Ever since its introduction in late 2021, as a 2022 model, the BMW i4 has been a great success for the brand. It’s their best selling electric model and it was just awarded the Canadian electric car of the year award. For 2025, the i4 receives a few updates but did BMW change enough to continue the strong sales figures of this car?
Performance
Motors – In Canada, the BMW i4 is available in the single motor eDrive 35 and eDrive 40 variations along with the xDrive 40 and M50 xDrive configurations. In the United States, the eDrive 35 is no longer available for 2025.
Depending whether you get the i4 with eDrive or xDrive, the power outputs differ. The eDrive produces 335 hp & 317 lb-ft of torque (250 kW & 430 Nm) and has a 0-100 km/h time of 5.6 seconds. This demo vehicle with xDrive, produces 396 hp & 443 lb-ft of torque (295 KW & 600 Nm). Those numbers are about the same as the BMW X3 M50 but this i4 is quite a bit heavier at 2,278 kg (5,022 lbs). So while the X3 M50 can complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in around 4.5 seconds, this i4 xDrive 40 takes 5.1 seconds. But it’s a different feeling when you mash your foot on the accelerator pedal because electric motors provide instant power. Despite the extra weight, this car does not feel slow by any means.
Battery, Range, & Efficiency – The floor mounted battery provides 84.3 kWh of energy for the motors. Depending on which version of the i4 you choose and which size wheels you choose it with, the range will vary from as little as 365 km (227 Miles) in the M50 to as much as 512 km (318 Miles) in the eDrive 40 with the 18” wheels. This xDrive40 version had the 18” wheels, with winter tires, and it had an estimated range of 462 km (287 Miles). During my week with the car, the temperatures were hovering just below 10 degrees Celsius and I managed to average 20.6 kWh/100km (3.02 Miles/kWh).
Recharging the i4 xDrive 40 can be done at a maximum rate of 205 kW. From 10% to 80% at this rate, BMW says that it will take approximately 30 minutes. From an 11 kW AC charger, 0% to 100% takes almost 9 hours.
Braking – Just like many other EVs, the i4 has a few different regenerative braking modes. Low, Mid, High, and Adaptive vary the amount of regenerative energy is harvested when lifting your foot off the accelerator pedal. These are not one-pedal modes, they still require pressing the brake pedal to bring the car to a complete stop. Selecting “B” on the gear selector will engage the one-pedal mode which works very well. The only time it required me to put my foot on the brake pedal was when I needed to arrive at a stop while going downhill.
The Adaptive regen braking mode uses the car’s sensors to detect other vehicles and the GPS system to determine where the car is. For example, if there’s a vehicle in front of the i4 and it’s being driven in a city, the adaptive regen mode will provide more regenerative braking. If you’re driving the i4 on a rural road, it will provide less regen braking.
The physical brakes on the BMW i4 feel normal. There’s no weird transition between regen braking and the physical brakes. The brake pedal is firm when pressing hard on it but it has enough travel to allow for smooth stops. It feels like a normal BMW gas vehicle.
Handling – The BMW i4 provides a planted feeling, as do most other electric vehicles thanks to the floor mounted batteries. The suspension is on the soft side which allows for some body roll but it’s balanced for both spirited driving and daily comfort. Plus, the i4 xDrive40 is equipped with standard adaptive M suspension which firms up when selecting Sport mode. The rear of the i4 sits on air springs but it is only the rear and there is no driver adjustment of the ride height available.
Steering is balanced for daily use and sporty driving with a light feeling steering wheel in the normal drive mode but firming up enough in Sport mode. To drive, the BMW i4 doesn’t feel as sharp as an M or M-Performance car but it doesn’t feel as soft as a 430i either. It holds the middle ground. The addition of the xDrive provides faster out of corner acceleration with only a slight hint of torque steer under full throttle acceleration. But sporty driving aside, where this car really shines is in rush hour traffic. I know it’s not a place where a lot of people want to be in but with the soft suspension and good calibration of the one-pedal modes makes this i4 one of the best commuter cars on the road.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – For a BMW vehicle, this i4 xDrive40 is a great daily commuter. The semi-air suspension smooths out bumps in the road so well that you almost forget that you’re in a sporty BMW. As well, because the i4 does not have a traditional powertrain, it is smooth. Even more so on freshly paved asphalt. It feels as though you’re in a plane.
