2022 BMW i4 review (inc. 0-100): BMW has nailed the rear-wheel drive EV brief!

These days it seems most brands are rolling out EVs that are built to meet emissions regulations in Europe and nothing more. BUT, BMW may have bucked the trend with a fun, engaging and most importantly, rear-wheel drive, EV! Paul Maric takes it for a drive to see if it's any good!
Hardness tester results: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
More BMW content: www.carexpert.com.au/bmw
More BMW i4 content: www.carexpert.com.au/bmw/i4
Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
Exterior 0:48
Interior 4:14
Infotainment 5:46
Safety tech 8:23
Practicality 9:57
Charging 14:05
On the road 14:38
0-100km/h 20:20
Verdict 21:34
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#bmw #i4 #review

[@jasonparsons]

The new massive grill designs that appear on more cars are actually really growing on me. The one on this (and the M3, M4) and the Lexus IS are probably my favourite

[@yasseral-raweshidy6131]

I have watched 20+ different reviews of this car. This is by far the best review in terms of the car's practical day to day aspects. Well done!

[@timmarks8941]

Looks good and like a normal BMW. BMW seem to understand that not all EV buyers will want to stand out with “look at me I have an EV”. Some other brands seem to think everyone buying an ev wants a ridiculously stupid looking car.

[@desiii420]

A BMW itself falls into “look at me I have BMW” camp. Not accessible to most, a symbol of wealth and status world over.

[@daweigo6851]

So true!

[@User-cb4jm]

@@desiii420 no he doesn’t mean brand recognition, just the fact that it’s an EV but doesn’t look ridiculous like some unfinished science experiment for the sake of it. It looks like… a car… that happens to be an EV. It’s what I like about it too.

[@CarExpertAus]

Don't Google BMW iX 😂

[@timmarks8941]

@@CarExpertAus At least they give options of crazy and plain. Hyundai on the other hand…

[@carswith-k]

Honestly, the grille is really not bad. This car is beautiful!

[@User-cb4jm]

A big nope from me. The G20 3 Series grille looks way more proportionate.

[@wass006]

I think first of all we need to give Paul credit for responding to alot of comments. Seems like a genuine humble guy. Very informative review, I think with it being on an ICE platform, it is really compromised, the central tunnel in rear and being cramped is criminal in an EV car, if its a £30k car it's understandable but not when your paying that much.

[@mrnicktoyou]

Thanks for saying hello back at the Docklands car park tonight Paul. You are taller in real life than I thought.

[@CarExpertAus]

G'day mate - thanks for saying hello! Hope you enjoyed the centre!

[@simoncouch1523]

Another wicked review thank you 🙏

[@aimanfitri0iv]

it looks so great especially in this variant and it looks fantastic in person

[@JW-mx3qg]

Great review! Yes placed an order for this car but would take some time to get it. The dealer fortunately called that there is an incoming MY 2022 a customer canceled, and will gladly accept since it does come with the features that MY 2023 doesn’t due to supply shortage.

[@d_a_nguyen4027]

I would say that the big BMW grille is getting more acceptable now since the M3 Touring launch last month, it actually looks better on that Audi/AMG Estate killer. Please do a test drive on that beast when it arrivals in Australia soon.

[@romantrojna]

Opening windows half the way down when opening doors - you pushed unlock button twice and activated this feature - for easier getting to or out of the car in narrow spaces.

[@joyjoy-by9ii]

I love the quality of your videos ❤️👌😍

[@CarExpertAus]

Thanks mate!

[@yumatakashi5307]

Nice Review, and a great car👍

[@simonpedretti2721]

Hi Paul, Great review! I own a new 430i and the window does that when you hit the unlock button 3 times. It normally only drops about 1cm.

[@CarExpertAus]

Thanks for the info! Is there a setting that forces it to put the window down this far each time?

[@simonpedretti2721]

@@CarExpertAus to be honest Paul, I haven’t looked too much into it. I just avoid pressing it! All I know is, it’s not cool when it’s raining haha.

