2024 BMW i4 luxury sedan has plenty of all-electric power
For the top-tier model, thrust is off the charts.
BMW’s legendary driving dynamics and the benefits of gasoline-free power join forces in the BMW i4 electric sedan. BMW’s sterling design is all in, too.
There are four trims in the i4 lineup, ranging in energy levels from plenty of power to off the charts. They are the 282-horsepower eDrive35 with rear-wheel drive, the 335-horsepower eDrive40 with rear-wheel drive, the 396-horsepower xDrive40 with all-wheel drive, and the 536-horsepower M50 with all-wheel drive.
Pricing for the 2024 BMW i4 starts at $53,195 (including a $995 destination charge) for the eDrive35, and reaches $70,695 for the top-level M50.
The i4 is called by different names, including luxury sedan, luxury four-door coupe, and gran coupe (BMW’s nomenclature). It has four doors and a rear liftback, so five-door fits, too. A car with four doors and a liftback would typically be called a hatchback, but that seems too inelegant for the i4, and luxury hatchback sounds like a contradiction in terms.
According to BMW, the i4 eDrive35 has a 276-mile driving range when fitted with standard 18-inch wheels. It bears mentioning that optional 19-inch wheels reduce the range to 252 miles, and that eDrive40 and xDrive40 ranges top the 300-mile mark.
The eDrive35 is the most efficient in the bunch, with an EPA MPGe rating of 111 miles city, 107 miles highway, and 110 miles combined.
A single electric motor sends the aforementioned 282 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to the eDrive35’s rear wheels, capable of catapulting the car from zero to 60 mph in about 5.8 seconds. Maybe it’s just me, but that seems like plenty of gusto. I mean, during the week I never rolled my eyes at the eDrive35 for not being fast enough, or felt like there was a neon L on my forehead for not driving the M50. However, had the driving been done in midwinter instead of midsummer, I envision some mild cursing at the car for not having all-wheel drive.
The eDrive35’s hushed interior reflects BMW’s exacting standards for build quality, comfort, and top-notch materials, including better-than-leather SensaTec upholstery. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 14.9-inch touchscreen blend horizontally to form one long curved display on the dash, housing controls for BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. Voice command and a rotary knob on the center console are other control options. The system is advanced but not overwrought and can be mastered without too much effort.
Rear seat legroom is borderline. Adults or big kids sitting in the back wouldn’t love long rides.
The rear cargo area has 16.6 cubic feet of space when the rear seats are upright, and 45.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. That’s a goodly amount of room, giving the BMW i4 eDrive35 a big dose of practicality.
2024 BMW i4 eDRIVE35
Base price, including destination charge: $53,195
Price as driven: $63,925
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