Interior Space – Because the 2025 i4 is not built on a bespoke EV platform, the interior dimensions are similar to the gasoline version of the 4-series. For the front occupants, the i4 provides enough legroom even for taller adults. Headroom is ok so long as you lower the seats. In the back, the i4 doesn’t have as much space for occupants. It has a little bit less space than something like the Tesla Model 3.
The i4 is a Gran Coupe design which means that the cargo area has a hatchback design. The cargo capacity with the rear seats up is 470 L (16.6 cu-ft) but with the rear seats folded, the i4 has 1,290 L (45.6 cu-ft) of cargo space. There is a little bit of storage underneath the floor but it’s barely enough to fit the thick charging cable. Also, there is nothing underneath the hood but a big piece of plastic.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The 2025 BMW i4 has a quiet cabin. Not many noises from the outside world are overly intrusive in the car. A little bit of tire and wind noise is audible but it is much less than the equivalent 4-series. This particular i4 came equipped with BMW IconicSounds Electric. These are sounds that are played through the audio system to mimic a sense of excitement and theater when accelerating in the i4. The sounds are more noticeable in the Sport drive mode but can be completely switched off if you choose to. However, while they will never replace the sounds of a V8 or an Inline-6 engine, they do provide some drama when driving more enthusiastically. These sounds were composed by Academy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – In Canada, the 2025 BMW i4 starts at $54,990 CAD for the eDrive35 version. The eDrive40 starts at $63,990 ($57,900 USD) with this demo vehicle having an as-tested price of $85,300 CAD ($68,200 USD).
Gadgets – In base form, the 2025 BMW i4 doesn’t have a whole lot of gadgets. What you’ll get is leatherette upholstery, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, the curved dual screen layout for the infotainment system (14.9”) & driver display (12.3”), built-in navigation, power liftgate, power sunroof, push button start, keyless entry, and that’s about it.
To have some meaningful gadgets in the i4, you have to equip it like this demo vehicle. However, that is almost $16,000 in options. Some of the features that the car comes equipped with include surround view cameras with parking sensors and reverse assist, Harman/Kardon sound system, head-up display, heated front seats (heated rear seats are optional as are ventilated front seats), heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, automatic climate control, built-in dashcam, ambient lighting, and 19” wheels with sport appearance package.
A change for the 2025 BMW i4 is the updated infotainment system. It now displays iOS 8.5. This version of the iDrive system is not quite as user friendly as the latest iOS 9 as it requires some digging through multiple submenus to find and change an item. iOS 9 provides large and simple to understand icons for these same submenu items. But the functionality is similar between the two with the navigation system being displayed as the home page along with some customizable widgets to the left portion of the screen.
Interior Design – The interior of the 2025 i4 remains largely unchanged but there are a few subtle details. The steering wheel is different on this car equipped with the M Sport package. Without this package, the steering wheel is a two spoke design that looks a bit odd. The gear selector on the center console has been replaced by a toggle switch and the air vents underneath the infotainment touchscreen have been restyled. They are illuminated by the ambient lighting system and have adjustable prongs to the sides instead of the center.
Exterior Design – The subtle design changes continue to the outside of the car with new LED daytime running lights, a slightly different grille design and new tail light designs. However, you won’t really notice the new tail light styling unless you option your i4 with the M Sport Pro package as this adds BMW’s Laser LED tail lights. Otherwise, they look the same as the previous model years.
Safety – As standard, the 2025 BMW i4 receives basic driver aids and safety systems such as lane departure warning, blind spot sensors and automatic emergency braking among a few others. It’s only when equipping the car with the Advanced Driver Assistance Package for $2,000 CAD do you get active cruise control with stop/go, front cross traffic alert, evasion assist, lane change assist, lane keep assistant, traffic jam assist, and steering & lane control.
Warranty – The 2025 BMW i4 xDrive40 is covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty just like any other new BMW model. The battery pack is covered by an 8 year / 160,000 km warranty. For more information on Canadian BMW warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – In the end, BMW didn’t mess around with the recipe that made the i4 such a successful model for the brand. It has good range, it’s comfortable, and it now has all the latest BMW gadgets and gizmos. Overall, this car makes daily commutes to work very comfortable while still enjoying the atmosphere of a BMW vehicle.
Thank you to BMW Canada for providing the i4. www.BMW.ca
2025 BMW i4 xDrive40 Gallery
