The one that won't have to be returned in a few months due to catastrophically poor quality control and build quality. Ten years ago you'd think that would be the Chinese manufacturer but not in reality it's tesla.
Polestar long range dual motor, the I4 seems like a phenomenal piece of engineering-I just don't think I could live with that grille.. Model frog face bringing up the rear.
I am a formerly died in the wool petrolhead. Until I drove and ordered an i4 two days ago. I was blown away after driving it. Hate to say goodbye to my 2019 540i, which I absolutely love, but life goes on.😊
I was lucky enough that my father had a red 5 series as his company car for several years in the 80s. It was an amazing machine and burned itself into my childhood brain so much, I can still remember the number plate, and I struggle to remember my own car's plate. I am so glad that this i4 seems to be a continuation of the BMW tradition of sporty saloons. Maybe one day! Just not in that dreadful primer grey, it looks like they forgot to finish painting it before it left the factory. Now the green, that's the colour!
I was in Ulm in 2014 when Nokia shutdown their office and BMW came to hire us to work on their new software system which was going to be connected and intelligent. Some of my friends joined them. I'm chuffed to hear they did a good job :-)
Been there too. Glad to see that the car is programmed so well, I think other companies don’t put that much attention to this very important part of the car
THANK YOU, BMW, for not putting EVERYTHING in touch-control sub-menus but instead demonstrating that real life analogue buttons and dials don't just "still have a place in modern vehicles" but they're actually a hell of a lot safer and more intuitive on the move!!
I find voice control (triggered by a single push on a steering wheel button) works *much* better than faffing around with the touchscreen. Or having more than one or two buttons on the steering wheel. Or any non-steering wheel control (radios used to be well out of reach in the dim, distant, analogue past). Disclaimer: very recently upgraded a Leaf to a Tesla Model 3 and the touchscreen was a major pain until we figured out that the voice control actually works. More, real-life, analogue buttons don't seem so appealing. Your mileage obviously varies.
Says the one who has never actually used a Touchscreen controlled car no a daily basis. So funny how people who really cant judge judge technology that they don't understand.
Jack (and team) *thank you* so much! This review gives an honest, driver-focused comparison between the i4 and the Model 3. I am not a car person and can't imagine I'll ever buy a saloon car, but I really wanted to know if the BMW i4 had that BMW-ness that it needed to seriously compete with the Model 3. Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, BMW i4... soon the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Mercedes EQE. Serious competition is good for consumers
You sound like a bot that's generated a fandom response to this review. I don't think you can honestly say this is an honest review. You're not a car person and you're not going to buy a saloon car... You've said it yourself.
@@MichaelPickles I'm an (electrical) engineering person - I'm really interested in charging tech, traction inverters (and the rise of SiC - that's my day-job) and efficiency. I play the tuba, so I'll be shopping for estates/SUVs that will take a tuba in the boot or a hatchback that will take the tuba in the back and save me £10000 or whatever. I currently drive a 2nd-gen Nissan Leaf (and the tuba goes in the back and marks the seats with mud occasionally, ho-hum). I've driven the Tesla Model 3. I don't like it: I was adjusting the seat for the entire drive and never got it to be comfortable, to say nothing of the practicality of the body vs. my tuba. I wouldn't buy a BMW, Audi or Merc either, if only to escape the stigma of those cars being driven badly. But I understand and accept that there are some people who don't have to transport tubas and who want a fast, exciting car. Why should they all drive Model 3s? Competition *is* good. The Tesla Model 3 has some amazing engineering in it, but there are some people who will never want one. These people deserve to have good cars to choose from and Tesla shouldn't rest on their laurels just because their tech is 2-5 years ahead of everyone else. I am glad that the BMW i4 is good in the ways that it needs to be.
@@gigabyte2248 ok, your not a bot then. And if we are sharing, I too am a geek. People would consider me a super user and early adopter. Maybe you should look at a model Y for comparisons. People except what they're told. Reviews are paid or have an incentive to hyper products. I just feel like the review was pulling the wool over people's eyes. And the extraordinary amount of people gushing over it in the reviews. Was throwing up red flags for me. Ask yourself in all honesty, Is that a good car. Or just more of the same old marketing tricks.
@@oldbastedI have no doubt it's good on the road they've had over 100 years to perfected. My problem is it's an analogue device with a digital retrofit (ICE Vs EV) Comparing a tesla model 3 to a vehicle that costs much more is not logical. You could compare it to a model Y and a spare 10 grand in your pocket. Not to mention BMW charging you for servicing an electric vehicle. And a resale value that is not as good. It's all economics.
I spent more than forty years in the car business, and had a chance to drive some impressive cars. A friend bought a used BMW i3 and let me drive it. I know they've dropped it now, but I really believe it was the most impressive car I've ever driven. She traded it in on a brand new one when she heard they were going to discontinue it.
As a biker and petrolhead I have recently taken delivery of an eDrive40 and you are absolutely right. It is everything that you could ever need in a car. I was apprehensive about going electric for a few reasons, all of which very quickly vanished, its an incredible driving experience. I left a very cool and top spec M135i to go for an i4 and that engine sounded and performed heavenly. Zero regrets. I'm smitten
We've owned BMW'S for the last 20 years in our household, after driving the Model Y last year and test driving the X3M recently... I'm ordering a Model Y... Yes the quality of the Tesla finish is actually comical but BMW price point is out of control... And they continue to hold back the X3 full electric with all drive because it would basically make the X.3 M kind of pointless
@@Landshark9 KamiB… i agree with everything you wrote. I collect my MY tomorrow and I’m a tad anxious about quality issues. In a way, I’d have preferred to buy a BMW or Mercedes EV… but for 55K they simply don’t have anything that competes with the MY. I admire Elon and I really believe we have made the correct choice! Best wishes
Having, never been a huge BMW fan, I have to say.....I love this car, I know its not for everyone, for me though it ticks all the boxes of a great everyday sporty drivers EV. BMW, doing what it does best, just in an electric format. Great review, as always Jack, I have been waiting for ur review of the i4.
Fantastic. Absolutely phenomenal. Jack waxing ever more lyrical & brilliantly descriptive in this. Excellent production. Can’t afford it, but LOVE that car.
It’s utter (BMW funded ) bullshit ! Spec it to the same as a equivalent MY and it’s 58.5K! For a car that is inferior in EVERY measurable respect. I can’t think of a the BM has over the MY. (Maybe better dealer service ? … in my experience, BMW dealers are superb)
@@maxflight777 teslas are rather unreliable and their interieur quality is not even close to BMW interiors. It's the quality that makes a BMW more expensive. Your decision if you want to pay a few extra thousands for that. I think it's worth it. And drivingwise I prefer the i4 a lot compared to the teslas I've driven
I have been a BMW Center employee for 15 years. I just leased my first BMW, an i4. I agree with you completely. Absolutely in love with this car.A real BMW sport sedan that just happens to be a BEV.
I just hired a i4 for 19 days and toured California. It's so good I slept in it at a festival. 2m in the back. Range was 300+ miles. I received several compliments about the i4. I think it's the best looking EV on the road.
That pointless front grill is what happens when the marketing people are desperate to have a visual branding that is distinctive and attractive but struggle and just give up on the attractive part.
@@tommoger Yeah, it was ugly when the designed it for their gas cars. It didn't just get ugly here. It is just that here the ugliness doesn't even serve a purpose since it isn't a grill.
Having spent a year spoiled driving a Taycan, but resenting the total cost, the i4 is a great option as a replacement. The i4 M50 is the only car BMW sales centres have to loan. That car is blisteringly fast, but the range is not as good as I need. This i4 40 looks perfect. The build quality as you say Jack is top draw. The technology works and it can connect to the fastest chargers. The rear wiper that was my feedback at the end of the test drive. This car needs it! Come on BMW fit a wiper or some super spray system. Might need ceramic coated glass! I think this car is going to sell well. The only issue is the waiting time 12 months plus! That is the only downside!
Richard … I like your post .. but I have to take issue. Blisteringly fast ? My MY with €2K performance boost is way faster than an M50. It has a front boot and masses more accommodation for people and bags than the M50. Don’t get me started on range / efficiency and the supercharger network.
Richard, it won’t sell well ! Because BMW (unlike Tesla are still tying their shoe-laces when in comes to EV production) They have admitted they can’t make many ! BMW have massive problems delivering them. Unions and legacy costs bust their supply chain.