[@Kaal_Bhairava1]

Hey Mate... thanks for reviewing this car.

[@steveemmerson4954]

Thank you for your informative video, appreciated. I test drove a Tesla Model 3 and the BMW i4 was far superior both for build quality and driver engagement. Purchased the i4 40 M Sport and have not regretted it

[@casey6933]

The windows are set for convenience access - they'll drop half way so you can slide in in tight spaces You can turn that off in the setting

[@sleepyjoescumbag1663]

So how is a Tesla, a competitor to a true luxury car ? I am curious how A grade plastic car is comparable to this beauty? 🤣

[@KDR816]

I cannot understand too. I think people choose now based on KZbin video and spec sheet (doesn't matter how honest is that!). Ah yes, also the founder must be the hype god

[@mharro88]

Because it drives better than this .

[@kharimott8227]

I love the grill.

[@abraxastulammo9940]

12:16 The Polestar also has this, it is used to hide some more batteries.

[@nikhilmali9105]

I just love that big grill, i wished they got this big grill on X7 2023 but unfortunately they didn't, maybe for 2024 they'll do it.

[@sherazhussain7333]

Paul please review the lexus lx 600,waiting for it for ages,just want to see how the petrol version compares to the diesel lc 300

[@CarExpertAus]

We're in the process of finding a new off-road location, so the LX is on ice at the moment :-(

[@robertdanilotecson9111]

Is it also locked to 120mph/192kmh as it is in Germany?

[@crossfire1182]

Which color of grey is this exactly?

[@BrettMorin]

I'm in the USA and LOVE my I4. I have the Tanzanite blue I4 Edrive 40. The Infotainment is easy to use. You can use voice, touch on the screen, or the dial near the mid console. My only qualm is in the USA Electrify America is not that good. But the car is solid, it drives amazing and it is great that you can switch between your regular driving and B mode(very excessive regen braking) with a flick of the wrist on the shift. I literally have never had a car I owned or driven in I like more.

[@oliver_mendi]

I've driven that exact car in BMW Sylvania. VAY134. Great Car!

[@joyjoy-by9ii]

Wow this car is so amazing 😍❤️

[@TheHayabusa09]

Why does/was the window half way down when you were highlighting the door handle?

[@CarExpertAus]

No idea! We mentioned in the review that it's a strange feature. Not sure how to switch it off.

[@josefv8708]

This is a convenience feature for narrow parking...can be turned off, too

[@goran2009]

Beautiful car and no panel gaps on delivery… But, spoken to mate of mine who lives in Germany, even they need to wait 12 months for series 3/4 delivery…

[@CarExpertAus]

Wait times are crazy at the moment!

[@goran2009]

@@CarExpertAus oh well, not much you can do other than to place an order and have a beer 😁

[@KDR816]

@@goran2009 ordered my at BMW Munich (directly without a dealer) this June. Delivery date is April 2023. Will see how exact they were

[@bob100079]

I just bought one. It’s awesome!

[@MrNortise]

Hi Paul, I enjoy the depth you go into when making your videos. The reason you have the tunnel on this vehicle and every other non I bmw is they use the same body. The I4 is not a proper I car as it's known as the g26. BMW will be using this platform for all the new vehicles coming in the future, so when they design the body, the same body will be used for combustion,hybrid and electric drivetrains. Keep up the good work Kind regards

[@MrNortise]

I cars are know in bmw workshops as i3(i01), i8(i12, i15 for the roadster) and the ix(i20). So this makes the i4 for a normal grand coupe 4 series which is g26

[@disguy145]

Can you do the polestar 2 next? Thanks!

[@jackcalow2430]

They previously reviewed it but deleted it because he kept referring to the single motor variant as RWD instead of FWD

[@CarExpertAus]

We are trying to track one down now. They've just updated the spec for MY23 so we'll wait until that lands in Australia.

