BMW i4 eDrive35 2026 Review

You can have any BMW i4 you want, as long as it’s the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35.

While the model walk used to comprise two higher-grade versions with more power and electric motors, the eDrive40 and M50 xDrive were culled with the Life Cycle Update (LCI) before the i3 comes on board. Although, given that isn’t due to land Down Under until at least 2027, there’s value in checking out the i4.

Therefore, the $88,900 eDrive35 (before on-road costs) is the only price to pay, which is $1000 more than the pre-LCI version. And it’s a figure with purpose, given it remains below the Fringe Benefits Tax threshold and the Luxury Car Tax threshold of $91,661 for fuel-efficient vehicles.

With the bulk of i4 sales coming from this previously base-model variant, it made the most sense to keep, especially with the internal-combustion 4 Series Gran Coupe being discontinued.

Direct rivals are pretty thin on the ground in an SUV-mad market, but it goes up against the likes of the Tesla Model 3, Volvo ES90 and Hyundai IONIQ 6, although you could also include the cheaper Mazda 6e and MG IM5.

BMW’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty applies, with the high-voltage battery covered by an eight-year/160,000km plan. Three years of roadside assistance is complimentary, too. There are no set servicing intervals, although a six-year/unlimited-kilometre servicing plan is available for $2420.

If you don’t want to make a visual statement with your EV existence, then the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 is the perfect chariot to live a life free of fossil fuels.

Yes, ‘that’ grille notwithstanding, the i4 uses the 4 Series Gran Coupe to gain its sleek silhouette. There’s an understated elegance, with the fastback roofline, frameless doors and modestly sized 18-inch M light-alloy wheels working a treat.

The LCI updates include a diamond-textured kidney grille with Shadowline surround, new LED headlights, vertical daytime running lights, and the M Sport package is now standard. The latter also generates some cabin changes with an M leather steering wheel, heated front seats, brushed aluminium trim and a powered sunroof.

Other standard kit includes synthetic leather upholstery, powered Sport front seats with lumbar adjustment and memory for the driver, auto-folding and heated exterior mirrors, a powered tailgate (but no rear wiper), tri-zone climate control, ambient lighting and proximity-based keyless entry.

The only option ticked for our press car was the $2000 Fire Red metallic paintwork.

The 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 doesn’t hold a five-star ANCAP safety rating, instead running with a four-star score from 2022.

According to previous carsales reporting of the pre-LCI version, it’s due to issues found with the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system that have been improved for locally delivered i4s.

Still, it remains a perfectly safe package with plenty of active tech.

The AEB system also has cyclist and pedestrian detection, while other kit includes adaptive cruise control with Stop&Go, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, road sign recognition, driver attention alert, head-up display and rear cross-traffic alert.

Aiding parking are sensors, a reversing camera, 360-degree monitor, self-parking and reverse assistant. The i4 eDrive35 misses out on a front-centre airbag for a total of six, while there are also ISOFIX points and top-tether anchorages.

Something the Bavarians have become experts at is integrating oversized digital acreage neatly into the dash. And that’s exactly what the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 does, with the dual screens appearing as one expansive unit.

Yet, it isn’t just for show, as the i4 packs BMW Live Cockpit Professional with a widescreen 14.9-inch infotainment display running BMW Operating System 8.5. It’s joined by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a few themes and mild configurability.

A downside to the tech on offer is just how busy the menu system is. It can be a little daunting and confusing at first, but it does become easier to navigate with time. Essentially, you don’t require a vast majority of the apps and settings available.

If you don’t want to use the touchscreen, the latest version of the iDrive controller is now a well-oiled machine and is intuitive to use.

Other than that, the displays offer upmarket graphics and snappy responses to inputs. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, native satnav, DAB+ digital radio, the “Hey BMW” voice assistant, USB ports, a 12V outlet and a 10-speaker audio system.

The i4 comes with a three-year subscription to connected services, which includes things like a remote 3D view of your car and BMW Remote Services. It also accepts over-the-air (OTA) updates.

While it might be missing a sonorous inline six, it doesn’t mean the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 is a slouch.

In fact, trademark ingredients are present with rear-wheel drive. The single electric motor sits on the rear axle and delivers 210kW and 400Nm, figures good enough to propel the four-door coupe from rest to 100km/h in 6.0 seconds.

Not too shabby, then.

It drives through a single-speed reduction gear, while a 66.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack (NMC) sits under the floor to feed the e-motor.

It feels every bit as fast as the figures suggest, too. Yet, not in an intimidating, light-switch kind of way some EVs operate. There’s a level of approachability to its power delivery, one that makes it both punchy and easy to live with.

