I drove the electric BMW i4 and found a more luxurious, familiar alternative to a Tesla

Tim LevinJan 14, 2024, 01:51 IST

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

I tested the BMW i4 eDrive40, a new electric sports sedan.
The i4 isn't futuristic or quirky like some other EVs. It just looks and feels like a BMW.

Not everyone dreams of owning a newfangled Tesla or Rivian. Some car shoppers just want a zero-emission version of a vehicle they already know and love.

That's where the BMW i4 comes in. It doesn't try to reinvent the driving experience, nor is it overflowing with gimmicks or huge touchscreens. It's just a sporty, premium-feeling BMW that happens to also be electric.

After testing a 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 for a few days, I found it's a excellent option for first-time EV buyers who want something more familiar and luxurious than a Tesla Model 3. Plus, it's a great choice for anyone feeling left out by the flood of new electric SUVs.

At a glance, you'd need a keen eye to determine that the i4 runs on electricity instead of gas.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

It looks nearly identical to BMW's combustion-engine offerings, save for a few tells.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

Eagle-eyed observers will notice the lack of a tailpipe and mostly closed-off (though still enormous) grille.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

It's a departure from BMW's first electric effort, the quirky i3 hatchback.

BMW i3.BMW

Inside, too, the i4 doesn't make an attempt at being too futuristic or unexpected.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

There's no TV-sized screen, minimalist ambiance, or sprawling glass roof.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

Instead, the i4's cabin is what you'd expect from a BMW. It's understated, sturdily built, and makes use of high-quality materials.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

The funky door handles have a nice weight to them, and the doors shut with an immensely satisfying thunk.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

None of this is to say that the i4 is stuck in the past. It comes with a generously sized curved display that's crisp, bright, and easy to use.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

It's split into two sections. The portion behind the steering wheel displays crucial info like your speed, range, and battery life.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

The righthand section houses the navigation, tons of vehicle settings, media options, and more. It reacts to taps with minimal lag time, making it more pleasant to use than some other automotive interfaces.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

The righthand section houses the navigation, tons of vehicle settings, media options, and more. It reacts to taps with minimal lag time, making it more pleasant to use than some other automotive interfaces.

One gripe, however, is that all climate controls aside from temperature are hidden in a menu. Call me petty, but I think fan speed and heated seats should be one tap away.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

One gripe, however, is that all climate controls aside from temperature are hidden in a menu. Call me petty, but I think fan speed and heated seats should be one tap away.

My tester also offered up a handy head-up display, which projected some basic information onto the windshield.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

Another pain point: rear-seat roominess. The way most EVs are built allows manufacturers to create extra interior space.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

But BMW left a big hump on the floor, just like gas cars have. It makes an already cozy back seat even more cramped.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

The i4 has a hatch instead of a regular trunk, giving it a fairly spacious, versatile cargo area.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

Still, rivals like the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 3 have it beat in one respect. They both have front trunks, while the i4 just has a big piece of plastic under the hood.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

Still, rivals like the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 3 have it beat in one respect. They both have front trunks, while the i4 just has a big piece of plastic under the hood.

Out on the road, the i4 drives like you'd expect a BMW to — especially when you switch it into Sport mode.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

It delivers the tight, responsive steering and planted feeling BMW's sports sedans are known for. That makes it a joy to whip through turns.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

It's also freakishly quick from a stop. BMW says the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 has 335 horsepower and scoots to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

Switching into B mode using the gear selector dials up the regenerative braking and turns on one-pedal driving.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

My test car was EPA-rated for 282 miles of range. Not too shabby.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

And it can charge at a highly competitive rate of 200 kilowatts at fast-charging stations.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

For long highway stints, the i4 offers an impressive driver-assistance system that automatically keeps the car in its lane and keeps up with the flow of traffic.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

The i4 may not be as futuristic or forward thinking as some rivals. But its refined styling, engaging driving feel, and satisfying technology make it a highly appealing choice for anyone who isn't trying to venture too far from what they know.

The BMW i4 eDrive40.Tim Levin/Insider

The i4 may not be as futuristic or forward thinking as some rivals. But its refined styling, engaging driving feel, and satisfying technology make it a highly appealing choice for anyone who isn't trying to venture too far from what they know.

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I drove the electric BMW i4 and found a more luxurious, familiar alternative to a Tesla

At a glance, you'd need a keen eye to determine that the i4 runs on electricity instead of gas.

It looks nearly identical to BMW's combustion-engine offerings, save for a few tells.

Eagle-eyed observers will notice the lack of a tailpipe and mostly closed-off (though still enormous) grille.

It's a departure from BMW's first electric effort, the quirky i3 hatchback.

Inside, too, the i4 doesn't make an attempt at being too futuristic or unexpected.

There's no TV-sized screen, minimalist ambiance, or sprawling glass roof.

Instead, the i4's cabin is what you'd expect from a BMW. It's understated, sturdily built, and makes use of high-quality materials.

The funky door handles have a nice weight to them, and the doors shut with an immensely satisfying thunk.

None of this is to say that the i4 is stuck in the past. It comes with a generously sized curved display that's crisp, bright, and easy to use.

It's split into two sections. The portion behind the steering wheel displays crucial info like your speed, range, and battery life.

The righthand section houses the navigation, tons of vehicle settings, media options, and more. It reacts to taps with minimal lag time, making it more pleasant to use than some other automotive interfaces.

One gripe, however, is that all climate controls aside from temperature are hidden in a menu. Call me petty, but I think fan speed and heated seats should be one tap away.

My tester also offered up a handy head-up display, which projected some basic information onto the windshield.

Another pain point: rear-seat roominess. The way most EVs are built allows manufacturers to create extra interior space.

But BMW left a big hump on the floor, just like gas cars have. It makes an already cozy back seat even more cramped.

The i4 has a hatch instead of a regular trunk, giving it a fairly spacious, versatile cargo area.

Still, rivals like the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 3 have it beat in one respect. They both have front trunks, while the i4 just has a big piece of plastic under the hood.

Out on the road, the i4 drives like you'd expect a BMW to — especially when you switch it into Sport mode.

It delivers the tight, responsive steering and planted feeling BMW's sports sedans are known for. That makes it a joy to whip through turns.

It's also freakishly quick from a stop. BMW says the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 has 335 horsepower and scoots to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.

Switching into B mode using the gear selector dials up the regenerative braking and turns on one-pedal driving.

My test car was EPA-rated for 282 miles of range. Not too shabby.

And it can charge at a highly competitive rate of 200 kilowatts at fast-charging stations.

For long highway stints, the i4 offers an impressive driver-assistance system that automatically keeps the car in its lane and keeps up with the flow of traffic.

The i4 may not be as futuristic or forward thinking as some rivals. But its refined styling, engaging driving feel, and satisfying technology make it a highly appealing choice for anyone who isn't trying to venture too far from what they know.