2022 BMW i4

2022 is the launch model year of the G26 i4, offered in the US only as the single-motor RWD eDrive40 (volume trim) and the dual-motor M50. The eDrive35 arrived for MY2023 and the xDrive40 for MY2024.

Peak torque of the eDrive40's fifth-generation eDrive rear motor, available from rest.

BMW's quoted 0–60 time for the eDrive40; instrumented tests run slightly quicker. Brisk for a compact luxury sedan, well short of the M50.

Reviewers consistently praised the launch i4's silent, linear electric delivery and well-judged throttle mapping; regen is smooth and adjustable, including adaptive and one-pedal B mode.

Single-speed reduction gear with no shifting; delivery is seamless and never hunts, with selectable regen levels standing in for manual control.

For MY2022 AWD is limited to the top M50 trim; the volume eDrive40 is rear-drive only, and there is no mid-priced AWD variant until the xDrive40 of MY2024.

Only two powertrains in the launch year — 335 hp RWD eDrive40 and 536 hp AWD M50 — both battery-electric on the same ~81 kWh pack; no entry trim yet and no gas or hybrid option under the i4 nameplate.

EPA combined MPGe for the 2022 volume eDrive40 on its standard 18-inch wheels.

EPA city MPGe for the eDrive40; solid but below the most efficient dedicated-platform EV sedans.

EPA highway MPGe; the low-drag liftback keeps highway efficiency nearly level with city.

EPA range for the volume eDrive40 on 18-inch wheels from the ~81 kWh usable pack.

Fifth-generation eDrive 400-volt system with a CCS1 inlet peaking at 200 kW — mid-pack among EVs, behind 800V rivals.

BMW's quoted 10–80% time for the 83.9 kWh gross pack; independent curve tests land just under 30 minutes.

EPA estimated annual energy cost at 15,000 mi/yr on national-average residential electricity, assuming home charging.

No fuel-grade requirement; cheap home charging with an 11 kW onboard AC charger. Held below the top band by the CCS1-only port (no Tesla Supercharger access in 2022) and a 400V system that is competent rather than quick on public DC.

NHTSA lists both 2022 i4 variants (eDrive40 RWD, M50 AWD) but publishes no star rating in any crash mode, so per the framework the vehicle is recorded as never rated.

IIHS did not test the launch-year 2022 i4, and it holds no Top Safety Pick award. The only IIHS ratings for the G26 generation cover the facelifted 2025–26 cars (Good in updated moderate overlap; small-overlap and side not rated), so the 2022 car is effectively untested.

Every 2022 i4 has Active Driving Assistant as standard: frontal collision warning with city/pedestrian AEB, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise with Stop & Go and active lane centering are optional, so two core features are missing from the standard suite.

There is no IIHS AEB result for 2022. The same standard camera/radar system on the 2025–26 i4 earned Good in IIHS pedestrian testing, including at night, but was reported Poor in the updated vehicle-to-vehicle test, so it sits mid-band.

Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert come standard. Front cross-traffic alert and active side-collision avoidance cost extra in the Driving Assistance Professional package.

Lane departure warning is standard. Steering & Lane Control Assistant (lane centering) is optional in the Professional package, and reviewers rate it smooth and well judged on the highway when fitted.

BMW's Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is a refined full-speed-range system with good gap control, but on the volume eDrive40 it is an option rather than standard.

The only hands-free mode is Extended Traffic Jam Assistant in the optional Professional package, which works below about 40 mph on limited-access highways. BMW's 85-mph Highway Assistant was never offered on the 2022 i4.

IIHS did not rate the 2022 headlights. On the 2025–26 i4, with a similar LED projector setup and high-beam assist, IIHS rated the standard lamps Poor and the Shadowline/M50 lamps Marginal, which points to weak lighting on volume trims.

The sloping Gran Coupe roofline and thick C-pillars shrink the rear window and leave over-the-shoulder blind spots. A rearview camera and park sensors are standard; the surround-view camera (Parking Assistant Plus) costs extra.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware on the same G26 body Good, with easy-to-reach lower anchors and wide clearance angles. There are only two full LATCH positions, though, and the low rear doorway and compact rear seat make bulky rear-facing seats harder to fit.

Five-seat liftback on both 2022 trims (eDrive40, M50); the eDrive35 did not arrive until the 2023 model year.

Low-slung four-door coupe roofline trims front headroom to mid-pack for the segment.

Adequate front legroom, slightly below the class midpoint.

Sloping fastback roof limits rear headroom for taller adults.

Rear legroom is tight; the raised floor over the battery also lifts knees.