You can cruise around in silence. However, if you tire of listening to your own breathing, BMW IconicSounds Electric has you covered. No, it isn’t the soundtrack of six cylinders for nostalgia, but Hans Zimmer and Renzo Vitale did collaborate on the acoustics.

The problem the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 has is that you can buy a Tesla Model 3 Performance Long Range for significantly less, yet it can travel a whopping 750km between charges.

Yet, the i4 maxes out at 448km according to official ADR figures, which is 18km more than before. BMW quotes an energy consumption of 16.3kWh/100km, though our week of testing netted 17.4kWh/100km.

Replenishing the 66.4kWh lithium-ion NMC battery can be done at a DC rate of 180kW (meaning a 10–80 per cent charge takes about 32 minutes), while the maximum AC rate is 11kW.

There aren’t any levels to the regenerative braking, just a single B mode that provides one-pedal driving.

There are a lot of things going for the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35.

Yes, it’s rear-wheel drive and has a lot of BMW’s dynamic hallmarks because of this. The i4 is also very comfortable with a surprising level of ride comfort, no doubt aided by the chubby sidewalls the Hankook tyres provide (245/45 R18 front; 255/45 R18 rear). The way it soaks up lumps and bumps builds confidence, too.

At less than two tonnes, which is ‘light’ for an EV, the i4 is eager to change direction and stay planted through corners. It shows its competitors a clean pair of heels in terms of handling without giving up everyday usability. There’s just something very right about the way it conducts itself.

Of course, there are driving modes on offer (Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport) to further tailor your experience, but none of them changes the passive suspension setup, not that the i4 eDrive35 requires manipulation. For a bit of fun and to perk up throttle response, Sport works best. You can even slacken the DSC to ‘Traction’ mode to free up the rear axle slightly, too.

Ultimately, the eDrive35 isn’t an M Performance product. It’s more of an aesthetic package. From a driver’s standpoint, the steering is a weak point. It’s light on feedback and the weighting often doesn’t feel authentic.

Lastly, despite the cabin’s luxury bent, the sound-deadening could be bumped up to further suppress tyre roar.

Although, it’s more noticeable without a tuneful inline six up front. Hans Zimmer at the ready, then.

The fact the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35’s cabin is more previous generation than next generation is to its benefit. As a design piece it might not be as eye-catching, but the ambience is upmarket with quality materials and attention to detail.

Even the seating position is right, with the pews themselves being comfy and supportive. Ambient lighting heightens the experience at night, too, while general outward visibility is clear. There is a refreshing amount of switchgear to fiddle with around the gear selector, and the i4 retains BMW’s older-style air-vent knobs, which are far easier to use than the new nubbins.

However, a lot of the key controls have moved into the touchscreen. Which is annoying and takes your attention off the road just to change the fan speed, for example. The i4’s cabin also isn’t big on storage solutions, and the forward position of the B-pillar can be annoying for tall drivers.

The exterior’s form hampers interior function in the back. If you’re planning on ferrying adults, getting in and out of the rear seats is hampered by the tapered roofline. Once seated, toe, foot, leg and headroom are compromised, and the plastic seatback covers don’t help. At least there are air vents and a third zone of climate control to keep all occupants at the right temperature.

Open the tailgate and there’s a fixed cargo cover that raises with it, while a secondary removable unit is fitted, too. The 40/20/40-split folding rear seats feature a ski port and fold flat when stowed. Cargo capacity is 470 litres, which is decent without being overly generous for an almost 4.8-metre-long liftback.

Where you can tell this is a modified, rather than bespoke, EV platform is the missing frunk. It would be a nice option to have given the traditional boot carries charge cables underneath its flat floor instead of a spare wheel. Not even a space-saver is present. A can of goo it is, then.

Controversial grille aside, the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 doesn’t shout for recognition. Nor is it different for the sake of being different. It’s that connection to the rest of the BMW family that makes it familiar and safe.

Yes, it needs more driving range, practicality is hampered by its form, and generational change is impending with the Neue Klasse-based i3. Yet, its positive attributes outweigh the negatives. Even its price of entry doesn’t seem exorbitant considering it’s less expensive than BMW’s own 330i.

Ultimately, an awful lot of good is found within the electrified BMW’s reserved demeanour. Simply put, the BMW i4 eDrive35 is uncomplicated, soothing and rewarding. For those wanting a premium EV that isn’t an SUV, it makes a strong case.

2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 at a glance:
Price:?$88,900 (before on-road costs)
Available:?Now
Powertrain:?Single rear-mounted synchronous motor
Output:?210kW/400Nm
Transmission:?Single-speed reduction gear
Battery:?66.4kWh lithium-ion NMC
Range:?448km (ADR)
Energy consumption:?16.3kWh/100km (ADR)
Safety rating:?Four-star (ANCAP 2022)

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