@@maxflight777 The MY and M3 from Tesla may be great but for me the ride comfort is not great and the design is to bland. The lack of choice in specification, trims etc is not ideal either. I am so pleased Tesla exists and is producing its range of EV’s to suit the masses. The infrastructure is incredible. But until Elon Musk gives the service and experience that buys of premium products require it won’t suit everyone. It’s not all about speed! Comfort and refinement with effortless performance is the key. The i4 is far from perfect. It lacks steering feel and the lack of a front boot are two points. The other is its lack of traction under hard acceleration. That is why the i4 40 is the better car. If you want the best performance EV then the Porsche Taycan is the best in the world as an all round car. May not have best range, but it feels like a Porsche and it levitates across the road in uncompromising comfort. You pay your money and take your choice. Tesla are doing lots right and will remain the biggest EV manufacturer for years to come. The great thing is we are all individuals and we chose the products and brands we like. That is the joy of our opportunities. The future key for EV manufacturers are: Style Practicality Range Comfort Speed of charging Ease of charging Choice Price The global manufacturers of EV’s will cater for all choices. From a Citroen AMI to a Rimac Nevara. Take your choice and enjoy. The one thing is clear EV is the future. All the best 👍
I have tested this car with the same specification and agree it was great to drive and the ride was good but I found the tyre noise from the rear end was excessive especially when doing over 50mph.
So BMW have successfully transposed an electric motor into their standard petrol car. Great achievement, no doubt, but also a missed opportunity. What could they have done with the interior if they'd developed an ev platform? How could they have adjusted the handling and poise of the vehicle? We'll never know - or we'll have to wait for a future generation to find out. I think they've played it safe and created a vehicle that the petrol heads and so-called "drivers" will be happy to buy when they come to renew their chariot of choice. I'm not convinced it's a major step forward for ev's though.
@@hotrod182 so has the introduction of gigacasting by Tesla. That's why Herbert Deiss of VWG says Tesla only need 10 hours to build a car when they take 30.
@@andrewsaint6581 I don't think BMW will even try to mass produce these cars yet. Just like the i3 had revolutionary CFRP construction for that class of car, BMW wasn't interested in mass producing them. There were times when they weren't even shipping them to the U.S. I ordered my i4 last June, and I will be lucky to get it this June, a full year. I was almost tempted to get a Tesla M3P just because of the wait. But just this week, the last few TH-cam reviews have been picking the i4 as being the better car. So BMW seems to be more desirable, and the Tesla easier (and cheaper) to get.
@@zoomosis Or one that actually looks good. I think Musk wanted the to be deliberately ugly, just to prove he still will sell them to the targeted customers.
I've just popped in to say that if anyone else is worried that the edrive40 looks slower on paper than some similar diesel cars, like the 435d, then worry not. I test drove one last night, and it blew my socks off. Even though on paper, the i4 looks slower, it actually feels way quicker from zero, right through to (way over) the national speed limit. I liked it so much, I'm ordering mine today. The torque is instant. I'm not sure how 200Nm less than my 435d manages to feel like more, but I like it.
Jack is one of the if not the best EV reviewers out there, love the way he gets the message across without all the bullshit and condescending attitude likes lots of others.
Loved that review Jack. Thank you. Would just like to offer my two cents. I agree that the eDrive 40 is the more sensible way to go. But I actually put a reservation on one, and chose the M50. Despite the lower range, I live in Canada, and the 4WD option being available only on the M50 makes it the only sensible option for our winters here.
Jack, Jack, Jack, what an enjoyment hearing you speaking about the possibility of current car makers, such as BMW, imbuing their new endeavours with their legacy. Beautiful video. Thank you and everybody in the team involved in this.
For me, I’ll stick with my MG5. I can keep £30k in the bank and it’s got a bigger boot. It’s also still fast enough that I can destroy knob heads In Audis with a flick of my right ankle. It’s my new favourite hobby
Fantastic presentation! As a Yank of German origin, I love Jack's style and British wit. The Audi review "There's quite a lot of cow in this car" and now "battery shoved up its bum" are now immortalized in my brain after a hearty literal LOL. Thanks for putting this car on my radar and BMW is graduating from its i3 days.
I think it's odd that very few people comparing those cars mention that the i4, being better and all, is also almost twice as expensive when specced to match the Tesla in features.
Tesla has loads of features most people wont use or need. Really can't compare them in that fashion. But bmw is just a bit more expensive generally, it's a premium product.
@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 A premium manufacturer carries that label for delivering a premium product, which in order to be one needs to excel in some category, be it speed, luxury, quality, driving dynamics, anything will do. The BMW excels at nothing compared to the Tesla, it is at best on par, give or take a few inches. It has vastly less features included in the base price, no driving assist, no heated seats, no alarm system, no lane keep assist, no stop & go functionality, no keyless entry, no wireless charger, no sun roof. Even if you don't need or want any of those features, which would jack the price of an i4 up to 74000 EUR, compared to 43000 EUR for a base Tesla, the base model alone is 60000 EUR. A 50% markup is not justified for a BMW as the BMW is no Rolls Royce and the Tesla is no Lada.
@@Krasshirsch ok bro lol. Argue with the world about bmw not being a premium car and tesla not being a toy. Weak fanboi brabbel 🤯 lol. Where you team nintendo or sega on the school playground? Grow up please.
@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 I had two BMW's already, I currently drive a BMW M2 and was going to get a an i4. I love BMW's. I hate Tesla's look, it is bland on the outside and bland on the inside, it is a boring car. These reviews, however, should not be completely subjective but compare objective facts and objectively the BMW loses to the stupid Tesla.
Jack is one of the best car presenters on TH-cam. He and Mat from CarWow have the chatty, cheeky and watchable approach down to a T. I liked his comment about a past job where he wrote an interview for James May - he clearly made Captain Slow appear knowledgeable. He'll go far!
Dude. Get yourself a tv show please. Amazing review. I would love to see more about the tech (infotainment, assisted drive, assistive parking etc.) the i4 packs but still amazing review. Subscribed.
Having owned 4 BMW’s I’ll not buy another. BMW have Segwayed into multiple annual dealership visits for checks, service, more checks and then there’s the subscribe to everything requirements or your car will have less stuff over time. The runflats develop bubbles and have to be swapped regularly and so ownership went from being good a decade ago, to a hassle and a continuous expensive in the present. It may be great to drive, but I ditched my beemer as a disheartened and wallet-mugged customer, so this hefty lump is not for me. I wish journalists talked about ownership experience a bit more, because driving dynamics and squidgy interiors are not the complete experience.
My brand new i4 m50 arrived last week. Absoluuuutely love it. And you are correct, petrol head here who has had a host of performance ICE cars. Best car i've driven and no range anxiety!
Thanks from Barcelona for making car tests so different to the rest of the world, having fun, info, experience, humor and unexpected British passion describing every little detail. And absolutely agree about BMW is probably the best option adding a really low consumption. Thanks
"I increasingly find myself recommending not the top version, but the one underneath it". Welcome to the land of middle age Jack, where simplicity and comfort always take precedence!
I recently took an i4 for a test drive. It was good, but not enough to make me really want it. I've never driven a BMW before, and it was certainly a very good car. I did however find the steering wheel rather chunky and the feedback was a bit numb compared to a hydraulic system, to be expected I suppose. I thought the view over the bonnet and being able to easily see the road and what might be directly in front of the car , like a bollard, a bit poor. The cabin was very refined, and the only thing I picked up on was wind noise from the side windows, probably a feature of being frameless. I currently drive a 2013 E Class, which after the i4 test, I still prefer. It has much better all round visibility, is quieter (not under acceleration), better steering, and is a lot more comfortable. I'm being very picky about a small number of things that didn't impress me, but it's probably because I've driven the Merc for so many years I'm looking for something that will 'greatly' improve on that experience. I had high hopes for the i4 but sadly it didn't do it for me, though the acceleration was amazing!
Yep, but dealers have no idea when it will be available. I'm looking forward to testing one though. The Lucid looks really good, but there's no mention of it coming to the UK.
I4 or P2 once I get to have a go with them in the spring. No to model 3, did not like the suspension (Far to busy.) or not having at least a heads up display. When paying over $50k there are no excuses for poor quality, it will drive me insane.
