2023 BMW i4

The 2023 volume trim is the single-motor RWD eDrive40. 2023 is the second model year of the G26 i4; the lower-priced eDrive35 was added mid-year (August 2022) and the AWD xDrive40 did not arrive until MY2024.

Peak torque of the eDrive40's fifth-generation eDrive rear motor (430 Nm), available from rest as with any EV.

BMW's quoted 0–60 time for the eDrive40; instrumented tests (Car and Driver ~5.1 s) run slightly quicker. Brisk for a compact luxury sedan though well short of the M50 or a Model 3 Long Range.

Reviewers consistently praise the i4's silent, linear electric delivery and well-judged throttle mapping, with Hans Zimmer-designed IconicSounds as optional ambience; regen is smooth and adjustable including adaptive and one-pedal B mode.

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

For MY2023 AWD is restricted to the top M50 trim; the eDrive35 and volume eDrive40 are rear-drive only. The mid-range xDrive40 widened AWD availability only from MY2024.

Three EV powertrains in 2023 — 281 hp eDrive35, 335 hp eDrive40 and 536 hp M50 — covering entry, mainstream and performance needs, but all battery-electric on the same 81 kWh pack; the i4 nameplate offers no gas or hybrid option (that lives under the 4 Series Gran Coupe).

EPA combined MPGe for the 2023 volume eDrive40 on its standard 18-inch wheels, before the MY2026 silicon-carbide inverter update lifted it to 118.

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; unchanged from MY2022.

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 (full charge ~8–10 hours on 240V). Held below the top band by the CCS1 port — in 2023 Tesla Supercharger access was not yet available to BMW owners — and a 400V system that is competent rather than quick on public DC.

NHTSA lists both 2023 i4 Gran Coupe variants but has published no star ratings for any crash mode, so per the framework the vehicle is recorded as never rated.

IIHS did not test the 2023 i4 and it holds no 2023 Top Safety Pick award. The only IIHS ratings for this generation cover the facelifted 2025–26 cars: Good in the updated moderate-overlap test, with no small-overlap or updated side results. That leaves the 2023 car untested, with headlight concerns known from later years.

Every 2023 i4 comes with Active Driving Assistant: frontal collision warning with city/pedestrian AEB, lane departure warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, rear cross-traffic alert and speed-limit info. Adaptive cruise with Stop & Go and active lane keeping are optional, sold in the Driving Assistance Professional package, so two core features are missing from the standard suite.

There is no IIHS AEB result for the 2023 model year. On the 2025–26 i4, the same standard Active Driving Assistant earned Good in the pedestrian test, including at night, but was reported Poor in IIHS's updated vehicle-to-vehicle test. That split puts it mid-band.

Active Blind Spot Detection, which warns through the steering wheel, and rear cross-traffic alert are standard. Front cross-traffic alert and active side-collision avoidance cost extra in the Professional package.

Lane departure warning is standard. Lane centering (Steering & Lane Control / Active Lane Keeping Assistant) is optional, and reviewers find 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, which works below 40 mph on limited-access highways with driver-attention monitoring. The 85-mph Highway Assistant was not offered on the 2023 i4.

IIHS did not rate the 2023 headlights. On the 2025–26 i4, which uses a similar LED projector setup with high-beam assist, the standard lamps were rated Poor and the Shadowline/M50 lamps Marginal, with heavy glare on curves. That 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, but the surround-view camera (Parking Assistant Plus) costs extra.

IIHS rates the i4 body's LATCH Good: no force needed to attach to the lower anchors, the anchors are easy to see, and clearance angles are wide. 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 across eDrive35, eDrive40 and M50.

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.

Liftback hatch 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 climate and app-based pre-conditioning are standard, but heated seats and heated wheel are in the Premium Package and ventilated seats are not offered.

The RWD eDrive35 was added for 2023 as the new entry trim at $51,400 plus $995 destination, about $4,500 below the eDrive40. That still sits near the top of the sedan band.

The eDrive40 is the volume trim. At ~$56,900 delivered, plus a Premium Package and paint/wheel options, a typical car lands near $60.5k. CarEdge's average new price for a 2023 i4 was $63,406, but that figure is pulled up by the M50 mix.

Because it's an EV, routine service is limited to filters, brake fluid and rotations, and the first 3 yr/36k mi are covered by BMW Ultimate Care. CarEdge projects $2,614, and I rounded that up slightly to allow for tires and wear items.

