Used 2022 BMW i4

The new 2022 BMW i4 is an all-electric premium compact sports sedan available in two variants. The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) i4 eDrive40 has 335 horsepower and a range of 301 miles. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) i4 M50 comes with 536 horsepower and a range of 270 miles. As the i4 name suggests, this new electric BMW is a member of the 4 Series lineup.

BMW is striving for transparency in the way its electric cars are being made. The electric motors and their aluminum cases are produced in a Dingolfing, Germany, Munich factory using only hydro-electric power. The battery uses lithium mined in Australia where environmental and sustainability standards are complemented by protections for human rights. Where cobalt is used for the battery, it’s less than 10%.

BMW says the i4 has a near-perfect 48.2/51.8 weight distribution front-to-rear. That’s part of the recipe that makes many of its cars feel athletic, poised, and involving. The extra magic here is that the battery pack is located under the floor, lowering the center of gravity. The i4’s center of gravity is 37 mm lower than that of the 3 Series.

This brings extra stability. And the battery’s aluminum housing adds to the body’s rigidity.

The sprint from standstill to 60 mph is dashed off in around 5.7 seconds by the 335-horsepower i4 eDrive40, or 3.9 seconds with the i4 M50 — both aided by launch control. The 536-horsepower M50 is not as fleet as the quickest Tesla Model 3 (3.1 seconds), but still thrilling. Incidentally, this is the first time BMW has applied a splash of the M treatment to one of its electric vehicles.

In real life, 500 horsepower is usually the tipping point between “all the muscle a sane person will ever need” and “let’s try to outrun that fighter plane.” Premium car buyers, however, tend to want more than enough and don’t mind paying for it. That’s their prerogative. The new i4 M50 also has a Sport Boost function that can be used several times in a row, as long as the battery has sufficient charge, accessing the final 67 horses of its 536 horsepower.

Selectable levels of brake energy regeneration mean that the i4 is capable of one-pedal driving. To slow down, ease off the accelerator pedal. To slow down quickly, step off the accelerator pedal. This is great in city driving, reducing the number of times you need to shift your right foot between the two pedals.

A self-leveling rear air suspension is standard in the new i4. Variable-ratio steering and an adaptive M suspension are optional in the eDrive40, standard in M50.

KBB sampled an i4 M50 on a variety of roads near BMW’s headquarters in Munich. It’s a really quick and agile car. Yes, it has extra weight, but it’s down low and hasn’t prevented the company from realizing its stated desire of building the “ultimate driving EV.”

The new BMW i4 is comfortable over long distances, yet the low center of gravity and wide track make for a car that relishes curvy asphalt. The accelerator is a bit on the sensitive side, even in Comfort mode, so it takes a bit of conscious effort to be smooth.

There are three driver-selectable modes: Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport. In Eco Pro, the i4 is almost silent, apart from a little motor whine. In Comfort, BMW pipes some subdued performance sounds (BMW IconicSounds) into the interior, while Sport mode driving is accompanied by a synthesized aircraft-inspired Hans Zimmer soundtrack that gets louder and higher in pitch with speed. While some drivers like it and may feel that the sounds enhance the sensation of performance, we prefer the relative motoring silence of Eco Pro, an efficient mode that still offers plenty of performance.

The i4’s regenerative brake pedal offers a surprisingly natural feel, and there’s even an adaptive recuperation mode that uses Artificial Intelligence to determine if the I4 should be charging its battery or coasting when the driver lifts off the accelerator. The system works well, offering what BMW calls a “new balance” between high recuperation and driving. When descending, for instance, the i4 automatically switches into a recharge mode that slows the car, but lift off the accelerator while driving along the highway and the i4 may barely slow at all.

The steering is good, its wheel adjustable for height and reach. Headroom is abundant in the particular M50 we drove, which didn’t have a sunroof. But when the i4’s supportive front seats are all the way back, there’s almost no rear legroom.

The digital instrument panel of the i4, which stands proud of the dash, is clear and easy to read, and the thick-rimmed steering wheel is refreshingly devoid of too many controls. This is made possible in part by the 3rd generation head-up display, the latest version of the iDrive multifunction controller, and the “Hey, BMW” spoken vehicle interface, which works remarkably well.

We’re impressed with the new i4’s power, agility, and overall high level of sophistication. It feels like a BMW, but with all the good characteristics of electric power, especially the immediacy. It’s clear that BMW is all in with building EVs, and we look forward to driving the standard rear-drive i4 eDrive40 soon.

BMW offers a decor scheme where the cabin of the 2022 i4 is drowning in white leather, offset by metallic trim highlights in rose gold. That’s just one of several.

For the more technically minded, the dashboard is kept rigorously uncluttered, which makes the dual-screen unit of the infotainment system and driver information display look even more dramatic. The curved infotainment touchscreen element measures 14.9 inches, while the section with the driving instruments is 12.3 inches.

