In the legacy automotive world, BMW has been a pioneer of modern electric cars. In 2009, BMW began leasing its first EV, the MINI E, a fully-electric Mini Cooper with a range of 100 miles. In early 2012, BMW released another lease-only vehicle called the ActiveE, another small EV. The ActiveE took the form of a 1-Series and had a slightly smaller battery pack, yielding a range of 94 miles. After BMW experimented with these products, the German automaker decided to broaden its horizons.

In late 2013, the eccentric i3 hit United States BMW showrooms. From its exposed carbon fiber monocoque chassis to its sustainable interior, the i3 was far ahead of its time. While the i3 was nimble and fun to drive, many criticized its mediocre range of 81 miles at its release. By the 2019 model year, BMW increased its EV-only range to 153 by the end of its lifecycle. All model years also included a REx variant which housed a small gasoline generator, increasing its range by around 80 miles. In BMW i's nascent years, the firm envisioned its electric products to serve as city-bound daily-drivers rather than road trippers.

Despite having a decent i3 production run, some buyers felt the range was a turn-off. In early 2022, BMW began delivering its next wave of electric products: the i4 and the iX. These vehicles can achieve over 300 miles of range, and their performance figures are highly competitive. The iX is a large, premium SUV priced at $84,195, and the i4, starting at $56,395, competes with the Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3.

2022 BMW i4

9.00 / 10
Key Features
  • Muscular, yet elegant sports sedan
  • 301-mile range
  • 335-horsepower RWD setup
Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: i4
  • Segment: Array
  • Engine/Motor: Single Electric Motor / Dual Electric Motor, 81 kWh Lithuim-Ion Battery
  • Horsepower: 335-536 hp
  • Torque: 317-586 lb-ft
  • Drivetrain: RWD / AWD
  • Transmission: 1-Speed Direct Drive
  • Range: 270-301 miles
Pros
  • Impressive power delivery, even for the base model.
  • Great roadholding abilities
  • Top-notch software
Cons
  • Low on standard safety features
  • Base audio system is unexciting

The i4: An Overview

2022 BMW i4 eDrive 40 in Grey
Via: Andrew Lambrecht

At $56,395, the BMW i4 eDrive 40 sounds relatively expensive; however, unlike the $48,190 base Tesla Model 3, the German saloon qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit. Factoring in the tax credit and provided buyers qualify, the i4 soon becomes a $48,895 car. To make the i4's case, it's only a $705 premium over the Model 3 for 29 more miles of range and 0.3-second quicker acceleration.

After picking up my review model, provided by Hendrick BMW Charlotte, it was hard to deny that the 2022 i4's design is striking. My review i4 eDrive40 featured Skyscraper Grey Metallic paint, 19" aero wheels, a head-up display, and the Premium Package. The latter consists of ambient lighting, heated seats, lumbar support, and a heated steering wheel. The metallic paint option and 19" aero wheels go for $595 each, the head-up display runs $1,000, and the premium package is $995. Factoring in these additions, the i4's price amounted to $59,395.

With dealer fees, the lightly equipped i4 is easily a $60,000 car out the door. Even though it was low on options, the i4 still felt high-end. As standard, the i4 features a power lift-gate, a power opening moonroof, and a responsive 14.9" infotainment screen mated to a 12.3" driver's display. Complementing these features, BMW's phenomenal interior build quality sealed the deal for driver comfort. But everything isn't perfect.

BMW doesn't include vital ADAS features as standard, like adaptive cruise control, so buyers need to purchase that separately in the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package, including features like automated driving on highways and automatic lane change assist. While the lack of ACC is disappointing, it's fair to say the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package is a good option considering all its features.

Batteries Included

Unlike the i3 and most modern EVs, the BMW i4 does not reside on an EV-dedicated platform. Instead, BMW has been working on platforms that can accommodate both internal combustion engines and EV components. This is similar to Polestar and Volvo's shared Compact Modular Architecture platform. With a shared platform, EV releases can be expedited and less expensive, but there will be a rear 'transmission' hump and limited space up front (Volvo and Polestar still have a frunk). It's a bit of a shame, but it isn't all bad news.

BMW was still able to outfit the i4 eDrive 40 with a hefty 335-horsepower rear-mounted motor and an 83.9kWh (81.5kWh usable) battery pack, allowing for an EPA-estimated range of 301 miles. One thing to note is that wheels make a difference in how much range you can get. That 301-mile figure is achievable with the base 18"s wheels. My review model with the 19" s drops that down to 282, but don't worry, BMW's EPA range estimates tend to be conservative.