[@Grudlin74]

Looks great

[@beograd07]

Well, that closing door sound is strange but maybe it meant to be like that. Maybe Paul should try to close the door very quietly. If you try to close the door with much less effort it may be a quiet close instead of expected loud thump. It is a quiet EV so closing the door should be quiet too to align with EV noise pollution friendly vehicle? And with all the windows closed you wouldn't be able to close it quietly (cabin pressure if all the doors seal well). Lowering the window when the door is opening ensures a very light and quiet closing if you dont slam it. But here we try to compare door closing sound with other cars. Apples and oranges.

[@thetad1242]

I wonder how far down the window goes when it rains.

[@rajasingh5490]

Great review Paul. I think it is way too expensive

[@CarExpertAus]

Agreed!

[@KDR816]

Slightly more expensive than TM3

[@VickiStokes]

Not sure about Australian prices but in the US the base price is $55400 ($81,544 AUD). My i4 had all packages except the m-sport and came to $61,000 ($89,787 AUD). It seems you are quoting prices for the AWD i4 M50 which is the competitor to the Tesla model 3 performance.

[@athena3234]

Australia’s car prices are a ludicrous amount more than other markets - it’s not just a conversion rate jobbie

[@BogeyTheBear]

Australia is on the other side of the globe from Europe, so it may be a bit more pricier to send cars that way.

[@flyeranda]

When are you reviewing the Mercedes-Benz w206 "C" Class, Paul? :)

[@CarExpertAus]

Very soon!

[@edwright6578]

Where is the130 kmh limit?

[@TheIvancigarro]

Where’s the walkinshaw ram trx review!??

[@CarExpertAus]

Hah - I think they were annoyed that we reviewed the 'unofficial' version. Or maybe they're concerned the 'unofficial' one is better and they don't want us to compare the two! Will try and track down a private one if they refuse to offer it to us. It's about 18 months late to the party.

[@TheIvancigarro]

@@CarExpertAus that’s silly, you literally do the best car reviews. Their loss!

[@jasonparsons]

I reckon blue brake calipers would've looked much better and suited the rest of the electric theme/accents

[@CarExpertAus]

Agreed! Not sure why they didn't go down that path as standard.

[@mikeballou]

@@CarExpertAus you are able to choose blue or red brake calipers when you select an eDrive40 in M Sport trim and add the package that upgrades the brakes. I’ve spec’d the blue ones on mine in a lighter gray and I agree it looks better than the red and goes better with the blue accents. Strangely, the M50 comes with blue brake calipers standard but only red when you add the upgraded performance package (for 2023 anyway, I think you could choose either for MY22)

[@rogerlapin9809]

Absolutely, I have selected blue.

[@JeffNuts]

I love the grille on the M cars but just can't like it on this and the regular 4 series.

[@ginkogiloba7009]

Please do a car review about the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. :)

[@fhclappen8595]

Paul, could you dig a bit deeper into the paint color pricing. It seems to be overly expensive. Or just an excuse to add some more $ to the price. If it is a special color for very low volume, say 100 or less, I can see the sense. But it seems that every manufacturer is jumping on this expensive paint that is nothing less but a rip-off Take for instance the Ranger in Syber orange. On the previous model, it was a standard, yet on the new model, it's a higher-cost option. Are we been taken for ride.

[@rogerlapin9809]

Look at the configurator, it’ll show you the colours and prices. I opted for a grey/bronzy sort of colour. Came in at €2,500 I think. Of course all paint options are rip offs with all manufactures.

[@TheChrien]

Love your videos they're great. Perhaps don't mention the 130kph limit while later showing speedo footage going well above that. :wink:

[@DukeBen316663]

It's on a closed testing area so no speed limits apply there.

[@CarExpertAus]

The 130km/h is in context to the sine waves. Hitting those at 160 would send the car into space! We're on a private test track as well.

