How This Luxury Electric Car Redefines Value In The EV Market

The luxury EV market has boomed in the last couple of years, with tons of automakers jumping on the electrification train. Where most of your options had eye-popping price tags not too long ago, there are now plenty of luxury electric vehicles that exist within the realm of affordability.

As the segment has been dominated by a handful of players until recently, finding a value-for-money option has been difficult. The markup on luxury EVs has been making it hard to determine the best options. However, for the last couple of years, BMW has offered an option that is affordable, stylish, and fun to drive. By analyzing the options in the luxury EV segment, we’ve determined how one of BMW’s luxury sedans puts its competitors on notice. If you’re someone who enjoys driving and wants to do so in style, this EV from the German automaker finds the common ground between progress, comfort, and fun.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from BMW websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA.

The BMW i4 Is The Ideal Entry-Level Luxury EV

Where some electrified luxury sedans seem to compromise performance in the pursuit of being green, BMW presents the i4 as somewhat of an upgrade over the regular 3 Series or 4 Series. Compared to its main competitors, though, it is extremely affordable, existing as one of the most reasonably priced electric luxury cars that money can buy.

2025 Trims And Pricing

BMW’s i4 is a Gran Coupe that starts at just under $60,000. This may sound like a lot, but against the sea of luxury competitors, it is one of the most affordable options. It also offers tons of value, with a long list of standard features. It is slick, sporty, and comfortable, and can easily go up against the segment’s heaviest competitors, especially considering it is tens of thousands cheaper than some of them.

For the 2025 model year, there isn’t much news on the most affordable eDrive35 model, but as it is registered with the EPA we imagine more will be released in time. This isn’t a tragedy, though, as we think that the more powerful models are the way to go anyway. While the fully-fledged M50 is certainly attractive, and we wouldn’t blame you for leaning in that direction, we think that the xDrive40 offers the best value for money, especially when equipped with the M Sport Package.

What’s New For 2025

The i4 has gotten a slight makeover for the 2025 model year, with the headlamps being reshaped to be thinner. The kidney grille at the front has also been changed, with a sleeker and a slightly more BWM-esque look than before. Cape York Green metallic and Vegas Red metallic are new paint options that join the lineup, giving you more choices when customizing your i4.

The M Sport Package has also been revised. The package adds some sportier aesthetic elements, including a black diffuser on the rear bumper as well as well as a front apron with large side air intakes. There are some new wheel choices when you equip the M Sport Package.

On the inside of the i4, you’ll find some other revisions. New steering wheel designs are available when optioning your i4. As well as this, you’ll find new brushed aluminum accents inside the cabin, alongside a new optional Grey Blue Ash open-pore wood trim. Upholstery on the instrument panel has been improved, now smoother than before, with it extending to the top of the door panels.

There Is Plenty Of Luxury On The Inside Of The i4

BMW is a brand that you can count on when it comes to creating contemporary and comfortable cabins, with its entire lineup featuring cutting-edge technology. The i4 is no exception, taking design cues from the 3-Series and 4-Series as well as featuring some of the best elements from the more expensive EVs in the German brand’s arsenal.

Comfort And Cargo

On the inside of the i4, you’ll find one of the most pleasing layouts in any modern EV. It strikes a balance between the minimalism that has become standard in electric vehicles, while still having plenty of physical controls to satisfy purists. This doesn’t mean the i4 skimps on digital real estate, but we’ll get into that later. The cabin is appointed with high-end materials, with light wood trim, rose gold trim, and white leather upholstery available as options.

The four-door i4 is a Gran Coupe, meaning that it has a sleek roofline that slopes towards the back while retaining a traditional trunk. Front passengers have plenty of space to relax, with rear passengers perhaps feeling a little more cramped. Still, for a sedan with this layout, both passenger and cargo space remain competitive.

Infotainment And Technology

The i4 is one BMW’s first vehicles to feature a huge screen that spans across the dashboard. This screen is divided into a customizable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen which houses the infotainment system. It was also one of the first vehicles to feature the iDrive 8 infotainment software, with the 2025 model upgrading to iDrive 8.5.

The screen may be large, but it is one of the easiest-to-use forms of this infotainment setup out there. Just about every popular feature you could hope for is standard, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also uses a pretty advanced voice control system. Should you be a little more old-school, there is also a rotary controller in the center console.

BMW’s Legacy Of Performance Is Alive And Well In The i4

When buying a luxury vehicle in today’s market, one of the most important factors is performance. BMW has consistently found a way to offer top performance options without being overly expensive. The i4 demonstrates this commitment to fun. While some other EVs lean solely into the comfort side of things, BMW’s Gran Coupe makes sure it isn’t at the cost of driving enjoyment.

Performance Specifications

The i4 comes with either a single or dual motor setup, depending on which model you opt for. If you go for the most affordable model, the eDrive40, you’ll get a single motor and rear-wheel drive. Both the xDrive40 and M50 feature an additional motor and come standard with all-wheel drive. In any guise, though, the i4 is an absolute weapon when you put your foot down.

The M50 definitely lives up to the M badge that it dons, with acceleration that will pin you to your seat. It’s quicker from zero to 60 miles per hour than the rear-wheel drive M3 Competition, which is insane for a vehicle at this price point. While not quite as quick, the xDrive40 is still thrilling, especially when it comes fitted with the 19-inch summer tires from the M Sport package. In any case, the i4 feels supple and ready to attack corners with an enjoyable enthusiasm. It truly embodies what BMW is all about.

Range, Charging, And Battery

All of the i4’s varying flavors feature competitive efficiency and range. The eDrive40 and xDrive40 both come standard with 18-inch wheels, which nets them the best level of efficiency. If you opt for the larger 19-inch wheels on these models, you’ll find your battery drains noticeably faster. The same is true of the M50, which comes standard with 19-inch wheels, and optional 20-inch wheels which affect efficiency.

All models aside from the eDrive35 make use of an 83.4-kWh battery, with the more affordable model coming fitted with a 68.7-kWh battery instead. Every model except the eDrive35 has a 200-kW charging capacity. If you make use of the onboard Level 2 charger, the i4 can replenish its battery to 80 percent from empty in under eight hours. Up to five Plug & Charge contracts can be loaded with charging points, allowing owners to charge without having to manually enter billing information every time.