2022 BMW i4 electric

The all-new 2022 BMW i4 will be available in two trims namely the eDrive40 and the M50. The major difference between the two models is the all-wheel drive on the M50 and some minor styling attributes. The eDrive40 carries a price tag of $55,400 and opting for the more powerful M50 will set you off a cheque worth $65,900. The standard features on both these models will be the same while the M50 gets an additional High-performance tire package and an M carbon exterior package. The i4 will feature LED headlamps, auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, and a 14.9-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration. Additionally, buyers will have the choice to pick Premium, Dynamic Handling, M Sport, Parking assistance, and Driving assistance packages which can elevate the already upscale experience.

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Although the M50 is a tempting choice due to the extra power that it makes, the eDrive40 is adequately equipped to make it the perfect daily drivable EV with a great balance of drive and practical range. Buyers can also customize the i4 by picking one of many available options.

Release Date

The i4 was showcased towards the end of 2021 and BMW claimed that the delivery would start by mid-2022.

Depending on the model, the 2022 i4 can power one or two electric motors. A single 335 horsepower motor is installed on the rear axle of the eDrive40 which also makes 375 lb-ft of torque. Both axles of the M50 have electric motors, which together offer all-wheel drive and generate 536 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque. The rear-drive i4 rides on a set of 18-inch wheels as standard while 19-inch rims are an option. The all-wheel-drive M50, on the other hand, includes adaptive dampers, variable-ratio steering, and either 19 or 20-inch wheels. The battery pack that the i4 uses is an 80.7kWh lithium-ion unit and the power is transferred to the wheels using a single-speed transmission. The BMW i4 eDrive40 is capable of hitting 60 mph from a standstill in 5.7 seconds but picking the M50 will get you off the line even quicker than the BMW M3.

The BMW i4 stacks up really well against the Tesla and Polestar but the additional power on the Beemer demands a higher starting price. The Polestar is the only offering to come with power delivered to the front wheels while both the BMW and Tesla stick to the RWD setup. While the BMW makes the most power, the Polestar falls behind with over 100 hp short in comparison. The Tesla sits right in the middle with a rather low amount of power compared to the i4 but does not reflect that much in its acceleration timings.

2022 BMW i4 Ride and Handling

The chassis is perfectly balanced, giving the i4 fun handling on canyon roads while also being comfortable enough to tackle Los Angeles' frequently rough city streets. This is further helped by the battery pack's inherently low center of gravity, as well as the electrically adjustable dampers of the optional Adaptive M suspension, which enable you to choose a firmer ride for improved handling. Additionally, although it isn't as powerful as the M50, the i4 eDrive40 feels a little bit more playful because it only has two powered wheels. Even though eDrive40's electronic power steering ratio is slower than that of the M50's, the wheel's weighting is excellent, and turn-in is swift and progressive.

2022 BMW i4 Braking Performance

You can operate this BMW with just one pedal, much like other EVs. The vehicle will slow down to stop as soon as you remove your foot from the pedal. However, several tests revealed that while the car is in one-pedal "B-Mode" driving, the transition between acceleration and braking is not smooth. Driving smoothly is simpler when the brake pedal is engaged. Even though it is insufficient for true one-pedal driving, we enjoy that the driver may modify the degree of brake regeneration.

Though the figures on the BMW i4 aren't available, it is clear that the bavarian EV is up against some serious competition. The Tesla manages to stop just within 135 feet while the Polestar takes the lead by coming to a complete stop in just 114 feet. The BMW happens to be the heaviest vehicle here and that raises a concern in terms of stopping the vehicle. However, the i4 is equipped with ventilated discs and that allows for a quicker cooling of the brakes to allow strong performance at all times.

Efficiency is a challenge for all-electric vehicles attempting to reach the limits of performance. The perfection of a car with a combustion engine cannot be undone overnight, and the inherent limitations of electric vehicle technology when it comes to extreme heat and large loads are more than obvious. The 300-mile range of the eDrive40 implies the brand has succeeded in maximizing EV range while assuring usable performance from its electric motors, which is a difficult feat in and of itself. The range can go down when picking the car with the larger 19” wheels to 280 miles.

The BMW comes with the most powerful battery and that has led them to push out a larger range but when individual MPG equivalent was tested, the Tesla showed better results. The leats range and MPGe figures were showcased by the Polestar but the car offers better efficiency within the city when compared to the BMW. The Tesla is the ideal car to have if you're looking for an EV that would spend lesser time connected to the charger. Considering this to be the first ever try from BMW in this segment, they are right on track and those picking the bigger M50 will not see a drastic decrease in the overall range.

The i4's interior is luxuriously decorated, with options for rose gold trim, white leather upholstery, and light wood trim. The i4 and the all-electric iX SUV are the first to feature a large, seamless display that covers nearly two-thirds of the dashboard. The general arrangement is similar to that of other BMW vehicles. The four-door i4 mimics a coupe's look with a sweeping rear roofline but has a conventional trunk in the rear. The i4 lacks the radical new interior design elements present in BMW's other new EV because it is essentially an electric 4 Series. Although the Gran Coupe body design has a sloping roofline, the rear seats aren't actually that crowded. There are a variety of colors available for synthetic and genuine leather upholstery options. The i4 also comes with power adjustable front seats as standard and offers additional packages that add heating and lumbar support option to the seats.