Tesla is quickly losing it's major advantage, being first and being good enough. The rest is catching up quickly and teslas are simply not good enough anymore. They really need to up their game or position themselves as more of a budget brand.
I wish the Polestar 2 came with the Brembos and Ohlins as standard. The drive away price is too high even for a single motor with the extra packages installed.
Two years later... Lovely review. I just sat in one. I think you make the necessary point that this car has a "cocoon-like" sitting position. It's very much a personal sports sedan in the tradition of the old 3-series before that car lost its soul. The i4 eDrive is a 'family' car in name only. You buy something like this if you love to drive.
Another brilliant review. you are killing it Jack. Wish BMW and other legacy car makers stop ripping people with options. Make it easier for buyers . Throw options like rev cam, sensors, lane departure etc as standard. charge for color’s and interior upgrades. My 2 cents.
I'm never going to be able to afford this car, but when I got the notification that this video was out, I was looking forward to watching it because Jack is such a great presenter.
They tested 4 EV SAVs on Carwow. The Tesla Model X, the BMW ix , the Merc and Audi Etron GT. Out of like 4000 people answering the survey, the Audi and BMW were voted as the best looking of the four. The Tesla was dead last. People preferred the way the BMW ix looks 4:1 over the Tesla!
@dmpanis Like you, I'm dying to order one, but it would be irresponsible to do so without a test drive. I've been told that one will be available at the end of March for a test drive (USA).
Anybody noticed that actually BMW was behind the Germans in the EV game 1.5 years ago but currently it is peaking and delivered the first mid size normal sedan compared to the other in the era of SUV and SAV EV lineups. I really appreciate this i4 Well done BMW ...and have no idea what Audi is doing... Maybeee there will be an A6 equivavlent this year but where the A4 equivalent or even would be better to have and A4 Avant like EV, where are those breeds?
I had washer jets on the front wiper of my Citroen BX in 1990 (42 years ago) it isn’t a new thing. Only problem is stopping the piping up the wiper arm and wiper from freezing as doesn’t benefit from getting any engine bay heat.
Lol, agreed. First thing I’d do IF I owned this car would be to black out the lower half of that #%^* ridiculous grill. I’d honestly buy a Polestar 2 over the BMW for the looks, but I’d also buy an Model 3 over the Polestar for the performance and the SC network in the US. The latter is a big factor when thinking about any EV other than a Tesla, but I’m glad to see other contenders hitting the market and happy to see BMW, despite the divisive grill, build electric vehicles that are more practical and less quirky than the i3.
I have two teslas (model Y performance my wife drives and model 3 long range my son drives) and the only thing that puts this off for me is RWD only which here in the Philly areas is a deal breaker and the M50 is objectively worse than a model 3 performance and costs $15K more. If the base version had AWD I would love it
Enjoyed the video, your review was spot on! I picked up this i4 in RWD with premium package in skyscraper grey last week here in Southern California. Absolutely LOVE driving it. I got rid of my ‘22 Tesla M3 LR, good riddance The i4 is a far superior car all the way around. The attention to detail by BMW is second to none. Highly recommend to anybody looking to for a mid size EV
Been waiting for this review 😊 Great as always, Jack! Top!👍 I'm happy to hear that it feels like a true BMW and that it performs well! Turns out, BMW is able to make great EVs on their flexible non-bespoke platform. Makes me even more excited about all the electric versions to come! Especially the electric 5-series (i5) will be the sweet spot in their line up 😊
Man! You made my day with this video. I have almost 100% the same thoughts about i4, except I prefer m50 and will go for it mainly because it has 4wheels drive and it matters for me. Cheers!
@@JackScarlett1 well, in fact it makes a lot of sense to me, as my house is on the bloody hill and the road which leads to me house is freaking steep. I know in UK it doesn't matter but here in Poland we happen to have snowfalls during the Winter and after one of these I literally can't climb this hill with front wheel drive Corsa-e before a truck comes with some salt to put it on the road so snow can melt... It may be about 2 months a year when it's the case, but you can imagine how frustrating it can be not to be able to be back home for several hours waiting for a snow plough
Test Drove the US version last night. I agree with everything you said here, but you didn't sit in the back seat at all, and I would be interested in your comments there. I'm 5' 11" and i didn't fit all that well back there (especially that my feet didn't really have a comfortable place to go). It'll be mostly me and my wife driving in it, so back seats aren't a deal-breaker, but that is one area where I feel the i4 falls short. However, I totally agree with the eDrive40 version over the M50. It has MAD acceleration especially when already at cruising speed. I appreciate having more range and the better handling too. Thanks for a great review!
I have long postulated that after BMW released the i3 and i8, two automotive leaps forward, there was a coup by the board old guard who gave us the 3,5 and 7 series who said "stop" and the company went back to the Bavarian uber-saloon safe space. This i4 looks too much like an old 5 series that has been converted to BEV. Were the i3/i8 team sacked?
Owned an i3 and it was brilliant! They should have worked on increasing its range and it would have been more than a city car. So when the time came i upgraded to a Tesla Model 3, because BMW had nothing. Still, I think this i4 is too much of a compromise as it is based on an ICE platform. No frunk? A tunnel hump through the whole car? What a waste!
Loved this review. Great videography and sensible thoughts on the car. Looking at the numbers alone made me think the ‘lesser’ car may well offer ‘more’, especially when you factor in the ever increasing regulation of our (UK at least) roads, not to mention ever increasing traffic volumes. I’ve seen comments on-line around BMW not being very innovative with EVs, which seems to totally overlook their bespoke i3 which has been on sale for a number of years now and the no longer sold i8. Obviously now we have the iX too. The i4 is clearly a cost-saving, stopgap model in a sense to make a car both EV and ICE compatible, but, as stopgaps go, it looks like they’ve done a cracking job. Being relatively conventional isn’t always a bad thing, especially in what is a relatively conservative sector of the market. The upcoming Neue Klasse should be an interesting car, as that is likely to be an EV first and foremost I suspect, maybe making use of some of the i3’s construction methods perhaps?
Two big problems with this car. First, it front end is just too ugly for me. I couldn’t live with boaking in my mouth every time it caught my eye. Having to explain to everyone that in spite of its looks, it’s a really good car and being the brunt of all my mates jokes. I also do not want to help encourage BMW. I’ve had loads of 3’ and a 5 in the past, I’ve never thought they were beautiful (Jaguar has got them there all day long) but always liked them. But this is just unnecessary self harm! Second issue is the price. I am a company car driver and I get a very generous allowance that saw me into a Polestar 2 first edition eighteenth months ago. That was absolutely top of my budget and that was with the government grant. This car is just too far out of reach of most company car drivers and quite a few private ones too….
It drives me nuts. It's not just BMW, a number of manufacturers seem to deliberately make their electric cars as ugly as possible. There is no physical constraint of EVs that requires this. Quite the opposite, with no engine, gearbox, etc they are free to do something even more impressive! Phillip.
@@davidkerr4103 Hah I'm more of a Jaguar man so I'll leave the ICE car opinions to the BMW fans. I'm still sad Jaguar went all SUV with their iPace. My ideal car is a Tesla hiding in the body of a F-Type, or even an older XK. Phillip.
@@philliptemple4534 oh I’m with you there, I’ve had two XF’s and absolutely loved them. I’m also pissed off with Jaguar. I was so impressed they got an EV out before most of the other legacy brands so thought they would build on the success by releasing other models. Then realising they only produced the I-Pace as a compliance car so they could keep selling Supercharged V8’s! If Jaguar had a £50K family saloon, I would have gone for it for sure. Now they are going to have to play catch up again.
@@davidkerr4103 My car before last was an XF followed by an old XK8 convertible. They make you smile twice, once when you walk into the parking and again when you first put your foot down. You could overlook the crappy software because of the looks and the ride. I think it's too late for them now. There is a good business in taking classic models and converting them to electric in my opinion.. Phillip.
Simply love it! Great vid, great car and the right conclusions! Thanks, have been waiting for it for some time… now I only have to wait for mine to arrive during the next weeks 😃
When cell phones morphed into smart phones, hardware became only one facet of what made them so special. Smart phones had an ecosystem (app stores) to support future functions and were able to recieve regular user interface updates over the air. EVs are very similar. We can no longer simply compare acceleration/top speed/range/interior design, ect. We have to look at the total user experience including charging network, software updates, automatic features such as self driving capabilities, ect. So, Im glad BMW has brought some new EVs to the market but what is the user experience like? Does it auto route you to chargers as needed while driving long distances? Or do you have to manually locate a public charger yourself? Does it have any kind of entertainment system to use while you wait to charge? Is BMW currently building their own supercharger network to support their products? Is BMW constantly refining their customer user experience with over the air updates? Those are questions that need to be asked from ALL EV manufacturers.