[@Chiefistheone]

The grill is a non-issue, especially when I see the disaster that Lexus is wearing. Everyone makes the grill this huge part of their video presentation but if you would take a moment and look around at other brands this one is not bad, the traditional kidney is better which is the point, I think, people are trying to make. The overall design is well done because there are consumers that don't want the extreme designs like the KIA models. I have driven this car and as far as electric, not bespoke designed, vehicles go this one nails it.

[@Rockthespaceship]

Probably the best looking EV out there.

[@c3vzn]

Massive wait on this one. You’ll be waiting around 18 months.

[@CarExpertAus]

😳

[@edwright6578]

440i gran coupe with a big battery

[@originalrecko]

Wow, this is finally a car that would make me move to EV

[@lordcaptain73]

I really like the look now, the original stills were a bit confronting but since then I’ve seen plenty on the move and it’s grown on me

[@CarExpertAus]

Actually looks great in person. Better than I thought it would!

[@kevinn1158]

You Aussies get ripped off. In Canada the i4 40 starts at 62k. Beyond that, ok I understand BMW is trying to save money by using the 4 series chassis but they sure aren't passing that savings on to the consumer are they?? LOL. This car is expensive!! Build more EV dedicated platforms BMW!!

[@archechme]

Hey would you like to swap weather with us Brits? It was 30c today and it is DRY.

[@MichaelGoulding]

Love the look of it, but for $100k it's missing a lot of features and practicality. It's a miss.

[@CarExpertAus]

Agree - really needs to match the competitors within this set.

[@rogerlapin9809]

it's missing a lot of features and practicality… for example?

[@marklearner3299]

So much nicer inside than the EV6, also I’ll take the BMW front grill over the EV6 rear end, every day of the week. The heater controls in the EV6 look cheap and nasty. Also not a fan of the two spoke wheel, the i4 just looks so much better quality inside. So yeah, EV6 maybe fast and quick to charge, but couldn’t buy a car with a boot that looks like that…plus when spending over 100k I don’t want cheap and nasty heater controls thanks…and they just some up the lack of experience that KIA has as a luxury car maker. They have no clue when it comes to 100k plus cars.

[@Mo-kv9hg]

Android auto is also wireless.

[@dr.zahalka8616]

people who do not like the new grill are booring as hell

[@CarExpertAus]

😂

[@SS-yw7vo]

That back seat is for ompa loompas

[@rogerlapin9809]

I don’t understand why you kept wittering on about “entry level”. If you are spending over 100k on a car the difference between a fully loaded eDrive40 and an M50 is buttons. The real choice is would you prefer the extra 80km range of the eDrive40 or the extra acceleration of the M50, which you will use about five times during your ownership. I’ve chosen range, delivery due in March.

[@CarExpertAus]

Good for you. Hope you ticked heated seats 😂

[@BogeyTheBear]

Honestly, it's just the bigger wheels on the M50 that knocks the range down from the E40. I have an E40 with the M-Sport package and the 19" wheels. Range is a good 280 miles (this is DGAF driving, where I never used Eco Mode nor turned off the air conditioning). So the M50's stated 270 mile range may be more from the tires rather than the motors-- if you're cruising for range in an AWD i4 the front motor doesn't even come into play.

[@coogee-uw9rk]

Amazing car, it's not like boring Tesla.

[@kevinn1158]

The front grille is growing on me like the plague.... BMW really trying hard not to make a full EV platform. And the iX1 has just been announced. Which won't be coming to Canada.

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

Grill just isn't big enough

[@CarExpertAus]

They need to hire somebody from Lexus!

[@pauljoseph3292]

This doesn’t compete with the downmarket Tesla. BMW is a premium car. Tesla isn’t and never will be.

[@mountman5386]

The blue trimmed grill looks like a kids toy or a first attempt from an apprentice at the body shop. I normally like BMWs for their looks but really?

[@fongthao1902]

Rear end looks like Hyundai elanta

[@petermercer5968]

I don't think electric cars are worth the money even if the price of fuel ⛽ is expensive. As for the BMW it's a house deposit the Aldi is a lot better car but still to expensive 🫰🫰🫰.