An adult male of average size will find the rear legroom tight. It’s similar to the combustion-engine 4 Series Gran Coupe, which has 33.7 inches.

Also notable: The i4, along with the new iX, are the first two production BMWs with 5G, which will allow over-the-air (OTA) vehicle updates in 2022.

Using BMW’s terminology, the 2022 i4 is a Gran Coupe. Think of the regular 4 Series Gran Coupe, which also has four doors.

Yes, we know it’s the closely related 3 Series that’s supposed to be the premium compact sedan, and the 4 Series is meant to cover the 2-door coupe and convertible variants. But we advise giving up trying to be pedantic and just go with whatever the company wants to call its products. It allows more time to watch Netflix.

There are various blue lines and touches signifying electric power, as well as a special grille treatment. Otherwise, the i4 fits in nicely with the rest of the 4 Series family. The coefficient of drag is a slippery 0.24 for the eDrive40, 0.25 for the M50, and these electric 4 Series variants have flush-fitting door handles.

The corporate grille doesn’t have to send much cooling air to the electric drivetrain, so it pulls double duty as accommodation for the front-facing camera, plus ultrasonic and radar sensors. On either side of the grille are full-LED headlights fitted as standard. Similarly, there are no exhaust pipes, allowing the section below the rear bumper to become a full air diffuser.

The eDrive40 has 18-inch alloy wheels, and the M50 runs on 19-inch alloy wheels with 20-inch alloys an option. The M50 has its own exterior elements, including side vents to help keep the brakes cool and a model-specific rear spoiler.

FAST-CHARGING BATTERY
At a fast-charging station, the battery in the new i4 can go from 10 percent capacity to 80 percent in under 40 minutes, or receive enough energy in 10 minutes to cover 90 miles.

INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
The iDrive infotainment system in BMW vehicles is generally recognized as one of the finest. A new generation, iDrive 8, comes in the 2022 i4. Features include advanced voice recognition, separate user profiles, over-the-air updates, and a 14.9-inch curved touchscreen. It also helps to simplify navigation, parking, and charging.

The twin-screen infotainment system is standard, so is Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration and a 10-speaker/205-watt audio system. The navigation system shows charging stations along the route and nearby.

Every BMW i4 also comes with simulated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, 3-zone automatic climate control, powered sunroof, and LED cabin lighting. Standard safety features include forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane departure warning, and front/rear parking sensors.

Real leather upholstery, rose gold interior accents, heated/ventilated front seats, a configurable head-up display, ambient cabin lighting, and a 16-speaker/464-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound system are some of the more indulgent extras available in the new BMW i4.

Adaptive cruise control with a stop/go function is among the optional safety features. Then there’s the Driving Assistant and Driving Assistance Professional bundles (detailed in our Safety section below).

Parking Assistant adds automatic braking, as well as the ability to steer into and out of parallel and perpendicular spaces. Back-Up Assistant is part of this same package — it remembers the last 50 yards the i4 drove in forward gear, then reverses down the same path automatically. Parking Assistant Plus adds a 360-degree/multi-view camera system.

A Dynamic Handling package with M Sport brakes, adaptive M Suspension, and a rear spoiler is a $1,750 option on the eDrive40. You can also order the eDrive40 with the $2,400 M Sport Package, which includes variable Sport steering, an M steering wheel, an aerodynamic kit, and alloy wheels in black or gray.

Among the available options on the 2022 BMW i4 M50 are an M Carbon exterior package ($2,800) and a Cooling and High-Performance Tire package ($2,500).

One electric motor propels the 2022 i4 eDrive40. It makes 335 horsepower, which goes just to the rear wheels. Maximum range on a single charge is 301 miles.

The 2022 i4 M50 can travel 270 miles. It has two motors — one for each axle — making an all-wheel-drive arrangement and a total of 536 horsepower.

In both cars is an 81-kilowatt/hour (kWh) battery employing lithium-ion/nickel-cobalt-manganese technology. A 240-volt supply can achieve a full recharge in less than eight hours. Connected to a DC fast charger, the battery can take on 90 miles of range in 10 minutes.

The electric motors are not of the common permanent-magnet variety, so they don’t use rare elements for the magnetic parts. This is another way for BMW to pursue its sustainability goals. The motors start spinning as current is introduced.

Below, note how larger wheel size has an effect on EPA economy and range.

Current-excited synchronous motor (eDrive40)
335 horsepower
317 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 109 MPGe/ 108 MPGe (w/18-inch wheels), 100 MPGe/98 MPGe (w/19-inch wheels)
Range on a full charge: 301 miles (w/18-inch wheels), 282 miles (w/19-inch wheels)

Two current-excited synchronous motors (M50)
530 horsepower total output
586 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 94 MPGe/ 98 MPGe (w/19-inch wheels), 79 MPGe/80 MPGe (w/20-inch wheels)
Range on a full charge: 270 miles (w/19-inch wheels), 227 miles (w/20-inch wheels)