As much as I like EV platforms, some of the hands-down BEST EVs of all time are platform conversions. Ioniq, Kona, E-Niro/E-Soul, and the iX3 and now i4. I think this might be because the EV platforms get an entirely new team working on them, and sometimes they get so deep into the innovation that they lose the things that make those CARS great, regardless of powertrain: handling, styling, interior, and so forth. There is a lot more to a car than the powertrain, and to really stand out in the next wave of electrification, companies are going to have to get even better at those things.
Best review I have found on the i4, thank you very much. I have driven BMWs for about 20 years, the only downside for me was the poor traction characteristic of RWD on the (admittedly rare) occasions I encounter ice or snowy conditions. My last two vehicles have had the x-drive option and I wouldn't go back. For that reason alone I have ordered the M50.
0:50 "to be completely honest with you..." BMW canteen is reeeeeaal good 😂 12:05 hmmmm Ok... 🤦♂️ 15:45 what a surprise! FoH Jack doesn't prefer the Tesla. I'm shocked! A quick comparison table with Polestar 2 and Model 3 at equivalent price would have been nice.
I think the Hyundai Ioniq 6 will be a big player in this segment from later this year, and will be cheaper than all of the 'big three' (polestar, bmw, Tesla). If it's anywhere near as good to drive then it'll sell lots too
I doubt it. Since a year ago the Ioniq 5 has been getting rave reviews. I think they sold a total of 16,000 in the whole of Europe for the whole of 2021. Plenty of demand yet no deliveries in sight for those I read about in forums. I suspect they are losing quite a lot of money on each car. I bet the Ioniq 6 will get great reviews... but will you actually get one delivered this year? Phillip.
@@philliptemple4534 I haven't heard of the Ioniq 5 struggling for sales, but if that is the case then fair enough - it is in the much more crowded crossover segment of the EV market, and I've read online that the sister car Kia EV6 is selling incredibly well, with year-long wait times right now or new ones. Maybe that's part of why the Ioniq 5 isn't doing such high numbers. In the EV exec saloon sector though, there's much less of a crowded market, with no Kia sister car yet, nothing from VW group yet, nothing from Stellantis yet nothing affordable from Merc yet, and nothing from Toyota or really any of the big Japanese names yet (plenty of hybrids but very few pure EVs). So I still think the Ioniq 6 could shine, and sell well, next to the Tesla, BMW and Polestar.
@@anguspaterson5713 The dealers are struggling with sales as they don't have stock. Hyundai have plenty of demand, just decided not to make any cars. VW have the worst cars but the highest sales. Simply because they are making more. Check out the "price gouging" news on TH-cam where Ford/GM/etc are trying to crack down on dealers charging up to 50k over list price if you want a reasonable delivery date. This year, Kia will sell as many as they can make. The question is how many will they make. Phillip.
@@philliptemple4534 ah I see - I misunderstood your comment, I thought you were saying there was low demand for Kia/Hyundai. But yes the supply chain crisis (plus they they don't have factory as big as VW group's is) the more likely culprit. A shame, because I agree with you that the VW group cars are the worse cars!
Great review Jack! As a former Model 3 owner and former BMW 320i owner your comparisons all make sense to me. I think i would enjoy driving the i4 more than a Model 3. Model 3 has two advantages: 1. Tesla Supercharger network, and 2. a great standard sound system that is better than the upgraded HK sound system in the I4. I would go with the i4 IF my country/area had plenty of non-Tesla quick chargers OR if I usedthe i4 for local driving only.
I always thought BMW’s mistake was failing to develop a 3 or 4 series type EV with all the learning they had from the i3. It looks like they are finally getting there.
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So which would you go for - the i4, a Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2? Tell us your choice and why below!
Model 3
The one that won't have to be returned in a few months due to catastrophically poor quality control and build quality. Ten years ago you'd think that would be the Chinese manufacturer but not in reality it's tesla.
Polestar long range dual motor, the I4 seems like a phenomenal piece of engineering-I just don't think I could live with that grille.. Model frog face bringing up the rear.
I4
@@Alex-cw3rz is this about the i4 recall in the EU due to safety issue?
I am a formerly died in the wool petrolhead. Until I drove and ordered an i4 two days ago. I was blown away after driving it. Hate to say goodbye to my 2019 540i, which I absolutely love, but life goes on.😊
I was lucky enough that my father had a red 5 series as his company car for several years in the 80s. It was an amazing machine and burned itself into my childhood brain so much, I can still remember the number plate, and I struggle to remember my own car's plate. I am so glad that this i4 seems to be a continuation of the BMW tradition of sporty saloons. Maybe one day!
Just not in that dreadful primer grey, it looks like they forgot to finish painting it before it left the factory. Now the green, that's the colour!
Ha! I love that Brooklyn Grey for the exact reason you hate it. It looks unfinished. I ordered my i4 M50 in Brooklyn Grey 😆
I was in Ulm in 2014 when Nokia shutdown their office and BMW came to hire us to work on their new software system which was going to be connected and intelligent. Some of my friends joined them. I'm chuffed to hear they did a good job :-)
What chuffed means?
@@djprojectus happy or very pleased. It's an old kind of slang.
@@timmurphy5541 Thank you👍
Been there too. Glad to see that the car is programmed so well, I think other companies don’t put that much attention to this very important part of the car
@@djprojectus use a dictionary
THANK YOU, BMW, for not putting EVERYTHING in touch-control sub-menus but instead demonstrating that real life analogue buttons and dials don't just "still have a place in modern vehicles" but they're actually a hell of a lot safer and more intuitive on the move!!
I find voice control (triggered by a single push on a steering wheel button) works *much* better than faffing around with the touchscreen. Or having more than one or two buttons on the steering wheel. Or any non-steering wheel control (radios used to be well out of reach in the dim, distant, analogue past). Disclaimer: very recently upgraded a Leaf to a Tesla Model 3 and the touchscreen was a major pain until we figured out that the voice control actually works. More, real-life, analogue buttons don't seem so appealing. Your mileage obviously varies.
Voice control in the i4 BMW is a very bad. It's a joke. No comparison to Tesla. Just watch the Carwow review for example.
Here here ! 👍😁
Says the one who has never actually used a Touchscreen controlled car no a daily basis. So funny how people who really cant judge judge technology that they don't understand.
What they always forget to tell you is that while the supercharger network opens up you will have to pay way more to use it than a Tesla driver.
Jack (and team) *thank you* so much! This review gives an honest, driver-focused comparison between the i4 and the Model 3. I am not a car person and can't imagine I'll ever buy a saloon car, but I really wanted to know if the BMW i4 had that BMW-ness that it needed to seriously compete with the Model 3. Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, BMW i4... soon the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Mercedes EQE. Serious competition is good for consumers
You sound like a bot that's generated a fandom response to this review.
I don't think you can honestly say this is an honest review.
You're not a car person and you're not going to buy a saloon car... You've said it yourself.
@@MichaelPickles I'm an (electrical) engineering person - I'm really interested in charging tech, traction inverters (and the rise of SiC - that's my day-job) and efficiency. I play the tuba, so I'll be shopping for estates/SUVs that will take a tuba in the boot or a hatchback that will take the tuba in the back and save me £10000 or whatever. I currently drive a 2nd-gen Nissan Leaf (and the tuba goes in the back and marks the seats with mud occasionally, ho-hum).
I've driven the Tesla Model 3. I don't like it: I was adjusting the seat for the entire drive and never got it to be comfortable, to say nothing of the practicality of the body vs. my tuba. I wouldn't buy a BMW, Audi or Merc either, if only to escape the stigma of those cars being driven badly. But I understand and accept that there are some people who don't have to transport tubas and who want a fast, exciting car. Why should they all drive Model 3s? Competition *is* good. The Tesla Model 3 has some amazing engineering in it, but there are some people who will never want one. These people deserve to have good cars to choose from and Tesla shouldn't rest on their laurels just because their tech is 2-5 years ahead of everyone else. I am glad that the BMW i4 is good in the ways that it needs to be.
