This guys a very large person. I have a I4 and 6' and 200 lbs and can fit OK in the back. Two average non-overweight adults will fit fine in this "sub compact" vehicle. This is not a family car and is not advertised as such..
We have the RWD eDrive40 on 225-18 tires. Our lifetime efficiency is 4 miles/kWh which is exceptional. There's just two of us so the small rear seat is a plus, giving some of that room back to the big hatch trunk. And that space is even better when we fold the rear seats. The only real downside other than high cost is large turning radius. Avoid the M50 and large wheels which just waste energy and rob range. RWD already has excessive power.
I so wanted an IR but being in my 70s, I couldn't contort my body to fit in the back seat. I didn't want my potential passengers to hate me so I scratched it off my list. Ended up with an IX (very comfortable, great range, and considered ugly by many).
This really does hit me a a desirable car. It even looks great in that shade of blue. I find all the numbers to be fine, you could do a little better or a little worse. It’s to bad they couldn’t engineer a little more room into the cabin and maybe stick an NACS plug on it too.
When we give my 2023 300e to our daughter next year, the replacement will either be an i5 M60 or a Lucid Air Touring. The i4 M50 is just too small, especially the back seat.
Really liked this car but was too cramped in the back for some carseats and simple things like active cruise control could only be had in the more expensive variants of the more expensive trims. BMW among others need to offer more for the price paid. Something like an Ioniq 5 which is give and take $20k less has ACC and HUD. The m50 is quite quick and really enjoyed that aspect but really the space was the factor I chose something else. And this isn’t a Tesla killer. BMW is a luxury car and the Model 3 is a premium car despite what most people believe. An ioniq 5 interior and exterior looks more luxurious than the Model 3.
The premium vs luxury debate will rage on forever, but I think the reason many would look away from the i4 is that space in the back. For younger folks without kids that wouldn't really be an issue but that's not the demographic BMW reaches. -Travis
The premium vs luxury debate will rage on forever, but I think the reason many would look away from the i4 is that space in the back. For younger folks without kids that wouldn't really be an issue but that's not the demographic BMW reaches. -Travis
Why aren’t we seeing any 2025 non-Tesla vehicles with NACS plugs? What is it, for the manufacturers, that’s causing the delay? Wouldn’t assume that a luxury brand would spend the extra effort to be first? Or just prove that they went that extra bit to try and be perfect?
@@briancorreia2923 given the recent news about Tesla dragging its feet on Supercharger implementation for other OEMs, might be wise for others to hold off on the physical connection as that would anchor themselves a bit to that infrastructure and no one wants bad press about not being able to consistently utilize what your car was designed for.
@@ALMX5DP I thought the software implementation was lacking on other makers not on Tesla. But I do remember reading something about Tesla no longer having its engineers collaborating. My personal desire for NACS isn’t so more cars can use Superchargers, though that’s a big deal, it just so we can all have a standard. Let’s stop adapters now before they become something we still need years down the road.
@@briancorreia2923 I do agree that having a standard will be helpful. Here is a quote from Drive mentioning info gathered by the NYT: "The delays are twofold according to The New York Times, stemming from both the production of CCS-NACS charging adapters and the completion of compatibility software on Tesla’s side. The outlet speculates that Tesla is dragging its heels on following through with Supercharger licensing deals, which sacrificed the exclusivity that helped form the foundation of Tesla’s appeal. Supposedly, the legacy makes impacted by the delay are staying quiet about their frustration, and avoiding the risk of getting on the bad side of Tesla’s outspoken CEO Elon Musk."
@@ALMX5DP That’s sounds like something you could expect. And it’s stupid. Tesla makes money from its Superchargers. Instead of leveraging its charging infrastructure for an advantage how about a substantial refresh or, heaven forbid, a new model. Sometimes Tesla is hard to root for.
Test drove high spec I4 AWD and new Model 3P. Bought the Tesla and it wasn't a remotely close decision, even with all the Tesla baggage. Value completely off the charts.
I just drove the Model 3 Performance yesterday (video to follow) and it's hard to find anything with a better bargain value. Not that there aren't better vehicles, but for the dollar? Impressive. -Travis
With the Tesla, build quality is lacking. Cabin refinement, ride, and overall feeling of solidity lacking. Turn signal stalk lacking. That one is a killer (for me anyway).
