BMW i4 2022 Review

Introduction

BMW was one of the pioneers of the EV revolution. The i3 has been one of the most successful electric cars yet, helping build a cooler and less “worthy” image for electrification. But since then, BMW has taken its attention away from pure-BEVs under its own brand, with just the Mini Electric launched, which has been a clear success too. Until now. The i4 arrives alongside the iX SUV. It’s a saloon in what BMW calls the “gran coupe” genre, so it’s bigger than the 3-series. But it’s more than just a large tourer. The i4 is a sign of BMW regaining its performance saloon mojo in the electric era.

Price and Options

The BMW i4 enters an electric market that isn’t very crowded with saloon options just yet. The most obvious competitors are the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. It’s little longer than either, but otherwise similar in size, and similarly aimed at the executive four-door market.

There are two main versions of the i4 – the eDrive40 and the M50. The former is rear-wheel-drive with 340hp and the latter all-wheel-drive with 544hp. However, both have an 83.9kWh gross (80.7kWh net) battery. The eDrive40 comes in Sport and M Sport trim variants, making three basic options. The eDrive40 Sport starts at £51,905, whereas the M Sport variant is £2,500 more at £53,405 and the M50 is £10,500 more than that at £63,905.

The Sport starts with 17in alloys (but 18in are a free upgrade), LED headlights and taillights, powered tailgate, reversing camera, and even a heat pump. Upgrading to the M Sport switches to the 18in alloy wheels by default, adds Alcantara/Sensatec seats, includes lots of styling additions, and offers the IconicSounds engine noise system as well as a number of connected features. The M50 switches the basic colour from white to black, upgrades the wheels to 19in, adds M Sport adaptive suspension and brakes, and variable sport steering. You also get Vernasca leather seats.

The basic eDrive40 colour is white, but black, white, orange, blue, green and light grey metallics are £695. Dark grey metallic, a special blue and red are £1,750. The M50 comes with metallic paints at no cost, the dark grey, special blue and red are just £1,100, and there’s a matte blue for £2,985, which was what our test car came with. There are multiple interior colouring choices, with prices and options varying with trim level. You can also specify wheels up to 20in as optional extras. Our test car had the latter, which are an additional £1,350 on the M50.

Then, of course, there are lots of option packs to choose from, including M Sport Pro for £2,500, a lights package for £1,500, Tech pack including HUD and wireless charging for £1,900, and £3,800 for extra driving assistance via the Technology Plus Pack. However, the M50 only needs £1,900 for this as it has the Tech pack already as standard. There’s a Comfort pack including a heated steering wheel for £990, and if you have this with memory seats it’s £1,950, although the price drops to £1,200 with the M50 because it already has some of the features.

This is a typical scenario for a German car. The base price of the i4 eDrive40 Sport is only slightly more than a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, although the Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor is £5,000 cheaper. The i4 M50 is a few grand more than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. Add in a few option packs, however, and the BMWs get quite a bit more expensive than their competitors, although you might be willing to pay this for the quality and brand. Either way, the i4 is no electric BMW 320d alternative, and it’s a shame that there is no version to go up against the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (now just called the Model 3).