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2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 Review: Competent and compelling


The electric i4 is my favorite BMW 4 series. It’s great to drive, it’s amazingly functional, and it has all the multimedia and safety techniques you need for a new car.And the best part is that it also applies to range toppings i4 M50 Same as for entry level eDrive40.

Both versions of the i4 have an 83.9kWh battery pack, of which 81.5kWh is actually available. The i4 can accept DC fast charging at speeds up to 200 kW. So, in theory, you can raise the battery from a 10% charge to 80% in about 30 minutes. When plugged into a Level 2 outlet, the i4 charges at 11 kW, so it takes a little over 8 hours to fully refill the battery. Not bad. Both of these charging speeds are superior in terms of the competitiveness of compact EVs.

The biggest difference between the two i4s is the power output. With a single-motor, rear-wheel drive setup, the base i4 eDrive40 produces 335 horsepower and 317 lb-foot torque, allowing this 4,680-pound sedan to sprint up to 60 mph in significant 5.5 seconds-more than a single. Fast-Motor Tesla Model 3. The dual-motor i4 M50, on the other hand, offers more substantial 536hp and 568lb-ft, resulting in almost 2 seconds faster on 0-60 runs despite the weight of 338 lbs. penalty.

Interestingly, the driving range of the i4s’ EPA estimates does not differ significantly, despite significant performance differences. The i4eDrive40 with 18-inch wheels on the base is expected to run 301 miles on a full charge, while the i4M50 with 19-inch wheels should run 270 miles. Usually -31 miles is not a big difference.

All of this seems to be against the i4 eDrive40, but this base model is brilliant. The performance specifications of the eDrive40 are similar to those of the gas supply. 430i Gran CoupeEV is a little more powerful and, as a result, slightly faster. The chassis is nicely balanced and comfortable enough to handle the sometimes messy city streets of Los Angeles, but tense enough to entertain the i4 on the canyon roads. The naturally low center of gravity provided by the battery pack also helps here. The electronically adjustable dampers on the optional Adaptive M suspension allow you to choose a stiffer ride quality for better handling.

What’s more, the i4 eDrive40 isn’t that powerful, but it’s a bit more playful than the M50, as it has only two drive wheels. The eDrive40’s electronic power steering ratio is slower than the M50 (15.5: 1 compared to 14.1: 1), the wheels themselves are reasonably heavy, and the turn-in is very quick and progressive, especially when compared to the M50. I feel a little dirty.

2022 BMW i4 eDrive40

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2022 BMW i4 eDrive40

The curved display separates the i4’s interior from the other 4 Series models.

Stephen Ewing / CNET

I live with the i4 eDrive40, so I’ve never wished I had more power. All EVs are pulled strongly during initial acceleration thanks to the immediate electric torque, and sufficient auxiliary boost is available at high speeds to allow the highway to pass the breeze. Is the i4 M50 more fun to drive? of course. But as a daily driver, the eDrive40’s overall focus on balance, calm, and ride makes it a peach. I don’t think I need any more.

Both i4 models come with a complete suite of active and passive safety technologies, including full-speed adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear crossing traffic warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. You can also get BMW’s Extended Traffic Jam Assistant with the Driving Assistance Professional Package ($ 1,700). This enables hands-free steering assist up to 40 mph on certain roads. A $ 700 parking assistance package with a 360 degree camera system is also available.

Cabintech is processed by BMW’s new iDrive 8 software and spreads over a large curved display that spans two-thirds of the dashboard. This single housing incorporates a 14.9-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen, with colorful, high-resolution graphics and ultra-fast response to commands. Indeed, the iDrive 8 menu structure is a bit overwhelming at first. The main home page is full of small tiles for various features, but it will take some getting used to. The owner should be fine after the first learning curve.In addition, wireless Apple CarPlay When Android Auto Is standard, so once you’ve set all the general settings, let your smartphone do the tedious work.

2022 BMW i4 eDrive40

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2022 BMW i4 eDrive40

The liftback shape makes the i4 quite functional.

Stephen Ewing / CNET

The i4 is literally the electric 4 series, so it’s another new BMW EV, iX.. It’s really just a 4 Series Gran Coupe with some blue trim accents and its flashy new curved display, so the overall design is familiar even if it’s a bit boring. Synthetic and genuine leather upholstery options are available in a variety of colors, and despite the slanted roofline of the Gran Coupe’s body style, the rear seats aren’t really that cramped.

The shape of the Gran Coupe also has hidden benefits. For example, unlike the Tesla Model 3, the BMW i4 is not a sedan with a traditional trunk. The liftback design makes the rear cargo hold very functional. In the standard configuration, there is only 10 cubic feet of space behind the backseat, but when folded flat, there is 45.5 cubic feet of available space. This is comparable to many compact crossovers, not to mention electricity. Polestar 2..

By the way, Polestar is arguably the i4’s closest rival, but the Tesla Model 3 is also a formidable competitor. The i4 eDrive40 costs $ 56,395 (including $ 995 for the destination, but excluding potential tax credits), which is more expensive than these single-motor rivals, but has a better loadout of higher quality interior and cabin technology. Is equipped with. In addition, the eDrive40 proves that the M50 doesn’t have to spend an additional $ 10,500 to get a good drive and a balanced i4.



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