• Conventional interior is easy to get to grips with
• New infotainment system works very well
• Still enjoys the same excellent build quality

How is the quality and layout?

BMW didn’t use the i4’s facelift as an excuse to cut corners. It’s still exceptionally well made. All the materials feel plush and expensive – and none of the trims rattle and creak as you drive along. The tolerances are tighter than a Swiss watch, which is much more than can be said of any Tesla.

We love the layout, too. Even though its new infotainment system occupies even more of the dashboard, it’s utterly approachable thanks to its simple menu design and BMW’s iDrive rotary controller on the centre console. BMW also, rather sensibly, retained plenty of physical controls on the centre console.

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Sadly, the temperature controls are still on the touchscreen. But they are at least on a fixed menu bar at the bottom of the screen, so you don’t need to dig through loads of menus to access them.

Infotainment and tech

The i4’s Curved Display infotainment system can give IMAX a run for its money. It’s a vast setup stretching two thirds the width of the dashboard. It consists of two screens – a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a massive 14.9-inch central screen.

You can operate the touchscreen in a few ways. Gesture control and voice commands are both supported, but they’re rather clunky. But using the touchscreen or the rotary iDrive controller on the centre console are both great options, with the former being quicker while you’re stationary and the latter better for adjusting the screen on the move.

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Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available, and BMW has integrated them seamlessly into its hardware. The biggest benefit is that you can have your smartphone display its own maps on the instrument panel, which is a fantastic development if you’re wedded to Google Maps like most of the Parkers team. You also get a head-up display, which is nice to help you keep your eyes on the road.

Comfort

• Great for the driver and front passenger
• Rear seats are comfy but dark and cramped
• Exceptionally refined on the motorway

The i4’s a great car for those sitting up front. Its seats and steering wheel are far more adjustable than any of its rivals (short of a Porsche Taycan), which means long-legged drivers can really get comfortable.

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Rear-seat passengers are less well-catered for. Our six-foot tester struggled to fit his head under the roof without craning down – and the narrow, heavily tinted rear windows means there’s very little light back there. On the flipside, the rear bench is remarkably comfortable, offering plenty of padding and a surprising amount of lateral support.