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BMW i4
The BMW i4 is a battery-electric four-door liftback sold from the 2022 model year, and its recalls fall from 8 on the 2022 and 7 on the 2023 to 3 on the 2024. The 2026 i4 starts at $59,075, is rated 81 to 118 mpg-equivalent, and Wikipedia names the BMW i3 (NA0) as its successor.
What the BMW i4 is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the i4 (model code G26) as a battery-electric compact executive car in a five-door liftback body, produced since October 2021 on BMW's CLAR platform, related to the 4 Series Gran Coupe and with the BMW i3 (NA0) named as its successor. It is the sedan buyer's electric BMW. The 2026 i4 is rated 81 to 118 mpg-equivalent by the EPA at $650 to $950 a year in fuel, and Kelley Blue Book base prices are $59,075 for the eDrive40 Gran Coupe, $63,475 for the xDrive40 and $71,875 for the M60.
Best and worst i4 model years
Federal recall counts show the launch years carrying the load: the 2022 has 8 recalls, for the electrical system and backup camera, and 9 complaints, the 2023 has 7 recalls for the same systems, and the 2024 has 3, covering the electrical system and structure. REREV (opens in a new tab) says the i4 is worth buying as long as you avoid the 2023 model year and verify all open recalls are closed on any 2022 example. Vehicle Faults (opens in a new tab) adds that no year is automatically a bad buy, since service history and condition still decide it, and that a final-year car is usually the best-built of a run. See the 2022 i4 page for the first year.
How it compares
DrivingElectric (opens in a new tab) measured real-world range in a UK test at around 330 miles for a Model 3 Long Range, 307 miles for the i4 and 273 miles for the Polestar 2. EV Charge Savings (opens in a new tab) says the Model 3 Long Range AWD starts at about $46,000 with 341 miles of EPA range and access to more than 50,000 Supercharger stalls, and puts the Ioniq 6 and Polestar 2 in the same group.
Questions buyers ask
Which BMW i4 year should I avoid?
REREV (opens in a new tab) says to avoid the 2023 model year and to verify all open recalls are closed on any 2022. Federal data shows 8 recalls on the 2022 and 7 on the 2023.
Is the BMW i4 being replaced?
Wikipedia lists the BMW i3 (NA0) as its successor.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 BMW i4 is built around Electric motor(s), single or dual, rated at 335 / 396 / 593 horsepower across its electric compact luxury sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 i4 seats 5 and is a Electric compact luxury sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 i4.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 BMW i4
eDrive40 is the single-motor RWD entry point; xDrive40 adds a second motor for AWD; M60 is the 593-horsepower performance flagship.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed BMW i4 model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 BMW i4 | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 BMW i4 | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the BMW i4.
The BMW i4 (model code G26) is a battery electric compact executive car produced by BMW since 2021. It has a five-door liftback body style and is marketed as a four-door coupé. The initial concept version, named BMW i Vision Dynamics, debuted at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
- Specifications
- The production model is based on the modular CLAR platform to keep costs low and volume-production attainable. Although it is described as a battery-powered G20 3 Series, the model uses the bodyshell design of the G26 4 Series Gran Coupé.
- Powertrain
- The electric drive component of the i4, its charging unit and high-voltage battery are all developed in-house by the BMW Group, forming the fifth-generation eDrive system. A notable technical feature of the i4's powertrain concerns its packaging. The electric motor, transmission and power electronics are all contained in a single component, which allows for a higher efficiency of energy conversion.
- Battery
- The 108 mm (4.3 in) tall battery in the i4 is made up of four modules with 72 cells each and three 12-cell modules, all are located in the floorpan in a process that's claimed to add rigidity to the overall structure.
- Equipment
- All models feature the iDrive 8 infotainment system, including an updated voice-controlled assistant and gesture control system, while the iDrive controller is also retained on the centre console.
- Models
- Models introduced at launch include the high-performance M50 with a dual-motor xDrive all-wheel system, the first battery-electric vehicle by BMW's motorsport division, and eDrive40 with a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive layout. The base RWD model eDrive35, featuring the same battery and electric motor as the China-exclusive BMW i3 eDrive35L, was added in August 2022.
Source: BMW i4 (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
BMW i4 at a glance
- Production
- October 2021 – present
- Model years
- 2022–2026
- Assembly
- Germany: Munich
- Class
- Compact executive car (D)
- Body style
- 5-door liftback/fastback sedan
- Layout
- Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, Rear-motor, rear-wheel drive (eDrive), Dual-motor, all-wheel drive (xDrive)
- Platform
- Cluster Architecture (CLAR)
- Electric motor
- Front and rear motor combined output, 3-phase electrically excited synchronous motor
- Power output
- 200 kW
- Battery
- Lithium-ion battery, lithium-ion, Lithium_nickel_manganese_cobalt_oxides, NMC chemistry, 400V class (430V nominal), 83.9 kWh capacity
- Electric range
- Maximum 580 km New European Driving Cycle, NEDC, Maximum 590 km Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure, WLTP
- Charging
- Direct current, DC 205 kW, Alternating current, AC 11 kW
- Transmission
- Single-speed with fixed ratio
- Wheelbase
- 2856 mm
- Length
- 4785 mm
- Width
- 1852 mm
- Height
- 1448 mm
- Curb weight
- 2125 kg
- Successor
- BMW i3 (NA0)
- Related models
- BMW 4 Series (G22), BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé (G26), BMW i3 (G28)
- Designer
- Seungmo Lim (concept & production exterior), Chris Lee (interior design)
Recent recalls (3 campaigns across the latest model years)
- July 2025, Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Motor:Controller:Software. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2025 i4, 2022-2024 IX, 2023-2024 I7, and 2024 I5 vehicles. The electric drive motor software may shut down the high-voltage system, causing a loss of drive power. Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- August 2024, Structure:Frame And Members. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 i4 eDrive40, xDrive40, and M50 vehicles. The left-side longitudinal beam may crack, compromising the structural integrity of the chassis. Consequence: Reduced structural integrity may result in damage to the high voltage battery during a crash, increasing the risk of fire.
