BMW X4 M review

The X4’s cabin is one of BMW’s best, straddling the line between not being too dull and boring, and doing without some of the 8 Series’ gaudier touches and the latest infotainment tech which spoils, like in the 3 Series, X7 and Z4. Overall, the materials are much better than BMW’s last-gen fare, and it seems well-assembled. The gap to Audi has been closed right up.

In the back, it’s not as headroom-compromised as you might imagine - a six-foot adult won’t crick their neck. However, the seat squabs cushions are very short, to give the impression there’s more legroom than there actually is. Pop round to the boot and you notice it’s a very long space, which is great, but you’d surely have sacrificed that for a longer, comfier rear bench. Except of course, it’s been pushed that far forward. The inherent compromise of the SUV Coupe there, eating into your space, visibility and the boundaries of good taste in the name of looking a bit more rakish. You pays your money…

One of the odd own-goals concerns those curious M mirrors complete with an extra spar that doesn’t actually hold the casing onto the car. They generate a huge amount of wind noise, which is a pity when the engine settles into such a quiet cruise at speed.