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BMW i4

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Expert Rating

BMW i4

(2021 - present)

    Summary


    First appearing as a concept at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, the BMW i4 is a premium five-door saloon which is the all-electric equivalent of the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

    One of the Tesla Model 3‘s key competitors in the mid-sized EV saloon market, the i4 is the fifth edition to BMW’s electric ‘i’ line-up, currently placed as the middle ground between the compact i3 hatchback and the larger iX3 SUV.

    The BMW i4 range launched with two drivetrain options – the rear-wheel drive eDrive40, and the four-wheel drive M50. Both models are fitted with an 84 kWh battery, which BMW claims to deliver up to 367 miles from a full charge. The rear-wheel drive ‘eDrive35’ has since joined the range, offering a smaller range of 299 miles and less horsepower for a cheaper price.

    This impressive battery range, coupled with the saloon’s rapid charging ability, has earned the i4 plenty of praise from the UK media. Several titles, including Auto Express, Carwow, and What Car?, have also been impressed by the i4’s refined interior equipped with innovative on-board tech and an “excellent” infotainment system.

    Meanwhile, Car Keys is excited by the BMW i4’s pacy performance and exterior styling. That said, BMW’s new approach to its grille design is a contentious topic for reviewers and BMW enthusiasts alike.

    The key criticism leveled at the BMW i4 is that it is not as enjoyable to drive as the i4’s combustion-powered equivalent, the 4 Series Gran Coupe. What Car? also asserts that the more powerful M50 variant is not as sharp as the Tesla Model 3 Performance, and points out that it also lacks Tesla’s industry-leading Supercharger charging station network.

    As of November 2023, the BMW i4 holds an Expert Rating of 82%, which is a couple of points behind the Tesla Model 3 and the conventionally powered BMW 3 Series. It’s also about seven points better than the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, which is the i4’s petrol equivalent.

    i4 highlights

    • The latest on-board tech innovation
    • Pacy performance
    • Intuitive infotainment
    • Class-leading battery range
    • Agile handling and body control

    i4 lowlights

    • Polarising front-end styling
    • Rivals have more cabin space in the rear
    • Expensive, base model and up
    • Petrol-powered BMW saloons are more fun to drive
    • Tesla offers more charging station coverage

    Key specifications


    Body style: Medium five-door saloon
    Engines: electric, battery-powered
    Price: From £49,995 on-road

    Launched: Winter 2021/22
    Last updated: N/A
    Replacement due: TBA


    Media reviews


    Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

    Auto Express

    +

    Auto Trader

    +

    Autocar

    +

    Car

    +

    Car Keys

    +

    Carbuyer

    +

    Carwow

    +

    Discover EV

    +

    Driving Electric

    +

    Electrifying.com

    +

    Green Car Guide

    +

    Honest John

    +

    Move Electric

    +

    Parkers

    +

    The Intercooler

    +

    The Telegraph

    +

    Top Gear

    +

    What Car?

    +

    Which EV?

    +

    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 4 stars
    Date tested: July 2022
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 87%
    Child protection: 87%
    Vulnerable road users: 71%
    Safety assist: 64%

    Although it is based on the on the 3 Series saloon, which was given a full five-star rating in 2019, the i4 has been awarded a four-star rating by Euro NCAP in 2022. This is likely due to the significant structural differences caused by the engine, gearbox and associated mechanicals being swapped out for an electric motor and batteries.

    While the BMW i4’s adult and child occupant protection scores are high by current standards, the saloon’s safety assistance technology score lags behind other electric saloons, and is actually markedly lower than the safety assist score given to the Toyota Aygo X city car.

    Eco rating


    Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

    No eco rating

    As of November 2023, the BMW i4 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    As of August 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the BMW i4 to generate a reliability rating.

    The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the i4, we’ll publish the score here.

    Running cost rating

    Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

    Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

    Electrical efficiencyAverageScoreVariationScore
    EV models4.2 m/KWhB3.8 – 4.4 m/KWhB – C
    Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
    All models37C35 – 50C – F
    Service and maintenanceCostScore
    Year 1£214B
    Year 2£407A
    Year 3£705A
    Year 4£875A
    Year 5£1,193A
    Overall£3,394A

    It is an expensive upfront purchase, but the BMW i4 is very cheap to run, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

    It’s electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is good, while insurance premiums should be good compared to other electric cars of this size as well. But the even better news is that scheduled servicing costs for the i4 are excellent.

    Awards


    Trophies, prizes and awards that the BMW i4 has received

    2023

    • Auto Express Awards – Best Premium Electric Car
    • Pocket-Lint Awards – Best Car

    2022

    • Auto Express Awards – Best Premium Electric Car
    • Business Car Awards – Best Electric Car over £40k
    • Carbuyer Awards – Best Company Car
    • DrivingElectric Awards – Best Electric Company Car
    • Fleet News Awards – Best Premium Car + Best Zero Emissions Car over £40k
    • GQ eCar Awards – Best Saloon
    • News UK Motor Awards – Best Company Car
    • Parkers New Car Awards – Best Company Car
    • Top Gear Electric Awards – Best Electric Executive Car

    2021

    • Top Gear Car Awards – Best Saloon (i4 M50)

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the BMW i4, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Audi e-tron | Audi Q4 e-tron | BMW iX3 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz EQC | Polestar 2 | Skoda Enyaq | Tesla Model 3 | Volkswagen ID.4

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    A convincing alternative to the Tesla Model 3, the all-electric BMW i4 is highly-regarded thanks to its impressive battery range and performance.BMW i4