2024 BMW i4 Review, Pricing, and Specs
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Overview
Electric vehicles don’t just compete against each other. In the BMW i4 sedan’s case, it’s also compared against every gas-powered M car before it. With that in mind, the i4 has to serve two orders; performance driving and maximum range. The first it does incredibly well. The xDrive40 and M50 models shell out 396 and 536 horsepower, respectively. We actually give the i4 M50 credit for having better ride-and-handling than the M3, which is already one of our favorite high-performance sedans. In terms of range, the xDrive40 goes the longest of the i4 options with an EPA range of 307 miles. And it has decent DC-fast charging capabilities with speeds of up to 200 kW. The i4 makes for a comfy daily driver with excellent performance when the right pedal asks for it, but dull steering is an example of where technology has gone a little too far. Also, the i4 has a hatchback trunk, which gives it added flexibility when stacking cargo behind its rear seats.
What’s New for 2024?
BMW adds an all-wheel drive i4 xDrive40 with 396 horsepower to its lineup for 2024. The dual electric motors power the newest addition to the i4 lineup to an EPA-estimated 307 miles of total driving range with the standard 18-inch wheels, and an estimated 282 miles with the optional 19-inch wheels. Short of the new trim level, the i4 remains mostly unchanged from last year.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
eDrive35
$53,000 (est)
eDrive40
$59,000 (est)
M50
$70,000 (est)
We prefer the higher-performance M50 over the less expensive—and less powerful—eDrive35 and eDrive40 trims. The M-badged model comes standard with a more assertive appearance, including 19-inch wheels. It also has a beautifully tuned suspension that revels in aggressive driving but is calm and comfortable around town. Upgraded brakes with blue calipers are also included on the M model. We like the look of the optional 20-inch rims and the improved performance of their wider, stickier tires, but they drop the M50’s estimated driving range from 270 to 227 miles. We’d enhance the interior with one of the vernasca leather options, the Premium package (ambient interior lighting, heated seats and steering wheel, lumbar support), and individual options such as the adaptive LED headlights, ventilated front seats, Harman Kardon sound system, and wireless charging.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The 2024 i4 feeds electrons to either one or two electric motors, depending on the model. The eDrive35 is one of two single-motor rear-drive options using a 281-hp unit. The eDrive40 features a single motor on the rear axle that makes 335 horsepower. There’s also the 396-hp xDrive e40, which comes with all-wheel drive and produces 443 pound-feet of torque. The M50 also uses dual-motors to enable all-wheel drive and produce 536 horsepower and 586 pound-feet. The M50 we tested hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, which is quicker than a rear-drive M3 Competition. The rear-drive i4 rolls on a standard set of 18-inch rims; 19-inchers are optional. Conversely, the all-wheel-drive M50 is fitted with either 19s or 20s, and it has adaptive dampers and a variable-ratio steering system. The i4 M50 that we drove delivered immediate and forceful thrust, and even though it weighs considerably more than an M3, its lower center of gravity helps it move assuredly and gracefully.
James Lipman
|
Car and Driver
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The EPA gives the single-motor rear-drive i4 eDrive40 an estimated 301 miles of driving on a full battery. The all-wheel-drive xDrive40 with 396 horsepower gets an estimated 307 miles of driving range when donning the standard 18-inch wheels, or 282 with the optional 19-inch wheels. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive M50 has the same 81.5-kWh battery, but its claimed range tops out at 245 miles. These i4 models have a 200-kW charging capacity that can add between 88 and 108 miles in just 10 minutes. The entry-level eDrive35 model comes with a smaller 66.0 kWh net capacity battery, which is said to deliver around 260 miles of range and maxes out at 180-kW charging speeds. Using the Level 2 (up to 11 kW) onboard charger, the i4 can recharge its battery from zero to 100 percent in less than 8 hours.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
According to the EPA, the most efficient i4 model is the eDrive40 with standard 18-inch wheels. That model earned ratings of 109 MPGe city and 108 MPGe highway. Adding the larger 19-inch wheels drops those figures slightly, and the more powerful M50 model is rated lower too. While we haven’t put every i4 through our 75-mph highway route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, to determine its real-world efficiency, an i4 eDrive 40 Gran Coupe we tested scored 280 miles of range. Just two miles short of its EPA estimate. For more information about the i4’s efficiency ratings, visit the EPA website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the i4’s cabin is richly appointed, including the availability of rose gold trim, white leather upholstery, and light wood trim. The general layout is similar to other BMW models, but the i4, in addition to the all-electric iX SUV, is the first to have a massive, seamless display that spans almost two-thirds of the dashboard. The four-door i4 has a dramatic rear roofline that imitates a coupe-like profile, but it has a traditional trunk in the back.
James Lipman
|
Car and Driver
Infotainment and Connectivity
The i4 was one of the first BMWs to feature the company’s iDrive 8 infotainment and connectivity software, called iDrive 8. Thanks to a free over-the-air update, the i4 gets upgraded to a newer version, iDrive 8.5. The system operates through a 14.9-inch touchscreen integrated with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel on a huge curved display on the dashboard. Along with a rotary controller on the center console, the system offers advanced voice commands and myriad popular features. These include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2024 i4 offers a variety of standard and optional driver-assistance technology. For more information about the Bimmer’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
BMW currently offers a competitive warranty that includes one of the better complimentary maintenance periods.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles
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Specifications
Specifications
2022 BMW i4 eDrive40
Vehicle Type: rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $56,395/$64,820
POWERTRAIN
Motor: current-excited synchronous AC
Power: 335 hp @ 8000–17,000 rpm
Torque: 317 lb-ft @ 0–5000 rpm
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 81.5 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Transmission: direct-drive
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.7-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
Tires: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
F: 245/40R-19 98Y ★
R: 255/40R-19 100Y ★
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.4 in
Length: 188.5 in
Width: 72.9 in
Height: 57.0 in
Passenger Volume: 90 ft3
Trunk Volume: 10 ft3
Curb Weight: 4699 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.8 sec
100 mph: 11.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.4 sec @ 106 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.1 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 115 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 169 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 345 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.87 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 108 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving: 107 MPGe
75-mph Highway Range: 280 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 99/100/98 MPGe
Range: 282 mi
2022 BMW i4 M50
Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $66,895/$76,670
POWERTRAIN
Rear Motor: synchronous AC, 308 hp, 295 lb-ft
Combined Power: 536 hp
Combined Torque: 586 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 81.5 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Transmissions: direct-drives
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Tires: Pirelli P Zero Elect PZ4
Brakes, F/R: 14.7-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
F: 255/35R-20 97Y ★
R: 285/30R-20 99Y ★
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.4 in
Length: 188.5 in
Width: 72.9 in
Height: 57.0 in
Passenger Volume: 90 ft3
Cargo Volume: 10 ft3
Curb Weight: 5063 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.3 sec
100 mph: 8.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.7 sec @ 120 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.5 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.0 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 154 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 308 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.97 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 83 MPGe
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 80/79/80 MPGe
Range: 227 mi
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
