BMW i4 review: the driver's sedan of the electric segment

How the BMW i4 fits in 2026

The i4 is BMW’s electric Gran Coupe — a four-door fastback that has effectively replaced the petrol 4 Series Gran Coupe for buyers making the switch. For the 2026 model year, CarExpert reports BMW Australia has trimmed the range back to a single variant, the rear-drive eDrive35 at $88,900 list. The bigger-battery eDrive40 and the AWD M50 remain in the database as reference points, but new-car buyers are now looking at one trim.

That variant is the focus of this review. For prices and specs across the outgoing three-trim lineup, see the full BMW i4 lineup on its model page.

The competitive picture around it has hardened. Tesla’s Model 3 has a longer real-world range for less money. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 charges faster. The Polestar 2 undercuts on price. What the i4 still owns is the driving experience — and the badge.

What’s good

The chassis is the reason you buy it. Chasing Cars calls the eDrive35 “very good and fun to drive,” with sharp steering and classic BMW rear-drive characteristics on tap. CarExpert notes the ride settles convincingly at highway speed and filters out coarse country surfaces. Even carsales, which is cooler on the car overall, acknowledges it “tracks through corners with an assertiveness that BMW enthusiasts will appreciate.”

iDrive 8 is genuinely well-sorted. The 14-inch curved central display and 12.3-inch driver screen are, per Chasing Cars, “delightfully massive, bright and crisp.” Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and carsales rates BMW’s smartphone-mirroring implementation as arguably the best on the market. The infotainment is one place the German premium price actually shows up on the sticker.

DC charging remains road-trip viable. The eDrive35 peaks at 180 kW DC, good for a 10-80% top-up in around 32 minutes. That’s meaningfully quicker than a Model 3 Standard Range on most chargers, and comfortably faster than the 100 kW Mercedes EQA at similar money.

What’s not

Real-world range trails the WLTP claim by a wide margin. BMW quotes 448 km. CarExpert observed around 370 km in mixed driving; Chasing Cars estimates 400 km is more realistic, with 450 km-plus only on urban runs. That’s roughly 15-20% under WLTP, in line with the segment — but Tesla claims 520 km for the base Model 3, and the gap on a country trip is real.

The 4-star ANCAP rating is unusual at $88,900. The i4 was tested in 2022 and is ANCAP’s only sub-5-star result among current BMW passenger models. Almost every direct rival on the site — Model 3, Ioniq 6, Polestar 2, EQE — carries five stars. It doesn’t make the i4 unsafe, but it is a debit at the price.

The back seat is compromised. Both CarExpert and EV Central call out the raised floor tunnel that eats middle-seat legroom, and the fastback roofline clips headroom for taller adults. If the second row will regularly carry three, the i4 is the wrong shape.

Where it lands among rivals

BMW i4 vs Tesla Model 3. The Model 3 Long Range is faster, cheaper, has Superchargers and a WLTP range advantage of around 100 km. The i4 has the sharper chassis and the better interior — but you pay tens of thousands for the privilege. For most buyers who don’t care about handling, the Tesla is the rational pick.

BMW i4 vs Hyundai Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 charges quicker on a genuine 800V architecture, undercuts on price and matches the i4 on real-world range. The i4 wins on steering feel, badge value, and cabin quality. Cross-shop the Ioniq 6 Epiq before signing anything.

BMW i4 vs Polestar 2. The Polestar is closer to the i4 in on-road feel than any rival — it shares the “European driver’s EV” brief and prices thousands below. The i4 has a more premium cabin and better infotainment; the Polestar has fresher styling and cheaper servicing.

Who should buy one

• Enthusiast drivers who want an EV that still feels like a rear-drive BMW.
• Buyers moving out of a 3 or 4 Series who want the badge and dealer experience intact.
• Solo commuters and couples who don’t need a family-sized rear seat.
• Buyers who value long-distance charging speed over headline WLTP range.

Who should pass

• Families who regularly carry three across the back seat.
• Long-distance highway commuters chasing every last kilometre of real-world range.
• Safety-first buyers unwilling to compromise on a 5-star ANCAP rating.
• Buyers on a strict budget — the Model 3 and Ioniq 6 do 90% of the job for materially less.

What I’d want for next year

If BMW is planning a mid-cycle refresh, the priorities are obvious: put the i4 through a fresh ANCAP test to close the 4-star gap, bundle the Enhancement Package’s basics (heated seats especially) into standard kit, and give the rear seat a flatter floor. The chassis and the interior don’t need touching.

Verdict

The i4 eDrive35 is the closest an EV gets to a proper rear-drive BMW. The steering is sharp, the interior is genuinely premium, and the charging is quick enough to make weekend trips painless. The 4-star ANCAP rating and the tight rear seat mean it’s a specific pick — but if the way a car drives is the reason you buy it, the i4 is the one to shortlist.