RELATED: 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD Review: A Game-Changer In The EV MarketIf you're going on a road trip and need to recharge your i4 at a public DC fast charger, you're in luck. BMW equips all i4s with the ability to accept a 205kW of power at these stations. BMW says that the i4 can add 102 miles of range within a 10-minute charging session, but you'd have to be at a lower state of charge to achieve that figure. As a cherry on top, all i4s come with two years of free 30-minute charging sessions through the Electrify America network.

A Functional Exterior

2022 BMW i4 eDrive 40 in Grey
Via: Andrew Lambrecht 

301 miles out of an 81.5kWh battery means the i4 is pretty efficient. In EVs, aerodynamics plays a massive role in achieving good range figures, so the i4's slippery design makes that 301-mile figure possible. Despite sharing many bodywork components with the 430i Gran Coupe, the i4 has a flatter underbody and a closed-off grille. These elements achieve a commendable drag coefficient of .24Cd. In other words, the sporty i4 has the exact same drag coefficient as the Toyota Prius.

Related: 10 Things To Know Before Buying 2022 BMW I4

Driver Comfort

BMW_i4_interior-1

When first entering the i4's cabin, you'll notice the expansive, curved center screen. Composed of two screens, one 12.3" driver's display and a center 14.3" touchscreen, it looks terrific in person. The displays run BMW's latest iDrive 8 software, which is nearly perfect. The software is incredibly fluid, and the graphics look highly refined. There is also a trackpad of sorts in the center console, which you can use instead of the touchscreen. I've found it to be most useful when needing to operate the screen while driving, as you can stay more focused on the road ahead.

Besides the screens, the interior quality is superb. The seats were very comfortable, and the bolstering was great for traveling around corners. Despite being SensaTec and not genuine leather, they still felt nice and breathable. Sure, there is some plastic in lower areas of the interior, but almost everything you interact with feels high quality.

Related: Drag Race: BMW i4 M50 Takes On M3 Competition

BMW i4: On The Road

2022 BMW i4 eDrive 40 Interior
Via: Andrew Lambrecht

A common argument against EVs is that they all drive the same. That is simply not the case. The BMW i4 is one of the better driving EVs I've had the opportunity to check out in a long time. When you get behind the wheel, you'll realize that the car feels extremely planted. That's because the i4 eDrive 40 weighs 4,680-pounds. Since it's electric, the i4 has a very low center of gravity due to the battery pack residing below the vehicle's floor.

Mitigating this weight is an excellent suspension that is comfortable yet able to corner elegantly. The Mach-E and the Model 3 have firm suspensions, but they can be intolerable sometimes, especially when encountering misaligned pavement or blemishes on the road's surface. The i4's suspension just doesn't suffer from this same issue. This is likely because the i4 comes with rear air suspension as standard.

Accompanying the other performance-related attributes is the i4's acceleration. The 335 horsepower motor allows for a quick, 5.5-second sprint to sixty. Like its conservative EPA range estimate, I felt it be a little faster when actually behind the wheel. No matter if you are in Comfort or Sport Mode, the i4 accelerates very quickly.

Regarding the drive modes, it's vital to point out that Sport Mode makes the throttle feel very aggressive. When you press the throttle in Sport Mode, you feel a forceful wave of torque pushing you to the back of the seat. My biggest complaint with some new EVs, like the Volkswagen ID.4, is that their throttles feel too much like an ICE car, meaning that you don't get that EV punch as you would in a Tesla, per se. The i4 is one of the only new EVs that doesn't really 'ramp up' its throttle.

Even at highway speeds, the acceleration is still more than ample, but not as aggressive as at lower speeds. When driving on highways, it was a bit of a shame not to have adaptive cruise control or really any notable safety features present. It did have blind spot alert and lane keep assist, but you couldn't rely on any of those features. When purchasing an i4, the $1,900 Driving Assistance Professional Package is a must. For $1,900, the car will essentially drive itself in its lane on highways and even perform automatic lane changes.

The i4: BMW's Best?

2022 BMW i4 eDrive 40 in Grey
Via: Andrew Lambrecht

Without a doubt, the BMW i4 is an exceptional car all around. From a plentiful 301-mile range and a healthy output of 335 horsepower, the i4 excels both in spirited and range-conscious driving. The i4's comfortable interior has recognizable characteristics paired with sui generis ones that make it feel like a blend of tradition and contemporary. In the end, the i4 eDrive 40 is a very compelling option, and it's the first electric sedan I've driven that I'd take over a Model 3.