@@gigabyte2248 ok, your not a bot then. And if we are sharing, I too am a geek. People would consider me a super user and early adopter.
Maybe you should look at a model Y for comparisons.
People except what they're told. Reviews are paid or have an incentive to hyper products.
I just feel like the review was pulling the wool over people's eyes. And the extraordinary amount of people gushing over it in the reviews. Was throwing up red flags for me.
Ask yourself in all honesty, Is that a good car. Or just more of the same old marketing tricks.
Check out the Kia EV6. The dealer near me did events to get Tesla drivers in it. They've stopped now.
Can't get stock. Great car.
@@oldbastedI have no doubt it's good on the road they've had over 100 years to perfected.
My problem is it's an analogue device with a digital retrofit (ICE Vs EV)
Comparing a tesla model 3 to a vehicle that costs much more is not logical.
You could compare it to a model Y and a spare 10 grand in your pocket.
Not to mention BMW charging you for servicing an electric vehicle.
And a resale value that is not as good.
It's all economics.
I spent more than forty years in the car business, and had a chance to drive some impressive cars. A friend bought a used BMW i3 and let me drive it. I know they've dropped it now, but I really believe it was the most impressive car I've ever driven. She traded it in on a brand new one when she heard they were going to discontinue it.
Hands down my favourite presenter on TH-cam or TV. Thanks for another really entertaining and down to earth review.
Jack and Bjorn are my two favourite reviewers.
As a biker and petrolhead I have recently taken delivery of an eDrive40 and you are absolutely right. It is everything that you could ever need in a car. I was apprehensive about going electric for a few reasons, all of which very quickly vanished, its an incredible driving experience. I left a very cool and top spec M135i to go for an i4 and that engine sounded and performed heavenly. Zero regrets. I'm smitten
As a Tesla owner, I have to say, what a great review from this gentleman.
I see the anti-Tesla bots are out tonight .
We've owned BMW'S for the last 20 years in our household, after driving the Model Y last year and test driving the X3M recently... I'm ordering a Model Y... Yes the quality of the Tesla finish is actually comical but BMW price point is out of control... And they continue to hold back the X3 full electric with all drive because it would basically make the X.3 M kind of pointless
@@Landshark9 KamiB… i agree with everything you wrote. I collect my MY tomorrow and I’m a tad anxious about quality issues. In a way, I’d have preferred to buy a BMW or Mercedes EV… but for 55K they simply don’t have anything that competes with the MY. I admire Elon and I really believe we have made the correct choice! Best wishes
@@Landshark9 I’ll bet you regret that decision.
@@maxflight777 you mean normal people who love cars? Tesla’s are vile. Their owners even more so.
Having, never been a huge BMW fan, I have to say.....I love this car, I know its not for everyone, for me though it ticks all the boxes of a great everyday sporty drivers EV. BMW, doing what it does best, just in an electric format.
Great review, as always Jack, I have been waiting for ur review of the i4.
I was a fan of Jack's when he was with Electroheads ( a channel still well worth watching), but he really has come into his own at Fully Charged
you're meant to be commenting on the car not the bloke presenting the car 🤣🤣
@@MrQwerty3000 I din't realise you set the rules of what people can comment.
@@deeser I became a Jack fan when he reviews the Lotus Exige 410. It’s probably my favourite car review…..sod it, I’m off to watch it again!
Fantastic. Absolutely phenomenal. Jack waxing ever more lyrical & brilliantly descriptive in this. Excellent production. Can’t afford it, but LOVE that car.
It’s utter (BMW funded ) bullshit !
Spec it to the same as a equivalent MY and it’s 58.5K!
For a car that is inferior in EVERY measurable respect.
I can’t think of a the BM has over the MY.
(Maybe better dealer service ? … in my experience, BMW dealers are superb)
@@maxflight777 the tesla looks like a squished frog, doesn't have a hatchback and isn't as good to drive
@@maxflight777 MY?
@@maxflight777 teslas are rather unreliable and their interieur quality is not even close to BMW interiors. It's the quality that makes a BMW more expensive. Your decision if you want to pay a few extra thousands for that. I think it's worth it. And drivingwise I prefer the i4 a lot compared to the teslas I've driven
The scenic views in this episode are fantastic, much appreciated during these dark winter months.
I have been a BMW Center employee for 15 years. I just leased my first BMW, an i4. I agree with you completely. Absolutely in love with this car.A real BMW sport sedan that just happens to be a BEV.
Even though, Jack has been a part of the team some times now. I will say he makes excellent reviews, and is the perfect match for the channel.
I just hired a i4 for 19 days and toured California. It's so good I slept in it at a festival. 2m in the back. Range was 300+ miles. I received several compliments about the i4. I think it's the best looking EV on the road.
That pointless front grill is what happens when the marketing people are desperate to have a visual branding that is distinctive and attractive but struggle and just give up on the attractive part.
It has to have a kidney grille, that’s an iconic BWM styling feature. Same reason the i3 has one
I think the front grill is ugly
@@tommoger Yeah, it was ugly when the designed it for their gas cars. It didn't just get ugly here. It is just that here the ugliness doesn't even serve a purpose since it isn't a grill.
@Mattejko Yes, Stockholm Syndrome is a real thing. ;)
@Mattejko Called opinion and humor but that is fine. We'll put you in the shill catagory.
I drove the car last week and in in my opinion exept the price this is definetly the best EV on the market. I love it 😃
Having spent a year spoiled driving a Taycan, but resenting the total cost, the i4 is a great option as a replacement. The i4 M50 is the only car BMW sales centres have to loan. That car is blisteringly fast, but the range is not as good as I need. This i4 40 looks perfect. The build quality as you say Jack is top draw. The technology works and it can connect to the fastest chargers. The rear wiper that was my feedback at the end of the test drive. This car needs it! Come on BMW fit a wiper or some super spray system. Might need ceramic coated glass! I think this car is going to sell well. The only issue is the waiting time 12 months plus! That is the only downside!
Richard … I like your post .. but I have to take issue.
Blisteringly fast ?
My MY with €2K performance boost is way faster than an M50.
It has a front boot and masses more accommodation for people and bags than the M50.
Don’t get me started on range / efficiency and the supercharger network.
Richard, it won’t sell well ! Because BMW (unlike Tesla are still tying their shoe-laces when in comes to EV production)
They have admitted they can’t make many ! BMW have massive problems delivering them.
Unions and legacy costs bust their supply chain.
@@maxflight777 The MY and M3 from Tesla may be great but for me the ride comfort is not great and the design is to bland. The lack of choice in specification, trims etc is not ideal either. I am so pleased Tesla exists and is producing its range of EV’s to suit the masses. The infrastructure is incredible. But until Elon Musk gives the service and experience that buys of premium products require it won’t suit everyone. It’s not all about speed! Comfort and refinement with effortless performance is the key. The i4 is far from perfect. It lacks steering feel and the lack of a front boot are two points. The other is its lack of traction under hard acceleration. That is why the i4 40 is the better car. If you want the best performance EV then the Porsche Taycan is the best in the world as an all round car. May not have best range, but it feels like a Porsche and it levitates across the road in uncompromising comfort.
You pay your money and take your choice.
Tesla are doing lots right and will remain the biggest EV manufacturer for years to come.
The great thing is we are all individuals and we chose the products and brands we like. That is the joy of our opportunities.
The future key for EV manufacturers are:
Style
Practicality
Range
Comfort
Speed of charging
Ease of charging
Choice
Price
The global manufacturers of EV’s will cater for all choices. From a Citroen AMI to a Rimac Nevara.
Take your choice and enjoy. The one thing is clear EV is the future.
All the best 👍
@@maxflight777 But you have to look at the eyesore every bloody time you pick it up.
Life is too short for that.
@@sebastiantevel898 😅😅 true, on paper teslas great but heart just won't go with a tesla.
I liked how you described the essence will live on in its electric successor.
BMW has been my favourite for a long time! Well done
I just ordered mine and can't wait to have it. When I test drove it, I didn't want to give it back. There is something addictive to it.
