• Diesels are impressively frugal
• M Performance models will be costly
• Servicing and insurance could also be pricey 

The X4 may well be a large SUV, but fuel costs should be manageable if you buy a diesel and don’t thrash the car. The higher-performance M models won’t return as impressive fuel economy, however.

Diesel BMW X4 running costs

Go for the entry-level xDrive 20d for the most fuel-efficient powertrain on offer. The 2.0-litre diesel engine returns up to 52.3mpg claimed fuel economy on the combined cycle. It shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve this with a gentle right foot.

Next up is the xDrive 30d, which will return up to 47.9mpg, according to BMW. At the pinnacle of the diesel X4 line-up, the M40d returns up to 44.1mpg, but you might not see this figure if you spend most of your time making the most of the performance on tap.

Petrol BMW X4 running costs

Fuel economy figures for the X4 M40i stand at 31.4mpg, making it the second least economical engine in the line-up. X4 M models have an even higher strung petrol engine, with economy in the 20s.

Servicing and maintaining your X4

Despite the reasonable fuel costs for most X4 models, it’s likely to cost quite a bit to service and maintain, but servicing packages will be available as in other BMW models.

Similarly, insurance will likely prove costly for some, as the X4 is a desirable and powerful SUV.

The X4’s powerful engines and xDrive all-wheel drive system means there is no low-CO2 version like you might find in smaller SUVs. That’s not helped by the lack of a PHEV, something the X3 does offer.

The lowest-emitter is the xDrive 20d, producing 142g/km of CO2, while the xDrive 30d produces slightly more at 156g/km. The M40d produces 170g/km, while the M40i petrol emits 209g/km, making it the most expensive when it comes to tax.

• BMW has a strong reliability record
• Latest X4 feels solidly put together
• Shouldn’t be too much to be concerned about

During its short life cycle, the previous BMW X4 was only recalled once, but the new X4 is based on the latest X3 which uses plenty of new parts and components.

The good news is that the new car hasn’t been recalled since its launch in 2017, so things bode well for the X4.

The engines can be found in many other BMW models, so everything should be proven and trustworthy. If anything does happen, BMW’s three-year warranty should keep you covered.