2024 BMW i4

Virtually every BMW vehicle has a particular blend of luxury features, cool technology, and a special driving poise that manages to please enthusiasts and regular buyers alike. The i4 has exactly these qualities, none of which have been diluted to accommodate electric power. Fun to drive, aspirational, and reasonably attainable, the BMW i4 is a BMW 3 Series for the 21st century.

The xDrive40 becomes the fourth model in the i4 lineup. It’s not just the same as the eDrive40 only with all-wheel drive. It has its own drivetrain, more powerful than its rear-drive counterpart.

The infotainment system has been revised so users can access functions with fewer taps of the touchscreen. A new QuickSelect feature puts a vertical array of widgets (for things like entertainment, contacts, temperature settings, etc.) on the driver’s side of the display.

BMW also includes two years of free 30-minute charging sessions on the Electrify America network

Looking at the competition, the Tesla Model 3 starts in the low 40s. The slightly more SUV-like Polestar 2 begins in the high 40s. We know it’s unusual to mention a Kia as an alternative to a BMW, but the Kia EV6 starts at about $42.6K while the 576-horsepower GT is a real driver’s treat. We love that car.

Before buying a new i4 electric luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Tesla Model 3 has the i4 beaten in the resale values department, but it’s still the best-performing BMW electric vehicle in this respect and firmly in the top half of our tables.

The i4 eDrive35 has one electric motor sending 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. This is a useful and entertaining amount of muscle, capable of sending this car from standstill to 60 mph in a brisk 5.8 seconds. That figure feels like an understatement on BMW’s part, since electric motors are great at developing maximum thrust right out of the gate.

A single-motor/rear-drive configuration is in the i4 eDrive40 as well, although the important numbers here are 335 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Compared with the eDrive35, it’s quicker to 60 mph by a tenth of a second.

The new i4 xDrive40 shares a number with the eDrive40, but not a battery or drivetrain. We all know that BMW puts the xDrive name to vehicles with all-wheel drive. And this model 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.

Drivers seeking an even 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, along with 586 lb-ft of torque, to hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. This model also happens to be one of the most entertaining electric cars we’ve ever driven.

Selectable driving modes in every i4 are Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport. Not only do they provide distinct characteristics, but 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.

A special trait of BMW is its 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 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.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of luxury electric sedans, including the BMW i4.

Range and Charging

Something to keep in mind is that wheel size affects range. For example, the entry-level eDrive35 achieves 256 miles on 18-inch wheels. Stepping up to the available 19-inch wheels will increase responsiveness and add some visual flair, but range is reduced to 235 miles.

The eDrive40 can travel for 301 miles on 18-inch wheels, or 282 miles when 19-inch alloys are fitted. The xDrive40 does 307 miles on 18s, or 282 on 19s. The M50 runs to 271 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, the maximum range of the Tesla Model 3 is 333 miles, the Polestar 2 has 270 miles, and the Kia EV6 manages 310 miles.

Most versions of the BMW i4 can replenish their batteries from 10% to 80% in 32 minutes (like the Polestar 2) at a public DC fast charger, with a maximum charge rate of 180 kW. The new xDrive40, however, can charge its 80.7-kWh battery at 205 kW, so it probably needs less time — to be confirmed when BMW releases more information.

The Tesla Model 3 charges a little faster than the BMW i4, between 25 to 30 minutes from 10% to 80%. The Kia EV6 requires only 18 minutes.

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 employ 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.

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 Tesla Model 3’s 35.2 inches and the Polestar 2’s 34 inches. If this is a major consideration, the Kia EV6 has 39 inches of rear legroom.

A 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. The Polestar 2 does better with 13 cubic feet, while the Model 3 has 19.8. Once again, the SUV-like 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 powertrain; specially designed side mirrors; a blue surround on the BMW badges. And the lack of exhaust pipes.

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
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.

My BMW app
This connects an owner’s smartphone with their new i4, uploading destinations to the 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. 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 point.

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

Icon 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 optional in the i4.

BMW’s electric motors are current-excited and don’t have magnets — therefore require no rare-earth materials like a typical electric motor would. They receive spark from a high-voltage lithium-ion battery. The company sources its lithium from an Australian mine with decent working conditions. Aluminum cases for the batteries are also made in a German factory powered by hydroelectricity.

Battery capacity varies according to the variant, going from 66 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to 81.5 kWh, not strikingly different to the Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2. Combined fuel economy of the i4 spans from 80 MPGe to 113 MPGe. The Tesla Model 3 starts at 113 MPGe and goes past the 130 MPGe mark, while the Polestar 2’s spectrums between 95 MPGe to 107 MPGe.

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 normal arrangement among European luxury cars. 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 yet to be crash-tested by any agencies in the United States. A long list of standard safety features includes 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).