[@mehmettemel8725]

ALDI is a supermarket you mean AUDI I guess.😁

[@vuyaniman9440]

Looks good, but the price 🫣

[@CarExpertAus]

My thoughts exactly!

[@SS-yw7vo]

The doors sound like crap closing them with the window down. Couldn't live with that especially for the money. Tesla, Polestar or Hyundai would be a better pick

[@CarExpertAus]

Keep in mind the Model 3 has a similarly tinny sound when closing the door.

[@SS-yw7vo]

@@CarExpertAus agree but for less money

[@lasonya286]

I was interested in a ev6 but the sticker price was 63k😳-for a Hyundai ?

[@simmadotyeni2614]

Stupid looking speedometer gauges from me sorry, totally not a fan 👎👎

[@CarExpertAus]

Fair enough!

[@taliahunt3213]

The grill looks nice. It’s really not that big. The new LDV T60 has a grill that looks like an enormous mouth - this one is nothing!

[@simmadotyeni2614]

Yeah BMW i4 a.k.a Beaver-teeth

[@shanemcpherson1015]

The grill is hideous.

[@anotherhumanbug]

This competes with tesla model 3 with a 50% higher price tag.

[@brisal88]

too expensive. confined to law firms and real estate agents.

[@DubstopherWubson13]

i feel like bmw got real lazy with this electric car. Like they got desperate to put an ev on the market and not fall behind so they just grabbed their 4 series and threw in electric motors.. disappointing. hopefully they change things in the next couple years

[@dangrass]

BMW really needs to design an EV from scratch rather than sell this kluge creation. To BMW's credit, these cars aren't terrible, but they're not really competitive either. Understand that BMW needs to buy some time and this is their way of doing that, but from a buyers perspective, this is kind of a dead end purchase. But back to the car...too heavy, too slow,, too inefficient, too slow to charge, and really suboptimal space utilization...and laggy screens/questionable software quality.

[@Kashchey1]

Electric cars are 3D/curved TVs all over again ... they are being pushed on the public, but nobody really knows why? I'm SURE EV in its current form (R/C car in 1:1 scale) isn't a future of transportation. Like why would I buy super expensive car which takes hours to refuel? Within few years all these EVs will be forgotten like many other gimmicks from the past.

[@CarExpertAus]

Doubt it. Europe has just mandated the end of internal combustion cars by 2035. So unless there are significant efficiency advances in producing hydrogen, they'll be here to stay.

[@Kashchey1]

@@CarExpertAus well, Europe is very good at making stupid energy decisions ... like closing nuclear power plants and switching to Russian gas. What could possibly go wrong? It's the same with EVs. I'm more than sure they will start pushing the date back and probably ditch it completely at some stage.

[@hashtag_fu]

Today was my first stop at a gas station since I got the car in May. I stopped only to buy beer ;-) Every morning my car battery is full. Didn't waste one km or one minute to fill or charge it anywhere. So when the day will come where I have to wait 30 minutes, I'll know I still lost less time then ICE cars for refuelling weekly...

[@ABL973]

That grille is awful. The rest of the car is great.

[@Dark_Vader888]

Ugly BMW just only got 4 star NCAP. When you look at the numbers for the 4 categories, it barely got 4 stars. BMW is going downhill fast. We can forgive the ugly styling but compromise on safety now?

[@josefv8708]

The star is missing due to an assistant missing...which is included now in NCAP...no real security issue

[@hks071]

No. I don't get used to the grill. It is still as ugly as ever

[@CarExpertAus]

Fair enough!

[@mixalis6168]

Would rather buy a Tesla, BMW, Merc and Audis platforms are awful !! ICE to EV conversions are not good~

[@CarExpertAus]

This one isn't too bad!

[@MrSpinkser]

Repeating this nonsense all over doesn’t make it true, just try them and you will immediately notice what you are missing in a Tesla.