Everyone has deal breakers, I think the stalk-less driving experience is a fair one. It's not my preference by far but I don't think it would be enough of a reason for me not to get a vehicle. -Travis
$50k after tax credit. It’s super hard to argue against. Unless you’re willing to pay more for something that looks different. Honestly Travis did a great breakdown between the two.
@@b286guyThe purchasing and repair experience can sometimes feel like a missing turn signals stalk too. Feels fine to some people, feels cheap and neglectful to others.
@@EVBuyersGuide Thanks. Isn’t Tesla saying 4000 for the 3 performance edition? That a whopping big difference on the most important number a car can have after its price.
How is curb weight the most important factor after price? Bear in mind that you can close the hood on an i4 with one hand without risk to denting the sheet metal. The body panels aren't going to warp out of alignment over time. The i4 was built as a car, not an aluminum box affixed to an electric skateboard.
@@BogeyTheBear Curb weight affects everything performance. Acceleration, breaking , handling, ride,efficiency, payload , wear rate of tires and breaks. But you, of course, choose for yourself what is and isn’t important to you.
The i5 has the same powertrain of the i4, just surrounded by more metal. Get the i4 for the efficiency, or get the i5 if you need some decent back seats.
Overall, I really like the i4. I'm not super crazy about the oversized faux grill, but the rest of the design is sharp. There are some really puzzling omissions (no height adjustable seat belt in a luxury car, but 4-way adjustable head rest? That's a real, uh, head scratcher), and bad UI design (touch-screen only climate controls). I could deal with those (though my short wife wouldn't love the seat belt height), but the thing that would keep this off my shopping list is the compromised back leg and head room and difficulty with ingress/egress. Dealbreaker, when we give frequent rides to my 89 year old father in law. The discontinued i3, a MUCH smaller car but one built on a dedicated EV platform, has similar rear seat leg room and much greater head room.
@@ALMX5DP styling can be terrible I agree but if it’s luxurious or fun to drive or very fast then it’s fine. The best part about the ugly exterior is that you can’t see it from inside hence my argument of styling being subjective if it does everything well
@@naveenthemachine still not sure you grasp what subjective means when you refer to the styling here. It’s okay to call a vehicle ugly even if you like the rest of it. Likewise it’s okay to say a vehicle is beautiful even if you feel the rest is a hot mess. You don’t have to conflate your opinion of the styling with your overall opinion of the vehicle as a whole.
i would have to agree, range is great and even factoring in the over estimation that tesla usually does for range it will exceed the BMW any day. More interior space and cargo volume, better price, and better warranty on the battery since tesla actually gives minimum capacity limits while BMW doesnt. Ill say the BMW looks better and likely will feel better on the interior. Its also going to be more comfortable to drive than the Tesla. Tesla isnt bad but its definitely not luxury comfort. I like my model 3 LR and its been just fine after 2 years and 40k miles.
@@EVBuyersGuide Completely fair. But as a funny side note, I’m sure you could could get a new Cooper electric over 40. The actual “new “ one not the old new ones they sell in the US
@@future62 you don’t need to turn a key or push a button. Just put the car in gear and go. There is no engine to start. The same system that let you in the car usually knows that you have authorization. I believe, correct me if I am wrong, Tesla uses the seatbelt.
never ceases to amaze me that cars as long as 188 inches don't have back seats that full size adults can fit in comfortably
@@bananamancoolguy7670 It does seem the i4's packaging is among the worst for any EV currently on sale.
Some full size adults aren't very large but yes, point taken. -Travis
@@directorjustin
1. Taycan
2. i4
This guys a very large person. I have a I4 and 6' and 200 lbs and can fit OK in the back. Two average non-overweight adults will fit fine in this "sub compact" vehicle. This is not a family car and is not advertised as such..
We have the RWD eDrive40 on 225-18 tires. Our lifetime efficiency is 4 miles/kWh which is exceptional. There's just two of us so the small rear seat is a plus, giving some of that room back to the big hatch trunk. And that space is even better when we fold the rear seats.
The only real downside other than high cost is large turning radius. Avoid the M50 and large wheels which just waste energy and rob range. RWD already has excessive power.
That's a solid lifetime average, thanks for sharing! -Travis
I so wanted an IR but being in my 70s, I couldn't contort my body to fit in the back seat. I didn't want my potential passengers to hate me so I scratched it off my list. Ended up with an IX (very comfortable, great range, and considered ugly by many).
It's a squeeze to get back there, no doubt about it. -Travis
There's good reasons BMWs evs are selling well!
Great review Travis!