Like other luxury EVs, the i4 has depreciated steeply. A 2023 i4 is already down to about 55% of its new price after ~3 years. iSeeCars projects 36.8% retained at 5 years and CarEdge 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-yr 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 rates the 2023 i4 about average for its model year. Most trouble areas score much better than average, but EV charging (home charging, public-charger compatibility, the charge port) stands out as the weak spot.

In recent CR brand rankings and J.D. Power dependability studies BMW sits mid-pack. It leads most European luxury rivals but trails Lexus and Toyota by a clear margin.

CR counts 7 NHTSA recalls for the 2023 i4, the second year of the generation. Several involve the high-voltage system and could cause loss of drive power: the cell-monitoring circuit, the combined charging unit and mis-assembled cell modules. Each was fixed with a dealer part swap, but the pattern is concentrated in the HV system.

BMW's fifth-generation eDrive (a magnet-free electrically excited motor with Gen5 cells) is shared with the iX and i7, and there is no pattern of motor or battery-capacity failures. In 2023 the platform was only in its second year, and several assembly-related HV recalls keep it below the proven band.

The pre-facelift 2023 cabin comes from the 4 Series Gran Coupe, with the iDrive 8 curved display, SensaTec or Vernasca upholstery and broad soft-touch coverage. Reviewers rate it competitive to strong for compact luxury, though the eDrive35 trim is noticeably plainer.

The i4 is built in Munich alongside the 4 Series Gran Coupe, and reviewers describe tight, solid assembly. Owner complaints mostly involve software and charge-port glitches rather than panel gaps or rattles, though HV-module assembly recalls mark down build consistency.

BMW has roughly 350 US centers, giving good national coverage that is thinner in rural areas than mass-market brands. Service satisfaction is mid-pack among premium brands, and the 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. EVs have fewer routine wear items, which partly offsets the cost.

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

iDrive 8 is fast with crisp graphics and keeps the rotary controller, but moving climate controls into the touchscreen drew criticism.

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.

Base 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 an 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 volume trims via an option package 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 2023 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 $750/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 charging and a quiet, comfortable ride make a capable tourer, with full lane-centering optional.

RWD on volume trims, low ground clearance and no US tow rating limit it to pavement and gravel roads.

Liftback opening and 40/20/40 seats fold to 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; earned Car and Driver 10Best.

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; enthusiasts and Car and Driver recommend it.

Every 2023 i4, including the new eDrive35, comes with the Curved Display (12.3-in cluster + 14.9-in center screen), iDrive 8, LED headlights, a sunroof, 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.

The new $52k eDrive35 lowered the entry price, and the eDrive40 offers 301 miles of range with BMW refinement. Both still cost several thousand more than a Tesla Model 3 Long Range or Polestar 2 with similar range. The M50 is widely seen as a strong performance-EV value next to the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan.

There were three trims for 2023: eDrive35 (RWD, new this year), eDrive40 (RWD) and M50 (AWD). They span about $52k to $68k, but the gap between eDrive40 and M50 is wide and there is no mid-level AWD option. The xDrive40 that filled that gap wasn't announced until May 2023, for the 2024 model year.

The i4 was BMW's best-selling EV in 2023, with 83,000+ delivered globally, and US volume was climbing toward 23,403 units in 2024. That made it a leading German-brand EV sedan, though far behind the Model 3.

BMW is a top-tier aspirational luxury brand with a loyal following, and the M50 trim adds M-division halo. In late 2022 Bloomberg called the i4 an ideal Tesla Model 3 replacement.

The Munich-built i4 doesn't qualify for the federal purchase credit. From 2023, though, BMW Financial passed the IRA commercial-EV credit through on leases ($7,500 lease credit), and as EV demand cooled through 2023 that came alongside loyalty cash and subsidized APRs.

The G26 generation launched for the 2022 model year, so 2023 is its second year: a current platform with Curved Display/iDrive 8 tech and no redesign on the horizon. The facelift (LCI) didn't arrive until 2025.

The i4 made Car and Driver's 10Best for 2023 and was consistently praised by MotorTrend, Edmunds and KBB for its driving dynamics, ride quality and interior. It frequently ranked first or second against the Model 3 and Polestar 2 in comparison tests.