US-rated trunk volume is small, though the liftback opening and 40/20/40 split rear seat make it more usable than the figure suggests.

Power liftback (standard on the 2022 eDrive40) and 40/20/40 folding rear seats are genuinely useful; no frunk, and console/door storage is merely average.

Supportive, widely adjustable front seats (sport seats with M Sport package); rear seats are firm and the high floor reduces thigh support.

Rear air springs and a well-damped chassis give a composed, controlled ride; larger optional wheels add firmness over broken pavement.

Electric drive, acoustic glass and good sealing keep it hushed; some wind noise around the frameless windows at speed.

Three-zone automatic climate and app-based pre-conditioning are standard, but heated front seats and heated wheel require the $950 Premium Package and ventilated seats are not offered, a notable omission at this price.

For 2022 there were only two trims, so the entry price is the eDrive40 at $55,400 plus $995 destination. The cheaper eDrive35 didn't arrive until the 2023 model year. That entry price sits above the top of the sedan band.

The eDrive40 was the volume trim. At $56,395 delivered, plus the commonly fitted Premium Package and paint/wheel options, a typical car lands near $60.5k. That is the build I priced.

Being an EV, it needs little routine service: cabin filters, brake fluid and tire rotations. BMW Ultimate Care also covers the first 3 yr/36k mi. CarEdge projects about $2,600 over 5 years for the i4, and I rounded up to allow for tires and wear items.

Like other luxury EVs, the i4 has depreciated steeply. First-year 2022 cars bought at ~$60k now trade in the high $20k range after four years. iSeeCars projects about 37% retained at 5 years and CarEdge about 46%, so I used ~38%.

BMW's standard new-vehicle limited warranty is 4 yr / 50,000 mi, which is typical for a luxury brand.

The high-voltage battery is covered for 8 yr / 100,000 mi, the EV norm. The rest of the drivetrain falls under the 4 yr / 50k mi basic warranty.

Included perks are 3 yr / 36,000 mi of BMW Ultimate Care scheduled maintenance, 4 years of unlimited-mile roadside assistance, and 2 years of complimentary 30-minute DC fast-charging sessions at Electrify America. That is a meaningful package, but the free maintenance period is short.

$60,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (38% retained, or about $22,990) leaves about $37,510 in depreciation. Add the projected $2,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $40,310 in total.

Consumer Reports' owner data puts the launch-year 2022 i4 above other 2022 vehicles on reliability. The score is held in the upper-average band because this is a first model year with heavy recall activity and EV-charging complaints.

In CR brand rankings and J.D. Power dependability studies BMW sits mid-pack. It is ahead of most European luxury rivals but well behind Lexus and Toyota.

As the launch year, the 2022 i4 has 8 NHTSA recalls, and several involve the high-voltage system and can cause loss of drive power: the cell-monitoring circuit connections, the combined charging unit, cell-module assembly and drive-motor software. Each has a dealer remedy, but the recalls are concentrated in the HV system.

The 2022 i4 uses BMW's Gen5 eDrive (a magnet-free electrically excited motor with Gen5 cells), shared with the iX. There is no pattern of motor failures or battery-capacity loss, but this is the first model year of a new powertrain family and several HV-assembly recalls keep it below the proven band.

The cabin comes from the 4 Series Gran Coupe and adds the iDrive 8 curved display, SensaTec or Vernasca upholstery and broad soft-touch coverage. Reviewers rate it competitive to strong for compact luxury.

Built in Munich alongside the 4 Series Gran Coupe, the i4 earns reviewer praise for tight, solid assembly. Owner complaints center on software and charging glitches, while launch-year HV-module assembly recalls mark down build consistency.

BMW has about 350 US centers, giving good national coverage that is thinner in rural areas. Service satisfaction is mid-pack among premium brands, and centers have EV-trained technicians.

Out of warranty, BMW parts and labor are expensive, and EV components (HV modules, CCU, drive unit) are dealer-only with little aftermarket support. Fewer routine wear items partly offset the cost.

Standard Curved Display pairs a 14.9-in touchscreen with a 12.3-in cluster.

iDrive 8 debuted on the 2022 i4: fast with crisp graphics and keeps the rotary controller, but moving most climate controls into the touchscreen drew criticism and first-year software had rough edges.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim.

BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant understands natural language, and cloud-based BMW Maps with EV route planning and charger search is standard.

Standard HiFi system is decent; the optional 16-speaker Harman Kardon system (standard on M50) is a worthwhile upgrade.

12.3-in fully digital, configurable cluster is standard as part of the Curved Display.

