Brands2026 BMW i4 Review — Still the Driver's EV, But the Competition Just Got Serious
AI-generated concept illustration of the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive40 — not an official BMW image. | Rev N Rise
The BMW i4 has been the benchmark electric sedan for drivers since 2021. Four years later it still is — but only just. The 2026 i4 eDrive40 delivers 333 miles of range, charges at 200kW, starts at $57,900 and drives better than any other electric car in its class. The problem is that the new Mercedes CLA EV just arrived at $47,250 with 374 miles of range and 320kW charging. The game has changed. Here is whether the i4 still wins it.
The 2026 BMW i4 is for the driver who buys cars for how they feel — not just what they do. It is for the person who takes a specific road because it is interesting rather than because it is direct. It is for the buyer who values iDrive's maturity, the hatchback body's practicality and BMW's 75-year driving heritage — and who is willing to pay $10,650 more than the Mercedes CLA EV and accept 41 fewer miles of range for those things. It is not for the buyer who primarily wants maximum range, fastest charging or best value. For those priorities, the CLA EV is now the default answer.
The 2026 BMW i4 arrives with a focused set of upgrades rather than a wholesale redesign. The headline change is new silicon carbide inverters across the range, improving efficiency and delivering a meaningful range increase. The eDrive40 gains approximately 15 miles of additional range, bringing the EPA estimate to 333 miles — up from 301 miles in the 2024 model.
The range-topping variant has been renamed the M60 and receives a significant power upgrade — output rises from 536 horsepower to 593 horsepower in Sport mode, cutting the 0-60mph time to 3.6 seconds. Optional Glass Controls also debut for 2026 — piano-key style physical switches for the centre console that replace previous toggles. In an era when every rival is reducing physical buttons, BMW is adding them. Prices remain unchanged from 2025.
| Model | 2026 BMW i4 |
| Body Style | 4-door Gran Coupé hatchback |
| Battery | 81kWh (all variants) |
| eDrive40 Output | 335hp / 317 lb-ft — RWD |
| xDrive40 Output | 396hp — AWD |
| M60 Output | 593hp Sport mode — AWD |
| 0-60 mph (eDrive40) | 5.5 seconds |
| 0-60 mph (xDrive40) | 4.6 seconds |
| 0-60 mph (M60) | 3.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 118 mph (RWD) / 140 mph (M60) |
| EPA Range (eDrive40) | 333 miles |
| EPA Range (xDrive40) | 287 miles |
| EPA Range (M60) | 338 miles |
| Max DC Charge Rate | 200kW |
| 10 min charge adds | 90 miles |
| NACS Support | Coming — Tesla Supercharger compatible |
| Infotainment | iDrive 8.5 — curved dual screen |
| Display | 12.3-inch cluster + 14.9-inch touchscreen |
| New for 2026 | Silicon carbide inverters + Glass Controls option |
| Boot Space | Hatchback — 470 litres |
| US Price (eDrive40) | $57,900 |
| US Price (xDrive40) | $62,300 |
| US Price (M60) | $70,700 |
This is where the BMW i4 separates itself from every rival in the segment. The i4 drives like a BMW. Not like an electric car wearing a BMW badge, but like a genuine, driver-focused machine that happens to run on electricity. The steering has weight and feedback. The chassis feels taut and responsive. The rear-wheel drive eDrive40 has a lightness and agility on a winding road that nothing else in this segment can match.
The regenerative braking system is one of the most sophisticated available — Adaptive mode reads the road ahead via GPS and sensors, adjusting regen automatically. B mode enables strong one-pedal driving. The transition is seamless. What the i4 does not do is match the CLA EV on range or charging speed — 333 miles vs 374 miles, and 200kW vs 320kW. For buyers who prioritise driving above all else, this is not disqualifying. For everyone else, it needs acknowledging.
Inside, BMW's familiar Curved Display dominates — a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 14.9-inch central touchscreen joined under a single glass panel, driven by iDrive 8.5 — one of the most mature infotainment systems in the automotive industry. Physical controls remain present. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
Cabin quality is excellent — premium in feel and materially satisfying. The hatchback body gives a generous 470-litre boot — considerably more accessible than the CLA's saloon-style bootlid. New optional Glass Controls add piano-key physical switches to the centre console. Standard leather costs $1,500 extra at $57,900 — unnecessarily mean at this price.
The 333-mile EPA rating is solid but real-world range typically returns 280 to 300 miles in normal driving. BMW's 90-miles-in-10-minutes charging claim is achievable at 200kW under ideal conditions. The good news: NACS support is coming to the i4, enabling native Tesla Supercharger access — a significant improvement for real-world charging convenience in the US, expected before end of 2026.
"The BMW i4 is the most dynamic electric sedan on sale — a car that proves electrification and driving pleasure are not mutually exclusive."
— Oliver Zipse, CEO, BMW GroupThe 2026 BMW i4 remains the best-driving electric sedan you can buy. Its steering has feel, its chassis has precision and its rear-wheel drive eDrive40 is genuinely joyful on a winding road in a way that nothing else in the segment has yet matched. But it now costs $10,650 more than the Mercedes CLA EV, offers 41 miles less range and charges at 120kW slower. These are real disadvantages that cannot be explained away by brand preference. The i4 is still the right choice for drivers who care about how their car feels. For everyone else, the competition just got very serious indeed.