What is it?
BMW is having a crack at the Tesla Model 3 with a new, electric four-door, rear-drive sedan called the i4 eDrive35.
The new entry-level model of the electric 4 Series line-up, the single-motor eDrive35 sits below the dual-motor 250kW eDrive40 M Sport and bolshy, 400kW dual-motor M50 xDrive.
The big story with this one is it cruises below the $89,332 Luxury Car Tax threshold for low-emission vehicles – and is also exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), making it an attractive option for those who can salary sacrifice a car on a novated lease.
READ MORE: 2022 BMW i4 M50 review
Does it have any racing pedigree?
The motorsport DNA runs deep in this German brand, of course, with BMW boasting a long history in numerous racing categories from Formula One to DTM, endurance sports cars to even the Australian Touring Car Championship. BMW also has raced extensively in the electric-only Formula E.
The i4 itself has no motorsport DNA, but something like the M4 GT3 car is a not-very-distant cousin.
What’s under the bonnet?
Like all electric vehicles, the i4 eDrive35 is deceptively simple in its mechanical make-up. There’s a single, rear synchronous electric motor producing 210kW and 400Nm – and driving the rear wheels only – while a 70kWh (66kWh useable) lithium-ion battery pack offers up to 490km of claimed range (WLTP).
In our own testing, the i4 eDrive35 got closer to 400-450km of range. The i4 eDrive35’s maximum AC charge-rate is 11kW, while it can accept up to 180kW DC for 10-to-80-percent fast recharging in 32 minutes.
How does it handle?
It’s pleasingly brisk, if not shockingly so in a straight-line, BMW claiming a 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds. Traction is abundant and the torque instant, making for near-silent, very punchy acceleration.
The i4 eDrive35’s biggest appeal over the ubiquitous Tesla Model 3 is the dynamics. Where the Tesla is electronically tied down, the i4 eDrive35 lets you explore a rear-drive personality in a properly fun way. Throttle-steer is absolutely available.
The handling also has a lovely, somewhat soft fluidity. The steering is light and sharp, while BMW’s engineers have done well to work with the 1990kg (DIN) kerb weight – some 345kg heavier than a 430i Gran Coupe. That’s even if there’s some obvious firmness to the springs at times, depending on how big a bump you’ve hit.
Where would you most like to drive it?
As power oversteer is possible, we’re going to say a skidpan. Some witches hats and a big open area might be all that’s needed to convert anyone to the electric vehicle age – provided they were handed the keys to the rear-drive i4 eDrive35.
What’s the interior like?
The base model eDrive35 feels like a budget luxury car – with a high-tech vibe, thanks to the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless.
Space in the front is good, while there’s a classic, low-slung, legs-forward driving position. The back seat, however, is a little bit tight, with the opening for the rear doors notably small. It is a coupe that’s been turned into a four-door, after all.
You can tell they’ve saved a bit of money here and there. There’s no front-centre airbag, only basic adaptive cruise control (rather than BMW’s more advanced driver assist systems), a basic reversing camera and ‘Sensatec’ high quality vinyl upholstery – no leather.
How much does the BMW i4 eDrive35 cost?
The i4 eDrive35 is $85,900 before on-road costs. Our test car was $88,900 as-tested, coming with a $3000 optional Enhancement Package which added metallic paint, a glass sunroof and front seat heaters. Importantly, it was still priced below the LCT threshold.
Would I buy one?
Yes – if for no other reason to say you didn’t buy a Tesla. You get more of a conventional interior and classic BMW rear-drive dynamics with the i4.
However, it’s also a base model priced against top-spec rivals such as the dual-motor Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 Epiq, and you’d be a few prongs short of a double adaptor to ignore either of those.
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