Currently drive a 3 series x drive, so I would like 4wd, but not all the "m" stuff - looks like a great car
How much better could it be if it wasn't designed as an EV/ICE vehicle
I am so mad, if it was ev platform based with frunk and leg room for adults in the back, i'd go and buy it tomorrow
Presumably at some point in not-too-distant future it will evolve into a fully EV design. They won't be making the ICE model i4 forever.
bmw iVisison circular is a true EV with no ice
I have tested this car with the same specification and agree it was great to drive and the ride was good but I found the tyre noise from the rear end was excessive especially when doing over 50mph.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. The omission of the rear wiper on modern cars vexes me enormously.
So BMW have successfully transposed an electric motor into their standard petrol car. Great achievement, no doubt, but also a missed opportunity. What could they have done with the interior if they'd developed an ev platform? How could they have adjusted the handling and poise of the vehicle? We'll never know - or we'll have to wait for a future generation to find out.
I think they've played it safe and created a vehicle that the petrol heads and so-called "drivers" will be happy to buy when they come to renew their chariot of choice. I'm not convinced it's a major step forward for ev's though.
The Bespoke ix platform has been described as a brilliant piece of engineering.
@@hotrod182 so has the introduction of gigacasting by Tesla. That's why Herbert Deiss of VWG says Tesla only need 10 hours to build a car when they take 30.
@@andrewsaint6581 I don't think BMW will even try to mass produce these cars yet. Just like the i3 had revolutionary CFRP construction for that class of car, BMW wasn't interested in mass producing them. There were times when they weren't even shipping them to the U.S. I ordered my i4 last June, and I will be lucky to get it this June, a full year. I was almost tempted to get a Tesla M3P just because of the wait. But just this week, the last few TH-cam reviews have been picking the i4 as being the better car. So BMW seems to be more desirable, and the Tesla easier (and cheaper) to get.
Now all Tesla needs to do is design a Model 3 that runs on petrol. Only kidding.
@@zoomosis Or one that actually looks good.
I think Musk wanted the to be deliberately ugly, just to prove he still will sell them to the targeted customers.
I've just popped in to say that if anyone else is worried that the edrive40 looks slower on paper than some similar diesel cars, like the 435d, then worry not. I test drove one last night, and it blew my socks off. Even though on paper, the i4 looks slower, it actually feels way quicker from zero, right through to (way over) the national speed limit. I liked it so much, I'm ordering mine today. The torque is instant. I'm not sure how 200Nm less than my 435d manages to feel like more, but I like it.
The ICE based design has a big impact on the back seat users, important with a family car.
I agree (assuming you are referring to “knees up to your chest” seating designs ….)
Try a Tesla MY .. the rear is spacious and comfortable
@@maxflight777 I am not even remotely contemplating that option.
those who sit in the back will have to suffer.
@@maxflight777 You talk like a typical Elon bot 🤖
@@maxflight777 Would you recommend purchasing a Tesla?
Jack, a stunning piece of work sir. You are bang on form with this. Love your passion. Great great review.
Jack is one of the if not the best EV reviewers out there, love the way he gets the message across without all the bullshit and condescending attitude likes lots of others.
The wait is killing me. I have an i4 with m sport package on order since September. Should get it in the summer
The weight is killing me...
Loved that review Jack. Thank you.
Would just like to offer my two cents. I agree that the eDrive 40 is the more sensible way to go. But I actually put a reservation on one, and chose the M50. Despite the lower range, I live in Canada, and the 4WD option being available only on the M50 makes it the only sensible option for our winters here.
Glad to see the choice in this sector getting better. Looks like a decent competitor for the M3. Not everyone wants an SUV!
Jack, Jack, Jack, what an enjoyment hearing you speaking about the possibility of current car makers, such as BMW, imbuing their new endeavours with their legacy. Beautiful video. Thank you and everybody in the team involved in this.
For me, I’ll stick with my MG5. I can keep £30k in the bank and it’s got a bigger boot. It’s also still fast enough that I can destroy knob heads In Audis with a flick of my right ankle. It’s my new favourite hobby
Where u at? I ll race you with my trailer on
The i4 is the first car I have ordered without having driven it - thanks for validating my decision!
Me too!....we nervously ordered early before hardly any reviews and have lately been feeling a lot more comfortable with that choice
Excellent test Jack. Thank-you very much.
Fantastic presentation! As a Yank of German origin, I love Jack's style and British wit. The Audi review "There's quite a lot of cow in this car" and now "battery shoved up its bum" are now immortalized in my brain after a hearty literal LOL. Thanks for putting this car on my radar and BMW is graduating from its i3 days.
I think it's odd that very few people comparing those cars mention that the i4, being better and all, is also almost twice as expensive when specced to match the Tesla in features.
Spot on. I test drove it and really liked it, but as soon as you start ticking the options list to match the Tesla, you’re looking at an £80k car.
Tesla has loads of features most people wont use or need. Really can't compare them in that fashion.
But bmw is just a bit more expensive generally, it's a premium product.
@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 A premium manufacturer carries that label for delivering a premium product, which in order to be one needs to excel in some category, be it speed, luxury, quality, driving dynamics, anything will do.
The BMW excels at nothing compared to the Tesla, it is at best on par, give or take a few inches.
It has vastly less features included in the base price, no driving assist, no heated seats, no alarm system, no lane keep assist, no stop & go functionality, no keyless entry, no wireless charger, no sun roof. Even if you don't need or want any of those features, which would jack the price of an i4 up to 74000 EUR, compared to 43000 EUR for a base Tesla, the base model alone is 60000 EUR.
A 50% markup is not justified for a BMW as the BMW is no Rolls Royce and the Tesla is no Lada.
@@Krasshirsch ok bro lol. Argue with the world about bmw not being a premium car and tesla not being a toy.
Weak fanboi brabbel 🤯 lol.
Where you team nintendo or sega on the school playground? Grow up please.
@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 I had two BMW's already, I currently drive a BMW M2 and was going to get a an i4. I love BMW's. I hate Tesla's look, it is bland on the outside and bland on the inside, it is a boring car. These reviews, however, should not be completely subjective but compare objective facts and objectively the BMW loses to the stupid Tesla.
Jack is one of the best car presenters on TH-cam. He and Mat from CarWow have the chatty, cheeky and watchable approach down to a T. I liked his comment about a past job where he wrote an interview for James May - he clearly made Captain Slow appear knowledgeable. He'll go far!
I love my Polestar 2. But I must admit this looks good too. Nice video thanks.
Your review makes me happy I ordered an i4. I hope I feel all the joy that you projected.
Dude. Get yourself a tv show please. Amazing review. I would love to see more about the tech (infotainment, assisted drive, assistive parking etc.) the i4 packs but still amazing review. Subscribed.
He is already on the best TV on the planet. Who needs traditional broadcasters? Their demise is nigh
@@mtumasz this ☝️
“Every other answer is objectively wrong”. You Sir, are 100% objectively correct!
Having owned 4 BMW’s I’ll not buy another. BMW have Segwayed into multiple annual dealership visits for checks, service, more checks and then there’s the subscribe to everything requirements or your car will have less stuff over time. The runflats develop bubbles and have to be swapped regularly and so ownership went from being good a decade ago, to a hassle and a continuous expensive in the present.
It may be great to drive, but I ditched my beemer as a disheartened and wallet-mugged customer, so this hefty lump is not for me. I wish journalists talked about ownership experience a bit more, because driving dynamics and squidgy interiors are not the complete experience.
true, hopefully it will get better with evs
Comparing legacy car makers to Tesla is like comparing Swiss homemade soft chocolates to shit that comes out after you ate the chocolate.
great review, but my 2003 Alfa spider has window washers built into the wipers......... and my daily driver is a BMW i3 which is utterly brilliant.
My brand new i4 m50 arrived last week. Absoluuuutely love it. And you are correct, petrol head here who has had a host of performance ICE cars. Best car i've driven and no range anxiety!
Jack is an unbelievably good car reviewer/presenter.
Thanks from Barcelona for making car tests so different to the rest of the world, having fun, info, experience, humor and unexpected British passion describing every little detail. And absolutely agree about BMW is probably the best option adding a really low consumption. Thanks
I want to paint furious eyebrows above those lights to complete the angry marmot look.
"I increasingly find myself recommending not the top version, but the one underneath it". Welcome to the land of middle age Jack, where simplicity and comfort always take precedence!
Sir, you have a way with words! Great review!
The car is great for us sedan lovers, but Jack was brilliant in this presentation. Excellent review!!!