BMW Remote Software Upgrade delivers whole-vehicle OTA updates that have added features, though cadence is slower than Tesla's.

My BMW app offers remote lock, climate pre-conditioning, charge scheduling, vehicle locate and Digital Key Plus for iPhone.

USB-C ports front and rear; wireless charging pad is a $200 option rather than standard; no household outlet.

Comfort Access keyless entry with phone-as-key (Digital Key Plus) available, plus app pre-conditioning.

Rear camera, front/rear sensors and Reversing Assistant are standard; Surround View with 3D view and Parking Assistant Plus are optional.

Full-color HUD is available on the eDrive40 only as a ~$1,000 option rather than standard.

Good LATCH and a wide liftback help, but tight rear legroom and a low roofline make bulky rear-facing seats and loading kids awkward.

Standard AEB, blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts, but no 2022 NHTSA or IIHS crash rating, and lane-centering/stop-and-go cruise cost extra.

Quiet, smooth and with three-zone climate, but the cramped rear and 10 cu ft trunk limit four-adult trips with luggage.

Silent, smooth EV drive with well-judged adaptive regen and one-pedal B mode makes traffic effortless.

109 MPGe and an EPA $700/yr energy cost make it cheap per mile for a luxury car.

Standard sensors and camera help, but a ~41-ft turning circle and limited rear visibility make tight spaces harder than in a 3 Series.

No US tow rating and a 10 cu ft trunk; not a work vehicle.

Luxury-oriented interior and low-slung body are not suited to abuse.

No onboard power outlets, hitch or upfit ecosystem.

301-mile EPA range, 200 kW DC charging and a quiet, comfortable ride make a capable tourer; full lane-centering is optional.

RWD on the volume eDrive40, low ground clearance and no US tow rating limit it to pavement and gravel roads; AWD only on the M50.

Power liftback and 40/20/40 seats fold to roughly 45-48 cu ft, but no hitch and roof rack only via accessories.

Low center of gravity and near 50:50 balance give composed, engaging handling despite ~4,700 lb; widely judged the best-driving EV sedan of its launch year.

Accurate and well weighted, though like most modern BMWs it offers limited road feedback.

Seamless regen blending and adaptive recuperation; firm, predictable pedal and competitive stopping distances.

Instant, linear electric response with excellent calibration of accelerator and regen.

Near-silent motor; BMW IconicSounds Electric adds a synthetic soundtrack that can be toned down.

Wide turning circle for a compact sedan, larger than the 3 Series.

Low, sporty seating with wide adjustment; the curved display is well angled, though climate-in-screen adds reach.

Among the most engaging EV sedans of its year; reviewers consistently rate it the driver’s choice over the Model 3 and Polestar 2.

Every 2022 i4 comes with the BMW Curved Display (12.3-in cluster + 14.9-in center screen), iDrive 8, LED headlights, a moonroof, power seats and wireless CarPlay. However, heated seats/steering wheel, Harman Kardon audio and the advanced driver aids sit in extra-cost packages, which is typical German option pricing on a $56k base car.

The eDrive40 offers 301 miles of EPA range with BMW refinement. Until 16 August 2022 it also qualified for the $7,500 federal credit, but it still costs more than a Model 3 Long Range or Polestar 2 with similar range, and 2022 had no cheaper entry trim. The 536-hp M50 was widely seen as strong performance-EV value next to the e-tron GT and Taycan.

The 2022 lineup had just two trims, the RWD eDrive40 and AWD M50, with a $10.5k gap and no entry or mid-level AWD option. The eDrive35 and xDrive40 came in later model years. Options are flexible within those trims via packages.

The i4 went on sale in late 2021/early 2022 and ramped quickly to become BMW's best-selling US EV in its launch year. It was a respectable seller for a new luxury EV, though well behind the Tesla Model 3 and limited by 2022 supply constraints.

BMW is a top-tier aspirational luxury brand with a loyal following, and the M50 is the first M-division EV, which adds halo appeal.

In 2022 supply was tight and dealers mostly sold new launch-year i4s at or above MSRP. Buyers could, however, claim the $7,500 federal credit until the IRA took effect on 16 August 2022, after which the German-built i4 lost eligibility. The lease pass-through credit didn't start until 2023.

MY2022 was the launch year of the all-new G26 i4, with the current Curved Display/iDrive 8 tech. A buyer faced no redesign risk, since the LCI facelift didn't arrive until 2025.

Reviewers praised the i4 for its ride, handling and interior, and it won comparisons against the Model 3 and Polestar 2 (Auto Express 2022 group test). Car and Driver named it a 10Best for 2023 (announced December 2022, recognizing the same unchanged car).