Used 2023 BMW i4

In these SUV-obsessed times, it’s great to see BMW still putting time, talent, and vision into a compact 4-door car. The i4 follows the 4 Series Gran Coupe formula, but with an electric twist.

The version with the most range — the distance traveled on a full battery — is the eDrive40, capable of 301 miles. The version with the most muscle is the 536-horsepower M50. And the most affordable new i4 is the eDrive35, added to the lineup for 2023 and on target to cover 260 miles on a single charge.

Charging times for each variant are relatively short as well.

There’s an extra dimension to the i4 beyond output and range — transparency. Lithium for the battery comes from a mine in Australia with sustainable practices and decent working conditions. The battery pack’s aluminum case comes from a Munich factory that uses only hydroelectric power.

With the i4, BMW is walking the eco-friendly walk (driving the drive?) as well as talking the talk.

BMW says the new-for-2023 i4 eDrive35 can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. This seems really conservative, given that electric motors produce instant thrust and the eDrive35 has a respectable 295 lb-ft of torque, complemented by 281 horsepower. The 335-horsepower eDrive40 is only quicker by a tenth of a second.

Drivers seeking a faster thrill — perhaps wanting to attain performance similar to an M3 but with more power, all-wheel drive, zero emissions, and a lower price — need to check out the i4 M50. It corrals 536 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque to hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. One of our editors said it was the most fun-to-drive BMW he’d driven in years.

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. It’s a boon when driving in the city. Unsurprisingly, BMW has taken this idea to the next level with artificial intelligence (AI), where the amount of regeneration is adaptive instead of set at one particular level.

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.

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

There is something to keep in mind, though. Wheel sizes affect range. For example, the i4 eDrive40 can travel for 301 miles on 18-inch wheels. That’s reduced to 282 miles when 19-inch alloys are fitted. There’s a difference in the M50 as well: 270 miles on 19-inches and 227 miles on 20-inches.

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

Setting the technological tone of the 2023 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 its 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.

Rear legroom of 34.2 inches serves as a reminder that the i4 is a compact car, so generous passenger space is not expected. The luggage area of 10 cubic feet will take the obligatory pair of golf bags, while the 40/20/40 split/folding rear seats bring extra versatility.

There’s a strong family resemblance to the combustion-powered 4 Series — even the charging socket is on a rear fender, like the fuel filler. The 2023 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.

The most expensive paint options for the 2023 i4 M50 are Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic and Frozen Pure Grey II Metallic, both costing $3,600.

1. 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 benefit here is that the climate control system has nanofiber filtering to capture allergens, so the air is purified before anyone gets in.

2. iDrive 8
This is the latest iteration of BMW’s excellent and user-friendly infotainment system that includes voice control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, USB-C ports, and over-the-air updates.

3. 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.

4. Harman Kardon audio system
A high-end car deserves high-end audio, like this optional and superb 16-speaker/464-watt surround-sound system.

5. Icon adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight
Adaptive headlights will adjust their beams automatically to prevent other drivers from being dazzled. The Laserlight component provides maximum illumination. These are optional in the 2023 i4.

6. Drive recorder
Available as an option in the M50, this will record every drive as the name suggests — including surroundings, speed, and GPS position — and will play it back on the main display.

The new variant of the i4 lineup comes in at the entry level. The 2023 i4 eDrive35 has one electric motor driving the rear wheels to the tune of 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s still quite a useful and entertaining amount of muscle.

The i4 eDrive40 also has a single electric motor and a rear-wheel-drive setup, but this model comes with 335 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque.

Two motors in the 2023 i4 M50 create an electronic form of all-wheel drive, combining to provide 536 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque.

All these motors in the 2023 i4 lineup are known as current-excited motors and don’t have magnets — therefore, no rare-earth materials like a typical electric motor. They receive their spark from a high-voltage lithium-ion battery.

Recharging the battery from 10% capacity to 80% on a DC fast charger takes about 32 minutes. Using a 240-volt home charging setup could achieve a full charge in approximately eight hours.

BMW i4 eDrive35
281 horsepower
295 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: TBA
BMW-estimated range: 260 miles (18-inch wheels)

BMW i4 eDrive40
335 horsepower
317 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 109/108 MPGe (18-inch wheels), 100/98 MPGe (19-inch wheels)
EPA-estimated range: 301 miles (18-inch wheels), 282 miles (19-inch wheels)

BMW i4 M50
536 horsepower total output
586 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 94/98 MPGe (19-inch wheels), 79/80 MPGe (20-inch wheels)
EPA-estimated range: 270 miles (19-inch wheels), 227 miles (20-inch wheels)