I recently took an i4 for a test drive. It was good, but not enough to make me really want it. I've never driven a BMW before, and it was certainly a very good car. I did however find the steering wheel rather chunky and the feedback was a bit numb compared to a hydraulic system, to be expected I suppose. I thought the view over the bonnet and being able to easily see the road and what might be directly in front of the car , like a bollard, a bit poor. The cabin was very refined, and the only thing I picked up on was wind noise from the side windows, probably a feature of being frameless. I currently drive a 2013 E Class, which after the i4 test, I still prefer. It has much better all round visibility, is quieter (not under acceleration), better steering, and is a lot more comfortable. I'm being very picky about a small number of things that didn't impress me, but it's probably because I've driven the Merc for so many years I'm looking for something that will 'greatly' improve on that experience. I had high hopes for the i4 but sadly it didn't do it for me, though the acceleration was amazing!
You'll no doubt be chuffed to hear, then, that the new Mercedes EQE saloon is launched this year... 😎
Yep, but dealers have no idea when it will be available. I'm looking forward to testing one though. The Lucid looks really good, but there's no mention of it coming to the UK.
I4 or P2 once I get to have a go with them in the spring. No to model 3, did not like the suspension (Far to busy.) or not having at least a heads up display. When paying over $50k there are no excuses for poor quality, it will drive me insane.
Tesla is quickly losing it's major advantage, being first and being good enough. The rest is catching up quickly and teslas are simply not good enough anymore.
They really need to up their game or position themselves as more of a budget brand.
I wish the Polestar 2 came with the Brembos and Ohlins as standard. The drive away price is too high even for a single motor with the extra packages installed.
Been waiting for this all day!
Two years later... Lovely review. I just sat in one. I think you make the necessary point that this car has a "cocoon-like" sitting position. It's very much a personal sports sedan in the tradition of the old 3-series before that car lost its soul. The i4 eDrive is a 'family' car in name only. You buy something like this if you love to drive.
I wish I had the money for all these cars. My current budget includes a bike, and to be honest, that's all I need.
This is the review I was looking for! Thank you!
As a current Tesla owner, I might have to take a look at electric BMWs when it's time for a new car. Great review!
Yep if you are looking for lower efficiency, shorter range and slower performance knock yourself out !
Thank you Fully Charged for another informative, well made and pleasant review.
Polestar 2 LRSM for me. The BMW is lovely but it's also £12K more expensive.
Can't argue with that.The much cheaper P2 LR is the biggest thorn in this car's side for me
Another brilliant review. you are killing it Jack. Wish BMW and other legacy car makers stop ripping people with options. Make it easier for buyers . Throw options like rev cam, sensors, lane departure etc as standard. charge for color’s and interior upgrades. My 2 cents.
I'm never going to be able to afford this car, but when I got the notification that this video was out, I was looking forward to watching it because Jack is such a great presenter.
I switch my M440 for an I4 a few weeks ago. I am in love with it!!
and as always … thank you for a fabulous review
This is the best vehicle review I've ever watched on TH-cam. Sir, you have a new subscriber in me 💯
Would Love to Drive 1 , Am i the Only 1 that is not bothered by the Grill?
They tested 4 EV SAVs on Carwow. The Tesla Model X, the BMW ix , the Merc and Audi Etron GT. Out of like 4000 people answering the survey, the Audi and BMW were voted as the best looking of the four. The Tesla was dead last. People preferred the way the BMW ix looks 4:1 over the Tesla!
By far one of the very best channels on TH-cam. Jack is brilliant and the videography is just on another level. Please keep it up.
This Jack guy has it good! Great review amazing car coming in two months in my country and I am doing my best not to place an order before driving it.
@dmpanis Like you, I'm dying to order one, but it would be irresponsible to do so without a test drive. I've been told that one will be available at the end of March for a test drive (USA).
Anybody noticed that actually BMW was behind the Germans in the EV game 1.5 years ago but currently it is peaking and delivered the first mid size normal sedan compared to the other in the era of SUV and SAV EV lineups. I really appreciate this i4 Well done BMW ...and have no idea what Audi is doing... Maybeee there will be an A6 equivavlent this year but where the A4 equivalent or even would be better to have and A4 Avant like EV, where are those breeds?
The jet o the wiper thing is great, until the line brakes. I had a few older cars with that function, i sure hope it is better nowadays.
I find it odd the jack made a point of this, the model 3 has it too.
I had washer jets on the front wiper of my Citroen BX in 1990 (42 years ago) it isn’t a new thing. Only problem is stopping the piping up the wiper arm and wiper from freezing as doesn’t benefit from getting any engine bay heat.
This is one of the few cars that putting the front license plate on makes it look better. It breaks up that ridiculous "not a grille".
Lol, agreed. First thing I’d do IF I owned this car would be to black out the lower half of that #%^* ridiculous grill. I’d honestly buy a Polestar 2 over the BMW for the looks, but I’d also buy an Model 3 over the Polestar for the performance and the SC network in the US. The latter is a big factor when thinking about any EV other than a Tesla, but I’m glad to see other contenders hitting the market and happy to see BMW, despite the divisive grill, build electric vehicles that are more practical and less quirky than the i3.
@@evolv.e I love my i3's quirkiness! I wish the iX were more quirky to be a true bigger replacement.
Weirdly, I think the new grill looks better on the iX than the i4, perhaps because the large grill is more proportionate on a larger vehicle.
I have two teslas (model Y performance my wife drives and model 3 long range my son drives) and the only thing that puts this off for me is RWD only which here in the Philly areas is a deal breaker and the M50 is objectively worse than a model 3 performance and costs $15K more. If the base version had AWD I would love it
I guess you like unfinished cars.
@@donaldespeut2042 what does that mean?
@@raydoherty5419 he has no clue
To be honest the quality different between the Tesla and The BMW is significant.
@@jonpetter8921 it should be for the added price
Enjoyed the video, your review was spot on! I picked up this i4 in RWD with premium package in skyscraper grey last week here in Southern California. Absolutely LOVE driving it. I got rid of my ‘22 Tesla M3 LR, good riddance
The i4 is a far superior car all the way around. The attention to detail by BMW is second to none. Highly recommend to anybody looking to for a mid size EV
Been waiting for this review 😊
Great as always, Jack! Top!👍
I'm happy to hear that it feels like a true BMW and that it performs well! Turns out, BMW is able to make great EVs on their flexible non-bespoke platform. Makes me even more excited about all the electric versions to come! Especially the electric 5-series (i5) will be the sweet spot in their line up 😊
Was considering a i4 and I found this video. Love your style of your videos and I think you pretty much convinced me that I need a i4.
Once again great video:) Crazy to think this is all available for free online!
A video on how they do the drone shots would be interesting.
Just ordered mine, can’t wait. Same everything as the video
Man! You made my day with this video. I have almost 100% the same thoughts about i4, except I prefer m50 and will go for it mainly because it has 4wheels drive and it matters for me. Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed! Can't fault anyone who wants to fork out for the extra motor. Doesn't make sense but not everything has to, right?
@@JackScarlett1 well, in fact it makes a lot of sense to me, as my house is on the bloody hill and the road which leads to me house is freaking steep. I know in UK it doesn't matter but here in Poland we happen to have snowfalls during the Winter and after one of these I literally can't climb this hill with front wheel drive Corsa-e before a truck comes with some salt to put it on the road so snow can melt... It may be about 2 months a year when it's the case, but you can imagine how frustrating it can be not to be able to be back home for several hours waiting for a snow plough
@@hubflyhub touché! That’s a valid reason if I ever heard one.
Test Drove the US version last night. I agree with everything you said here, but you didn't sit in the back seat at all, and I would be interested in your comments there. I'm 5' 11" and i didn't fit all that well back there (especially that my feet didn't really have a comfortable place to go). It'll be mostly me and my wife driving in it, so back seats aren't a deal-breaker, but that is one area where I feel the i4 falls short. However, I totally agree with the eDrive40 version over the M50. It has MAD acceleration especially when already at cruising speed. I appreciate having more range and the better handling too. Thanks for a great review!
I have long postulated that after BMW released the i3 and i8, two automotive leaps forward, there was a coup by the board old guard who gave us the 3,5 and 7 series who said "stop" and the company went back to the Bavarian uber-saloon safe space. This i4 looks too much like an old 5 series that has been converted to BEV. Were the i3/i8 team sacked?