What a great review, thank! ❤
This really does hit me a a desirable car. It even looks great in that shade of blue. I find all the numbers to be fine, you could do a little better or a little worse. It’s to bad they couldn’t engineer a little more room into the cabin and maybe stick an NACS plug on it too.
When we give my 2023 300e to our daughter next year, the replacement will either be an i5 M60 or a Lucid Air Touring.
The i4 M50 is just too small, especially the back seat.
Somehow the drivers display instantly has me thinking of the Reorganizers from Tron.
Really liked this car but was too cramped in the back for some carseats and simple things like active cruise control could only be had in the more expensive variants of the more expensive trims. BMW among others need to offer more for the price paid. Something like an Ioniq 5 which is give and take $20k less has ACC and HUD. The m50 is quite quick and really enjoyed that aspect but really the space was the factor I chose something else. And this isn’t a Tesla killer. BMW is a luxury car and the Model 3 is a premium car despite what most people believe. An ioniq 5 interior and exterior looks more luxurious than the Model 3.
The premium vs luxury debate will rage on forever, but I think the reason many would look away from the i4 is that space in the back. For younger folks without kids that wouldn't really be an issue but that's not the demographic BMW reaches. -Travis
The premium vs luxury debate will rage on forever, but I think the reason many would look away from the i4 is that space in the back. For younger folks without kids that wouldn't really be an issue but that's not the demographic BMW reaches. -Travis
The new Highland Model 3 is a major quality improvement.
Why aren’t we seeing any 2025 non-Tesla vehicles with NACS plugs? What is it, for the manufacturers, that’s causing the delay? Wouldn’t assume that a luxury brand would spend the extra effort to be first? Or just prove that they went that extra bit to try and be perfect?
@@briancorreia2923 given the recent news about Tesla dragging its feet on Supercharger implementation for other OEMs, might be wise for others to hold off on the physical connection as that would anchor themselves a bit to that infrastructure and no one wants bad press about not being able to consistently utilize what your car was designed for.
@@ALMX5DP I thought the software implementation was lacking on other makers not on Tesla. But I do remember reading something about Tesla no longer having its engineers collaborating. My personal desire for NACS isn’t so more cars can use Superchargers, though that’s a big deal, it just so we can all have a standard. Let’s stop adapters now before they become something we still need years down the road.
@@briancorreia2923 I do agree that having a standard will be helpful. Here is a quote from Drive mentioning info gathered by the NYT:
"The delays are twofold according to The New York Times, stemming from both the production of CCS-NACS charging adapters and the completion of compatibility software on Tesla’s side. The outlet speculates that Tesla is dragging its heels on following through with Supercharger licensing deals, which sacrificed the exclusivity that helped form the foundation of Tesla’s appeal. Supposedly, the legacy makes impacted by the delay are staying quiet about their frustration, and avoiding the risk of getting on the bad side of Tesla’s outspoken CEO Elon Musk."
@@ALMX5DP That’s sounds like something you could expect. And it’s stupid. Tesla makes money from its Superchargers. Instead of leveraging its charging infrastructure for an advantage how about a substantial refresh or, heaven forbid, a new model. Sometimes Tesla is hard to root for.
The BMW i4 40 Xdrive is 17-20k CAD more than a Model 3 AWD.... man that's a lot of dinero. How tall are you?
Test drove high spec I4 AWD and new Model 3P. Bought the Tesla and it wasn't a remotely close decision, even with all the Tesla baggage. Value completely off the charts.
I just drove the Model 3 Performance yesterday (video to follow) and it's hard to find anything with a better bargain value. Not that there aren't better vehicles, but for the dollar? Impressive. -Travis
With the Tesla, build quality is lacking. Cabin refinement, ride, and overall feeling of solidity lacking. Turn signal stalk lacking. That one is a killer (for me anyway).
Everyone has deal breakers, I think the stalk-less driving experience is a fair one. It's not my preference by far but I don't think it would be enough of a reason for me not to get a vehicle. -Travis
$50k after tax credit. It’s super hard to argue against. Unless you’re willing to pay more for something that looks different. Honestly Travis did a great breakdown between the two.
@@b286guyThe purchasing and repair experience can sometimes feel like a missing turn signals stalk too. Feels fine to some people, feels cheap and neglectful to others.
Did Travis say how much it weighs?
BMW has it listed at just over 5,000 lbs. -Travis
@@EVBuyersGuide Thanks. Isn’t Tesla saying 4000 for the 3 performance edition? That a whopping big difference on the most important number a car can have after its price.
