To be honest, I was confused in the beginning by the X4, but I warmed up to it.
I should really favor the fastback ute over its SUV counterparts, but the oddness of the X4's shape takes a while to overcome. I like fastback sedans, after all. And there's no question that the X3/X5 family of crossovers is quite solid. There are good reasons why people love these vehicles, combining as they do SUV capability with BMW driving DNA.
What really won me over and vanquished some memories of the X6 M's warlike powerplant was the eager pep of the X4's four banger and the pop it could channel through its eight-speed automatic (there are paddle shifters and a manual mode if you want to go there). The 0-60 mph sprint passes in about six seconds, and I averaged an impressive 25 mpg.
The X4 30i leans toward the sporty side of the driving equation, but it isn't as bold as the M40i trim, which takes the ponies to 355 by swapping an inline four for a twin-turbo inline six. After a few days, I began to genuinely enjoy the X4's tossable nature, not something I often encounter in SUVs.
The major negative I encountered was the rather stuff seats, which when paired with the rather stiff ride no matter which mode I was in, and despite a lumbar support, evoked protests from my embattled and aging lower back after a few hours on the highway. The X4's cargo hold was up to the task of a road trip with gear, but the seats left something to be desired.
Mind you, when you chuck the X4 hard into a corner, you appreciate those seats and the crisp composure that the SAC's suspension and chassis delivery.
All this means this vehicle is really for suburbanites who would like to stand out from the crowd and who favor more driving in their ultimate driving machines that have been designed for tasks other than driving. I can accept that.
And after a week, I embraced it.