Overview

The BMW i4 is a fully electric fastback executive car – or, in marketing speak, a five-door coupe. It’s essentially an EV version of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, and aims to prove not only that electric cars can continue to appeal to driving enthusiasts, but that going fully electric doesn’t require any real compromise from what you’re used to.

It’s gunning straight for Tesla’s Model 3 as well as the Polestar 2 and has proven so good at that, we’ve named it our Company Car of The Year 2023. But those considering an electric vehicle around this price might also consider an SUV such as the Jaguar I-Pace or Audi E-tron, or even BMW’s own iX3.

The i4 feels very conventional compared to most of these rivals, but this isn’t really a downside. Launched alongside BMW’s iX – the brand’s self-proclaimed ‘pinnacle’ of BMW electric vehicle technology – it doesn’t stand out, but instead quietly gets on with its job. If you want an electric car but don’t want to shout about it to the rest of the world, this is a sound option.

That’s not to say the i4 is boring. Both the standard eDrive 40 and the range-topping xDrive M50 are excellent to drive – quiet, serene and comfortable when needed but both capable of beating just about any rival away from the lights. Head out into the bends and the i4 becomes a sports saloon, hiding its weight incredibly well.

Over the next few pages we’ll go into greater detail, reviewing the BMW i4’s practicality, interior, running costs and driving experience.