Crossbreeding

Why You Should Stop Worrying and Enjoy the Crossover Coupe.

- David Zenlea

WE’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT PERFORMANCE crossover coupes a lot lately. They’ve been around for about a decade now and have ranged from entertainingly wacky (Infiniti FX45, BMW X6) to straight-up bizarre (Acura ZDX). At a fundamental level, they all seem patently ridiculous: sport-utility vehicles playing dressup as sleek sports cars. But what happens when the act becomes convincing? Or, at least, convinced by itself?

Such is the case with the BMW X4 M40i and Mercedes-AMG GLC43 coupe. Both rely on respected hardware. The Benz is closely related to the E-class, notwithstanding the “C” in its name. The X4 is mostly an X3, and the M40i variant is fortified by a 355-hp turbo inline-six and a slew of upgraded chassis bits. Both SUVs are potent. The X4 scoots to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, according to BMW. Mercedes claims 4.8 seconds for the GLC, with its 362-hp twin-turbo V-6. There’s a certain matter-off actness about these chopped crossovers and their capabilities that make them different from earlier takes on the theme. Like them or not, they must be reckoned with. For Road & Track, reckoning means a trip to the racetrack.

We were not trying to ascertain whether these are track cars. Short answer: They’re not and needn’t be. Rather, we aimed to separate fact from fiction. Should we accept them as the enthusiasts’ machines they purport to be? Or is that just marketing?