The BMW does not feel cramped in any way even though it follows a coupe-like design but the major fall for the sedan is in terms of its cargo space as offers just 10 cubes of cargo hold in the rear hatch. The BMW might however feel tiny when compared to the Tesla as it offers much more space for both passengers as well as cargo. The Model 3 comes with the best-in-class rear passenger legroom and carries over twice as much cargo as the BMW is capable of carrying. The Polestar offers better front row and trunk space than the BMW but marginally falls behind in terms of the second-row space.

Some standout interior features on the 2022 BMW i4 include

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated front and rear seats 
• M steering wheel
• Interior ambient lighting

How intuitive is the 2022 BMW i4 infotainment system?

One of the first BMWs to include the most recent connectivity and infotainment technologies is the i4. The dashboard's enormous curved display, known as iDrive 8, which has a 14.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, controls the unit. The system includes a rotary controller in the center console, enhanced voice commands, and several well-liked features. These consist of a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The standard audio system on the i4 features a 10-speaker setup but there is an option to upgrade it to a 16-speaker setup by Harman Kardon and buyers can also add in a wireless charging pad if necessary.

Some of the standout infotainment features on the 2022 BMW i4 are

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 14.9-inch touchscreen display
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless charging pad
• BMW iDrive 8
• 10-speaker or 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system

The BMW i4's exterior is nearly identical to that of other 4-series vehicles. That's not a bad thing, given that it adheres to the traditional BMW design rather than the iX SUV's avant-garde aesthetic. The i4 eDrive40, known as a Gran Coupe in BMW lingo, has the divisive kidney grille, which some people may still think is excessively large. Speaking of the grille, while it is obviously slightly different from a standard 4-series from a distance, the i4 nevertheless has a similar appearance. Although the i4 doesn't require as much cooling as a regular 4 Series vehicle, the front grille of this vehicle is used to house a variety of sensors and the front-facing camera. The car has a lot of styling that contributes to its sleek and fashionable appearance. The car also has several sleek blue accents, indicating that it is an electric vehicle. Additionally, there will be an air diffuser on the back in place of the exhaust pipes. The standard wheels on the i4 are 18-inches but if styling is more important to you than the overall range, pick the 19-inch optional wheels which give the i4 a beautiful stance.

The BMW has a very fluidic and sporty exterior with its elongated body that sits lower to the ground. Apart from the length and the ground clearance, both the BMW and Tesla share very similar proportions but the Model 3 is over 1,000 lbs lighter compared to the i4. Polestar on the other hand has a taller stance and comes with a very practical ground clearance of 6.0-inches. However, this raised center of gravity makes the ride on the Polestar feel a bit cumbersome. Despite being the heaviest car here, the i4 does not translate the weight in its driving and keeps the entire body stable.

Some of the standout exterior features include

• 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels
• Rear lip spoiler
• LED headlights
• Power liftgate
• Sunroof
• Blue or red brake calipers

Though the i4 resembles the 4-Series Gran Coupe, the EV is based on an entirely different platform and for that reason, the safety scores of the regular sedan cannot be referred to here as the i4 is yet to receive crash test scores from both NHTSA and IIHS. However, the 2022 BMW i4 comes with a variety of standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blindspot monitor along with a few more additional features.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2022 BMW i4 are

• Front cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keeping system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automated steering on the highway at low speeds
• Blindspot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert 
• Lane departure warning

2022 BMW i4 vs 2022 Tesla Model 3

The i4's potent performance, understated-yet-stylish design, opulent interior, and cutting-edge technology put it ahead of the Model 3 in all but two crucial categories: range and cost. Although it costs over $8,000 less, the base rear-wheel-drive Model 3 has a marginally less range than the i4 eDrive40, while the Long Range model has a much greater range and only costs about $2,600 more. The BMW i4 is simple to recommend if you're searching for a luxury electric sedan from a reputable brand.

2022 BMW i4 vs 2022 Polestar 2

Though the Polestar is priced much lower when compared to the BMW i4, the car carries a very lower-powered battery which does not help the Polestar 2 perform well enough to stand up against the i4. The BMW also holds a better range and drive characteristics than the Polestar and proves to be worth the additional cost that it asks for. The only segment where the Polestar holds an advantage is in terms of the storage space it offers.

With BMW transitioning its lineup to the EV segment, the i4 is one of the first mainstream BMWs to be offered as a fully electric midsize sedan. BMW has been able to keep the drive as exciting as they always have regardless of having to get rid of an IC engine. The range it offers is commendable as well but the i4 could be an issue if you're someone who hauls a lot of cargo as the sedan offers the smallest trunk in the segment due to its sloping roofline. However, the i4 manages to hold a spot for itself in the constantly evolving EV market and is a great choice if you're looking for a premium fit and finish throughout the vehicle.