How is curb weight the most important factor after price? Bear in mind that you can close the hood on an i4 with one hand without risk to denting the sheet metal. The body panels aren't going to warp out of alignment over time. The i4 was built as a car, not an aluminum box affixed to an electric skateboard.
@@BogeyTheBear Curb weight affects everything performance. Acceleration, breaking , handling, ride,efficiency, payload , wear rate of tires and breaks.
But you, of course, choose for yourself what is and isn’t important to you.
BMW❤
I4 is the best BMW EV. Just same hardware as i5 but cheaper price.
The i5 has the same powertrain of the i4, just surrounded by more metal. Get the i4 for the efficiency, or get the i5 if you need some decent back seats.
2025 was already available, why not review that instead?
Overall, I really like the i4. I'm not super crazy about the oversized faux grill, but the rest of the design is sharp. There are some really puzzling omissions (no height adjustable seat belt in a luxury car, but 4-way adjustable head rest? That's a real, uh, head scratcher), and bad UI design (touch-screen only climate controls). I could deal with those (though my short wife wouldn't love the seat belt height), but the thing that would keep this off my shopping list is the compromised back leg and head room and difficulty with ingress/egress. Dealbreaker, when we give frequent rides to my 89 year old father in law. The discontinued i3, a MUCH smaller car but one built on a dedicated EV platform, has similar rear seat leg room and much greater head room.
This is a case of styling is subjective because it does everything else exceptionally well
There are a few things it falls short on but to my eye styling isn't one of them. -Travis
Once again, styling is always subjective and isn’t reliant on any other conditions
@@ALMX5DP styling can be terrible I agree but if it’s luxurious or fun to drive or very fast then it’s fine. The best part about the ugly exterior is that you can’t see it from inside hence my argument of styling being subjective if it does everything well
@@naveenthemachine still not sure you grasp what subjective means when you refer to the styling here. It’s okay to call a vehicle ugly even if you like the rest of it. Likewise it’s okay to say a vehicle is beautiful even if you feel the rest is a hot mess. You don’t have to conflate your opinion of the styling with your overall opinion of the vehicle as a whole.
I do like it but I understand why others don't.
It's pretty clear to me that the Model 3 is the star of this segment.
It's got numbers that are hard to argue against. -Travis
It's the worst built car on sale in America. And buying one = supporting Elon's fascism
It’s the best EV. But not the best car. On paper it’s great. Living with it, you quickly learn where the money goes at BMW..
There's a lot not to like. It's a great spreadsheet car.
i would have to agree, range is great and even factoring in the over estimation that tesla usually does for range it will exceed the BMW any day. More interior space and cargo volume, better price, and better warranty on the battery since tesla actually gives minimum capacity limits while BMW doesnt. Ill say the BMW looks better and likely will feel better on the interior. Its also going to be more comfortable to drive than the Tesla. Tesla isnt bad but its definitely not luxury comfort. I like my model 3 LR and its been just fine after 2 years and 40k miles.
Man that grille is ugly, especially on ev ,where it isn't needed
Attractive? With the Edsel grill?
Does BMW officially describe their beaver tooth grill “double kidney “?
It is offically known as the BMW Kidney Grille
@@Rioichi4 that’s nuts, it doesn’t look like a pair of kidneys at all anymore
He said these cars are “incredibly attractive to look at” unironically and I’m at a loss for words 😮
Smallest if you’re excluding MINI.
True, but in this case I am. -Travis
@@EVBuyersGuide Completely fair.
But as a funny side note, I’m sure you could could get a new Cooper electric over 40. The actual “new “ one not the old new ones they sell in the US
👍👍👍
MPG????
Buying a Tesla = supporting fascism
?
Calling this sedan a kewpay doesn’t make sense. Like calling a rear seat that tiny and terrible a mid size
Start stop buttons are dumb.
No, they're not
@@VoltLover00 why do want one in a car with nothing to start?
As opposed to what? Keys like the 1980s?
@@future62 you don’t need to turn a key or push a button. Just put the car in gear and go. There is no engine to start. The same system that let you in the car usually knows that you have authorization. I believe, correct me if I am wrong, Tesla uses the seatbelt.
@@future62 I think the best answer would be, the brake pedal. get in step on the brake pedal car is on.
Tesla model 3 performance is definitely much better value,
I test drove the i4. BMW sucks ass. Completely lifeless.
Lol