In a new video review, CarBuyer from the UK takes a spin on the BMW i4 to see how it compares, and if it’s actually better than the current market-leading Tesla Model 3. Nicola Hume is behind the wheel of the BMW i4 eDrive40, the entry level model of the i4 family. Of course, BMW sells an M-tuned i4 M50 that comes with extra fun. The BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport uses an 80.7 kWh battery pack, a WLTP-rated range of 365 miles, and reaches 62 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds.
By comparison, the entry-level Tesla Model 3 has a 75 kWh battery, reaches 374 miles in the WLTP-rated range and hits 62 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds. Both cars are priced below £ 52,000 in the UK. Tesla comes with an all-wheel drive, unlike the i4’s rear-wheel drive, though, so there may be some more value for customers living in harsh winter weather.
Range is crucial in an electric car, Nikola also wants to focus on the driving experience and how the car feels to you. He praised the I4’s internal quality as well as BMW’s higher balanced chassis and steering feedback. According to Nicola, the new iDrive 8 can be tricky, but the seats are some of the best of the i4.
The i4 is a bit heavier due to the use of a heavily modified version of the CLAR platform, which was in the first place for the ICE model: 2,215 kg. Tesla Model 3 Performance, on the other hand, runs on a bespoke platform, designed specifically for electric vehicles. Therefore, it is light by about 400 kg, tipping the scales at 1,845 kg. After all, both cars are solid products in the electric car segment, and consumers now have more options than ever before.