- February 2024, Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 i4 xDrive40, i4 M50 and i5 eDrive40 vehicles. The high-voltage battery module may contain insufficient weld seams, which can result in the battery overheating. Consequence: An overheated battery module increases the risk of a fire.
Year by year
The BMW i4 across 5 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 BMW i4 | 81–118 | $650–$950 | 7 | ||
| 2025 BMW i4 | 80–116 | $650–$950 | 8 | ||
| 2024 BMW i4 | 80–120 | $650–$950 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2023 BMW i4 | 80–113 | $650–$950 | 6 | 7 | |
| 2022 BMW i4 | 80–109 | $700–$950 | 4 | 8 | 9 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the BMW i4, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 8 to 7 | 98.0 to 99.5 | 273 to 283 | Labels: i4 M60 xDrive Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels), i4 M60 xDrive Gran Coupe (20 inch Wheels) | Labels: i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels), i4 M50 Gran Coupe (19 inch wheels), i4 M50 Gran Coupe (20 inch wheels) |
| 2024 to 2025 | 100.0 to 98.0 | 267 to 273 | Labels: i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels); Drives: All-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Compact Cars | Labels: i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels); Drives: 4-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Subcompact Cars | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 6 to 8 | 96.5 to 100.0 | 264 to 267 | Labels: i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels), i4 xDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels), i4 xDrive40 Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels); Drives: 4-Wheel Drive | Labels: i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels); Drives: All-Wheel Drive |
| 2022 to 2023 | 4 to 6 | 94.5 to 96.5 | Labels: i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels), i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels), i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels) | Labels: i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (19 inch wheels) |
Buying used
What the BMW i4 recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | electrical system (propulsion system); structure (frame and members) | None |
| 2023 | 7 | electrical system (propulsion system); back over prevention (warnings); electrical system (body control module) | None |
| 2022 | 8 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); electrical system (propulsion system); back over prevention (warnings); 1 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2022, campaign 22V-541 (Jul 2022): electrical system (propulsion system). A short-circuit in a high voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 3 | 33% | 2022 (3) |
| unknown or other | 2 | 22% | 2022 (2) |
| back over prevention | 2 | 22% | 2022 (2) |
| forward collision avoidance | 2 | 22% | 2022 (2) |
| tires | 2 | 22% | 2022 (2) |
| steering | 1 | 11% | 2022 (1) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 BMW i4 trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eDrive40 Gran Coupe | RWD | AC Electric Motor | 335 | – | – | – | – | $59,075 |
| xDrive40 Gran Coupe | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | – | – | – | – | $63,475 |
| M60 Gran Coupe | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | 396 | – | – | – | – | $71,875 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every BMW i4 model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | 335–396 | – | – | – |
| 2025 | 4 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | 282–396 | 4,553–5,029 | – | – |
| 2024 | 4 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | 282–536 | 4,553–5,018 | – | – |
| 2023 | 3 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | 335–536 | 4,553–5,018 | – | – |
| 2022 | 2 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | 335–536 | 4,680–5,018 | – | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
BMW i4: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | not available | ||
| 2024 | 3 | not available | electrical system, structure |
| 2023 | 7 | not available | electrical system, backup camera |
| 2022 | 8 | 9 | electrical system, backup camera |
| 2021 | not available | ||
| 2020 | not available | ||
| 2019 | not available | ||
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for BMW i4 model years 2023, 2024 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a BMW i4?
Federal recall records don't single out a best BMW i4 model year: recall counts across the 3 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 6.0 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the BMW i4 by model year?
2024: electrical system, structure. 2023: electrical system, backup camera. 2022: electrical system, backup camera.
Q03Why do some BMW i4 model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for BMW i4 model years 2023, 2024 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this BMW i4 is most often compared with.
Nearest BMW models
Other BMW models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 i4 come in?
The 2026 BMW i4 (electric compact luxury sedan) comes in 3 trims: eDrive40, xDrive40, M60.
Q02What are the 2026 i4 trims?
The 2026 BMW i4 trims are eDrive40, xDrive40, M60, listed from the entry eDrive40 up to the top M60.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 i4 use?
The 2026 BMW i4 is built around Electric motor(s), single or dual, rated at 335 / 396 / 593 horsepower across its electric compact luxury sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 i4 have?
The 2026 BMW i4 is rated at 335 / 396 / 593 horsepower (Electric motor(s), single or dual).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 i4?
The 2026 BMW i4 is offered with RWD / AWD.