• Hatchback boot makes the i4 quite practical
• Rear seats are cramped
• Central tunnel restricts space for fifth passenger

How much space is there?

Space in the front seats of the BMW i4 is as good as you’d hope for in something so driver-focused as this. There’s tons of adjustment in both the seat and steering wheel so even the tallest of drivers can get comfortable.

That’s less so the case in the back. The rear doors are quite small, making access more difficult than it could be. Once inside, the large front seats rather restrict space for the passenger’s knees. Headroom is limited by that swoopy roofline, too.

Unusually for an electric car, the i4 has a central tunnel that runs between the two back seats. In a petrol or diesel powered 4 Series Gran Coupe, this would house the gearbox and driveshaft – but in the i4, it’s been used to fit even more batteries in. This is great for range, but it does mean the middle passenger has to sit astride it – and that restricts their legroom and footroom. The centre seat is best saved for occasional use only.

Boot space and storage

The i4’s hatchback boot makes it more flexible than a Tesla Model 3 with its saloon opening, and means that you can carry fairly large items. Boot capacity is good, too – 470 litres with the seats in place, and 1,290 with them folded. The rear bench splits 60:40 to give you a choice between passengers, luggage, or a mixture.

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Storage spaces consist of average-sized door bins and a shallow centre cubby under the centre armrest. You get a pair of cupholders under a sliding panel as well as somewhere to put your phone – this is ideal for wirelessly charging it.

Is it easy to park?

Every BMW i4 comes with a reversing camera and sensors, as well as BMW Parking Assistant which can scan spaces either for parallel or bay parking and deal with the steering for you.

This is all quite useful, as the i4’s thick pillars and curving body doesn’t make it easy to judge where the corners are.

Safety

• Has not been individually tested by Euro NCAP
• But the closely related 4 Series scored 5 stars
• i4 is packed with safety kit

The BMW i4 hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP. It’s closely-related siblings, the 3 Series and 4 Series, both scored full five-star ratings, though – and electric cars do often perform very well in these tests thanks to the added stiffness provided by their battery packs running the length of the car.

It comes as standard with all the safety kit you’d expect from an executive car in 2023, as well. Autonomous emergency braking is standard, as are lane-keeping aids. Optionally available is adaptive cruise control with stop and go, which can partially automate driving in traffic or on motorways.