We promise, we won’t mention the updated BMW X4’s bigger grille. The time for that is dead and gone. The upsized nostrils aren’t even that bad here—they’re certainly not as garish as those on the 4 Series, M3, or X7, which ushered in the new schnoz design in Bavaria. Besides, the grille isn’t the only update that BMW has made to the 2022 X4 and X4 M, even if it might be easiest to spot.
Freshened up, Inside and Out
Beyond the new grille, there are some new taillights and other styling tweaks that help differentiate this facelifted compact BMW SUV from the previous model. The high-performance X4 M and its competition-badged sibling receives similar updates to the head- and tail lights, as well as even more aggressive front and rear bumpers. Similar changes also hit the X4’s more upright and square-roofed sibling, the X3 this year.
Inside, all versions the 2022 X4 benefit from an enlarged, 10.25-inch infotainment display. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is an optional extra, with a set of analog gauges serving as the standard setup. The center console borrows from the new 3 and 4 Series, and the dashboard itself gets a slight shakeup, too, with bigger air vents and redesigned HVAC controls.
Mildly Hybridized
The base powertrain, a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 that makes 242 horsepower and 252 lb-ft, remains unchanged for the facelift. However, the turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 in the X4 M40i now has the added benefit of 48-volt mild hybrid tech. Power holds the line at 382 horsepower, but torque sees a 4-lb-ft jump to 369 lb-ft. The added hybrid bits allow the engine to be shut off at speeds up to 99 mph and be started back up smoothly. Regardless of engine, power is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the rear or all four wheels via xDrive all-wheel drive.
Like their less-powerful siblings, the X4M and X4 M Competition get slight torque bumps, too. Thanks to some improvements borrowed from the current M3 and M4, the standard X4 M now makes 457 lb-ft of torque, up 13 lb-ft from the previous car. The Competition model sees a jump of 37 lb-ft, for a total of 479 pounds of twist. The extra grunt means the standard X4 M can now complete the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.9 seconds, while X4 M Competition model only needs 3.7 seconds to do the same deed—according to BMW.
The other go-fast goodies included on the M-branded X4s remain largely unchanged. Power is still sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, though the driveline benefits from a rear-drive bias; the standard adaptive M suspension remains the same; and comfort, sport, and sport+ modes are still there to tailor the throttle map, suspension settings, steering weight, and other features to the driver’s liking.
Extra Safety Tech
For 2022 X4s BMW is offering what it calls the “Driving Assistance Professional.” It is essentially an optional extra that combines active cruise control and active lane keeping to help keep you on the straight and narrow on freeway slogs. The system works in tandem with the car’s digital cockpit and head up display to give drivers a better idea of their surroundings. There’s also tech to help driver’s make safe lane changes and evade potential collisions.
The 2022 X4 will be priced from $52,795, and prices for the M versions start at $74,395. Production will start as early as August of this year.