Yes. People left and went to Byton and elsewhere.
Owned an i3 and it was brilliant! They should have worked on increasing its range and it would have been more than a city car. So when the time came i upgraded to a Tesla Model 3, because BMW had nothing. Still, I think this i4 is too much of a compromise as it is based on an ICE platform. No frunk? A tunnel hump through the whole car? What a waste!
Loved this review. Great videography and sensible thoughts on the car. Looking at the numbers alone made me think the ‘lesser’ car may well offer ‘more’, especially when you factor in the ever increasing regulation of our (UK at least) roads, not to mention ever increasing traffic volumes. I’ve seen comments on-line around BMW not being very innovative with EVs, which seems to totally overlook their bespoke i3 which has been on sale for a number of years now and the no longer sold i8. Obviously now we have the iX too. The i4 is clearly a cost-saving, stopgap model in a sense to make a car both EV and ICE compatible, but, as stopgaps go, it looks like they’ve done a cracking job. Being relatively conventional isn’t always a bad thing, especially in what is a relatively conservative sector of the market. The upcoming Neue Klasse should be an interesting car, as that is likely to be an EV first and foremost I suspect, maybe making use of some of the i3’s construction methods perhaps?
Two big problems with this car. First, it front end is just too ugly for me. I couldn’t live with boaking in my mouth every time it caught my eye. Having to explain to everyone that in spite of its looks, it’s a really good car and being the brunt of all my mates jokes. I also do not want to help encourage BMW. I’ve had loads of 3’ and a 5 in the past, I’ve never thought they were beautiful (Jaguar has got them there all day long) but always liked them. But this is just unnecessary self harm!
Second issue is the price. I am a company car driver and I get a very generous allowance that saw me into a Polestar 2 first edition eighteenth months ago. That was absolutely top of my budget and that was with the government grant. This car is just too far out of reach of most company car drivers and quite a few private ones too….
It drives me nuts. It's not just BMW, a number of manufacturers seem to deliberately make their electric cars as ugly as possible. There is no physical constraint of EVs that requires this. Quite the opposite, with no engine, gearbox, etc they are free to do something even more impressive!
Phillip.
@@philliptemple4534 so what’s happened to BMW? With exception of the 3 Series, all their new designs, EV and ICE are hideous!
@@davidkerr4103 Hah I'm more of a Jaguar man so I'll leave the ICE car opinions to the BMW fans. I'm still sad Jaguar went all SUV with their iPace.
My ideal car is a Tesla hiding in the body of a F-Type, or even an older XK.
Phillip.
@@philliptemple4534 oh I’m with you there, I’ve had two XF’s and absolutely loved them. I’m also pissed off with Jaguar. I was so impressed they got an EV out before most of the other legacy brands so thought they would build on the success by releasing other models. Then realising they only produced the I-Pace as a compliance car so they could keep selling Supercharged V8’s!
If Jaguar had a £50K family saloon, I would have gone for it for sure.
Now they are going to have to play catch up again.
@@davidkerr4103 My car before last was an XF followed by an old XK8 convertible. They make you smile twice, once when you walk into the parking and again when you first put your foot down.
You could overlook the crappy software because of the looks and the ride. I think it's too late for them now. There is a good business in taking classic models and converting them to electric in my opinion..
Phillip.
It is brilliant when someone can use the word "Bespoke". I love your reviews. Jack, you are a master.
Simply love it! Great vid, great car and the right conclusions! Thanks, have been waiting for it for some time… now I only have to wait for mine to arrive during the next weeks 😃
When cell phones morphed into smart phones, hardware became only one facet of what made them so special. Smart phones had an ecosystem (app stores) to support future functions and were able to recieve regular user interface updates over the air. EVs are very similar. We can no longer simply compare acceleration/top speed/range/interior design, ect. We have to look at the total user experience including charging network, software updates, automatic features such as self driving capabilities, ect.
So, Im glad BMW has brought some new EVs to the market but what is the user experience like? Does it auto route you to chargers as needed while driving long distances? Or do you have to manually locate a public charger yourself? Does it have any kind of entertainment system to use while you wait to charge? Is BMW currently building their own supercharger network to support their products? Is BMW constantly refining their customer user experience with over the air updates?
Those are questions that need to be asked from ALL EV manufacturers.
As much as I like EV platforms, some of the hands-down BEST EVs of all time are platform conversions. Ioniq, Kona, E-Niro/E-Soul, and the iX3 and now i4. I think this might be because the EV platforms get an entirely new team working on them, and sometimes they get so deep into the innovation that they lose the things that make those CARS great, regardless of powertrain: handling, styling, interior, and so forth. There is a lot more to a car than the powertrain, and to really stand out in the next wave of electrification, companies are going to have to get even better at those things.
Best review I have found on the i4, thank you very much. I have driven BMWs for about 20 years, the only downside for me was the poor traction characteristic of RWD on the (admittedly rare) occasions I encounter ice or snowy conditions. My last two vehicles have had the x-drive option and I wouldn't go back. For that reason alone I have ordered the M50.
Excellent review. Looks like the EV competition has finally arrived. Consumers are the winners.
Only if you're blind, hideous!
Your best review by far Jack, one can tell you're in love 😍😊
0:50 "to be completely honest with you..." BMW canteen is reeeeeaal good 😂
12:05 hmmmm Ok... 🤦♂️
15:45 what a surprise! FoH Jack doesn't prefer the Tesla. I'm shocked!
A quick comparison table with Polestar 2 and Model 3 at equivalent price would have been nice.
Triggered much?
Just glad we're finally at the tipping point of electric vehicles going mainstream
_now if only they could bring more affordable ones to the US..._
I think the Hyundai Ioniq 6 will be a big player in this segment from later this year, and will be cheaper than all of the 'big three' (polestar, bmw, Tesla). If it's anywhere near as good to drive then it'll sell lots too
I doubt it. Since a year ago the Ioniq 5 has been getting rave reviews. I think they sold a total of 16,000 in the whole of Europe for the whole of 2021. Plenty of demand yet no deliveries in sight for those I read about in forums. I suspect they are losing quite a lot of money on each car.
I bet the Ioniq 6 will get great reviews... but will you actually get one delivered this year?
Phillip.
@@philliptemple4534 I haven't heard of the Ioniq 5 struggling for sales, but if that is the case then fair enough - it is in the much more crowded crossover segment of the EV market, and I've read online that the sister car Kia EV6 is selling incredibly well, with year-long wait times right now or new ones. Maybe that's part of why the Ioniq 5 isn't doing such high numbers. In the EV exec saloon sector though, there's much less of a crowded market, with no Kia sister car yet, nothing from VW group yet, nothing from Stellantis yet nothing affordable from Merc yet, and nothing from Toyota or really any of the big Japanese names yet (plenty of hybrids but very few pure EVs). So I still think the Ioniq 6 could shine, and sell well, next to the Tesla, BMW and Polestar.
@@anguspaterson5713 The dealers are struggling with sales as they don't have stock. Hyundai have plenty of demand, just decided not to make any cars. VW have the worst cars but the highest sales. Simply because they are making more.
Check out the "price gouging" news on TH-cam where Ford/GM/etc are trying to crack down on dealers charging up to 50k over list price if you want a reasonable delivery date.
This year, Kia will sell as many as they can make. The question is how many will they make.
Phillip.
@@philliptemple4534 ah I see - I misunderstood your comment, I thought you were saying there was low demand for Kia/Hyundai. But yes the supply chain crisis (plus they they don't have factory as big as VW group's is) the more likely culprit. A shame, because I agree with you that the VW group cars are the worse cars!
Great review Jack! As a former Model 3 owner and former BMW 320i owner your comparisons all make sense to me. I think i would enjoy driving the i4 more than a Model 3. Model 3 has two advantages: 1. Tesla Supercharger network, and 2. a great standard sound system that is better than the upgraded HK sound system in the I4. I would go with the i4 IF my country/area had plenty of non-Tesla quick chargers OR if I usedthe i4 for local driving only.
Model 3 wins hands down in every category for me - glad you told us not to take your opinion :)
Yeah....it has waaaaaaay better fart noises. BMW drivers will really lament not having those.
I always thought BMW’s mistake was failing to develop a 3 or 4 series type EV with all the learning they had from the i3. It looks like they are finally getting there.
Yes, tragic waste of 8 years.