Off to school or on the track, the 2022 BMW X4M Competition does it all! Behind the wheel of the new BMW X4M Competition, the driver truly embraces that track car feeling, with tight steering, stiff suspension, and great throttle response, even when in the sacrilegious Comfort Mode. This truly is the ultimate version of the ultimate version of a magnificent sport-focused SUV, or Sport Activity Coupe, as BMW calls it.
With around 70 more horsepower than its closest competitor from Zuffenhausen, the Porsche Macan GTS, this X4M Competition provides more bang for the buck than the flagship Macan both in terms of bang (503hp vs. 434hp) and buck, with a base price of $73,400 versus $79,900. With all that money saved, you can even make it to the bank half a second faster than the GTS with a 0-60 of 3.7 seconds.
Although diehard BMW M Power fans might complain that this M-fied X4 doesn’t sport the big V8 of its bigger X siblings, BMW’s trademark straight-six gets the job done more than adequately. The M Competition model features adjustable dampeners and suspension to select the handling feel depending on your road conditions and driving style. The X4 we had was also equipped with optional 21″ forged wheels for improved handling and acceleration due to their lighter weight. Although we kept this X4 M Competition in Comfort Mode for the majority of our driving experience, as we believe this is the setting the majority of X4 M Competitions will spend their life in, we noticed very little body roll, even during spirited driving.
The driving experience is further bolstered by a comfortable interior highlighted by supportive, highly-adjustable sports seats, fantastic technology and an immersive audio experience courtesy of the Harman Kardon sound system. The vehicle also featured plenty of space for all the kids’ toys in the trunk, while our team’s “average-sized adults” easily fit in the backseat without any leg cramping or twisted necks from the sloping “coupe” roofline. Although rear passengers were quite comfortably at stoplights, our team did note an unusually-harsh ride quality for an SUV. This is after all, a focused, sports-oriented SUV, so as long as you know not to expect buttery-smooth transportation, and backseat passengers know to anticipate a sporty ride even in the most approachable Comfort setting, this BMW is, overall, an excellent compromise between a hardcore performance package and everyday family-friendly usability without the six-digit price tag usually associated with high-performance SUVs.