length of the cabin, so passengers in the back share the same view of the sky as those in front.
The sloping roofline has not cost them their comfort either. A long wheelbase provides generous legroom in both rows, and a space-saving cell-to-pack battery helps preserve headroom for rear passengers.
The boot holds 490 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,600 litres with them folded. The 40:20:40 split means the narrow central section can be lowered on its own, leaving both outer rear seats in use while a couple of pairs of skis slide through. A further 58 litres sits beneath the bonnet, where the charging cable can live out of the way of the luggage.
Technology and Safety
Ask the iX4 to open the windows just a little, or to add a pharmacy to the route, and it simply does it, with no prodding at a touchscreen. The voice assistant uses Amazon's Alexa+ and responds to natural language. As for the screens, BMW Panoramic iDrive places a slim display across the full width of the windscreen base, close to the driver's line of sight. A 17.9-inch central display handles everything else, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.
Driving Assistant Plus with BMW Symbiotic Drive comes on every iX4. It controls speed and distance from the traffic ahead and provides lane-keeping. Hunting for a space on a busy street is less of a chore with Parking Assistant, also standard, which uses AI to detect a suitable gap and plan the way in. Motorway Assistant is an option for hands-free driving on approved stretches of UK motorway, though the driver must always remain attentive.
Powertrains and Performance
Shaping the way the iX4 drives, a central control system manages power delivery, braking, energy recuperation and steering. BMW says regenerative braking alone brings the car to a stop in 98 percent of everyday situations, so the brake pedal becomes something of a spectator. The chassis has been reworked as well, with a new five-link rear axle and updated front suspension. Adaptive M suspension is an option on both versions, and My Modes let the driver sharpen or relax the car's responses to suit the journey.
Both versions have two electric motors for xDrive all-wheel drive. The 40 xDrive produces 369bhp and reaches 62mph in around 5.6 seconds. The 50 xDrive steps up to 463bhp and 476lb ft, with 0 to 62mph in around 4.9 seconds and a WLTP range of up to 514 miles from its larger battery.
Charging
An iX4 left on charge overnight is usually ready before breakfast. The My BMW App lets you check on charging progress from your phone as you tuck into your cornflakes. A day’s driving rarely empties a battery this size, but even from empty the 50 xDrive is full again in about eleven hours on an 11kW home wallbox where the supply allows. An optional on-board 22kW charger roughly halves that.
Public charging may well come into play on longer journeys. On a suitable charger rated at up to 400kW, the 50 xDrive can add up to 240 miles in ten minutes, about as long as it takes to drink a coffee. The 40 xDrive can recover up to 187 miles in the same time.
Discover the BMW iX4 at Stratstone BMW
The BMW iX4 gives the electric SUV a real sense of occasion. Its sweeping roofline makes a statement before the car has moved an inch, and up to 514 miles of range gives it the stamina to back that up. It is a natural choice if you admire the iX3 but would like a bolder take on the same idea.
To see the iX4 in person or to arrange a test drive, please speak to your nearest Stratstone BMW retailer.
