[matowi]

I find the selection criteria highly biased, since they all point to M4 as a winner

Someone above said - M3, and that’d be a very interesting middle ground, offering a little bit more of practicality over the M4, so bringing the overall package a tiny step closer to the X5, without a noticeable loss of driving pleasure, or curb appeal

That said, based on my own - admittedly limited - driving experience in the two cars OP considers, I’d say the X5 feels like it justifies its pricetag, whereas the M3/4 package feels expensive for what it offers. This is a particularly subjective point, I know, but the step up in materials, and overall plushness/luxury of the X5 cannot be overlooked when choosing a car to be lived with for a good chunk of someone’s life. In my view, M3/4 offer decent quality when looked at in isolation (yet, for the price you’d be justified to expect more). However, once put aside the X5, the differences are tremendous, in favor of the X5