2025 BMW i4

We’re seriously impressed by what BMW is doing with its electric cars. The full-size i7 sedan is awesome, the midsize i5 sedan is similarly superb, and this compact i4 Gran Coupe keeps the ball rolling. The i4 offers driving thrills worthy of the BMW badge, along with technology that’s easy to use yet still wonderfully effective. The build quality and materials are all typically high-level. We also like how the company factors sustainability into its production processes with things like hydro-electric power for the battery factory.

The gasoline-powered BMW 4 Series is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of miles driving and evaluating this generation of electric luxury sedans, including the BMW i4.

The i4 launched for 2022 and this year sees thinner headlights, along with new taillights offering Laserlight technology. There are fresh paint colors as well, plus a standard matte chrome surround for the double-kidney grille.

Of the nearest rivals, the Tesla Model 3 starts the lowest, in the $42K region. The Polestar 2 begins closer to $67K. We realize that comparing a BMW with a Kia is unorthodox, but the electric car world plays by slightly different rules. We really like the Kia EV6 (from around $43K) and we don’t think buyers will feel short-changed by it. We appreciate that the BMW badge does carry more prestige, however.

Before buying a new i4 luxury electric sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are a touch above the class average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The popular i4 xDrive40 has a motor for each axle, making a combined 396 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque — enough punch for a 4.9-second sprint to 60 mph. We wouldn’t be surprised if BMW was doing it’s usual understating here, because it feels faster to us. For reference, the revised Tesla Model 3 has a 510-horsepower Performance model claimed to hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds (and it still starts out less expensive than the xDrive40). The Polestar 2 (long range, dual motor) generates 476 horsepower and does the dash in about four seconds.

A special trait of BMW is weight distribution, creating a well-balanced car. That hasn’t changed with electrification. The i4 retains that poise and stability. If anything, it’s enhanced by setting the battery below the floor, keeping the center of gravity advantageously low. The M50 has a sport-tuned adaptive suspension to exploit this talent even more.

Speaking of the M50, this model happens to be one of the most entertaining electric cars we’ve ever driven. With 536 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque, it will hit 60 mph in an impressive 3.7 seconds. That’s performance similar to a BMW M3 — but with more power, all-wheel drive, zero emissions and a lower price.

Selectable driving modes in every i4 are Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport. Not only do they provide distinct characteristics, they also come with dedicated soundtracks. Eco Pro is the quiet one. Comfort adds some subtle whooshing. And Sport’s jet-like accompaniment grows in volume and pitch to match any increase in speed — this may be overkill for some tastes, and can be turned off if desired.

Setting the technological tone of the i4 electric car’s cabin is the Curved Display. It’s a one-piece unit housing a 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster, plus a 14.9-inch section dedicated to the infotainment system and various functions.

The interior keeps buttons and controls to a minimum, while still bringing high-quality materials. Some new vehicles are employing buttons in place of a traditional shifter, but BMW has put a lever into the i4 — albeit with a futuristic interpretation. We still think that’s a good call. Sport front seats covered in perforated simulated leather are standard, and the 2025 i4 comes with a 2-spoke polygonal steering wheel.

Rear legroom of 34.2 inches serves as a reminder that the i4 is a compact car, so we didn’t really expect generous passenger space. Even so, it compares well enough with the Model 3 and the Polestar 2. If this a major consideration, the Kia EV6 has 39 inches of rear legroom.

A luggage area of 10 cubic feet is kind of modest, although the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats bring extra versatility. The Polestar 2 does better with 14.4 cubic feet, while the Model 3 has 19.8. Once again, the EV6 trounces the rest with 24.4 cubic feet.

There’s a strong family resemblance to the combustion-powered 4 Series — even the charging socket is on a rear fender, like a fuel filler. The i4 compact luxury electric car has a 4-door body with a hatchback, in common with the 4 Series Gran Coupe. The differences aren’t hard to spot, though. Flush-fitting door handles, for example, to optimize aerodynamics; a grille that’s used more for housing sensors and cameras than sending cool air to the drivetrain; specially designed side mirrors; a blue surround on the BMW badges. And the lack of exhaust pipes.

Changes this year include thinner LED headlights, revised taillights with the option of Laserlight technology (giving, in BMW’s words, “an intricate light graphic”) plus new metallic paint finishes of Cape York Green and Vegas Red.

Pre-conditioning
Sure, other electric cars also offer this feature, where the cabin temperature can be set while still connected to a charger (saving battery power). But the extra advantage with the i4 is that the climate control system has nano-fiber filtering to capture allergens, so the air is purified before anyone gets in.

iDrive 8.5
BMW’s robust infotainment system includes voice control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration, USB-C ports, and over-the-air updates.

My BMW app
This connects an owner’s smartphone with their new i4, uploading destinations to the on-board navigation system, showing how much range is in the battery, activating pre-conditioning, and creating user profiles that can transfer to other BMW vehicles.

One-pedal driving
Like a lot of electric vehicles, the BMW i4 has a one-pedal driving feature, where brake energy regeneration will slow the car, reducing the number of occasions when the driver actually has to hit the brakes. We’ve found this a boon when driving in the city. Unsurprisingly, BMW has taken the idea to another level with artificial intelligence (AI), where the amount of regeneration is adaptive instead of set at one particular point.

Harman Kardon audio
A high-end car deserves high-end audio, in our opinion. Like this optional and superb 16-speaker/464-watt surround-sound system.

Adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight
Adaptive headlights will adjust their beams automatically to prevent other drivers from being dazzled, while the Laserlight component provides maximum illumination. These are standard in the M50 xDrive, optional in other variants.

Something to keep in mind is that wheel size affects range. For example, the entry-level eDrive35 achieves 266 miles on 18-inch wheels, whereas range is 244 miles on 19s.

The eDrive40 can travel for 318 miles on 18-inch wheels, or 295 miles when 19-inch alloys are fitted. The xDrive40 does 287 miles on 18s, 268 on 19s. The M50 runs to 267 miles on 19s, or 227 on 20s.

Bigger wheels also tend to make the ride quality a little harsher. So buyers wanting the best range could also enjoy the smoothest ride.

For a bit of context, maximum range of the Tesla Model 3 is 363 miles, the Polestar 2 has 254 miles, and the Kia EV6 manages 319 miles.

In general, the BMW i4 can replenish its battery from 10% to 80% in about half an hour (similar to the Polestar 2) on a DC fast charger at 180 kW. The Tesla Model 3 charges a little faster, between 25 to 30 minutes. The Kia EV6 requires only 18 minutes.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties both last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is the usual arrangement among luxury cars, especially from European manufacturers. The battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. There’s also roadside assistance for the first four years, with unlimited mileage.

Safety Ratings

The i4 has not yet been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States. Among the many standard features are forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking (operating at city speeds) and pedestrian/cyclist detection, active blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, plus an acoustic warning for pedestrians (since there’s no engine or exhaust noise).