The EPA range estimates for the 2022 BMW i4 have officially been announced and it’s up there among the highest. If you’re looking for the model that goes the farthest, get the i4 edrive40 with 18-inch alloy wheels, which is good for 301 miles per charge. Opting for the 19-inch units cuts those estimates down to 282 miles. The performance-oriented i4 M50 is rated for 270 miles with the standard 19-inch alloy wheels or 227 miles if you get the optional 20-inch wheels.
In trade for the lower range, the dual-motor 2022 BMW i4 M50 gets AWD standard and more power at up to 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque when you activate the Sport Boost function. The single-motor i4 edrive40 is good for 335 hp and 317 lb-ft. Both use an 83.9-kWh lithium-ion battery with 81.5 kWh of usable capacity. It can DC charge at peak rates of 200 kW, allowing it to gain 90 miles in 10 minutes. The onboard 11 kW charger will give you a full charge in 8.0 hours using a level 2 AC charger.
One of the direct competitors to the BMW i4 is the Tesla Model 3. The base single-motor RWD version is now rated for 272 miles, which is more than the i4 M50 but less than the i4 edrive40. However, the Model 3 Long Range and Performance models are EPA-rated higher than any i4 variant at 358 miles and 315 miles respectively. Like the i4, your wheel choice affects the range of the Model 3. The optional 19-inch alloy wheels decrease the range of the RWD Standard Range model to 267 miles per charge while the dual-motor Long Range drops to 334 miles.
The second direct competitor to the BMW i4 is the Polestar 2, which is also available in single- and dual-motor configurations. However, the BMW has significantly more power across the board. Single-motor Polestar 2 models are rated at 231 hp and 243 lb-ft while the dual-motor variant is good for 408 hp and 487 lb-ft. Even with the upcoming performance upgrade on the latter, which bumps the output to 476 hp and 502 lb-ft, the Polestar 2 still trails the i4 in total output. The EPA range estimates are also lower on the Polestar at 270 miles for the single-motor variant or 249 miles for the dual-motor model. However, the BMW is more expensive at $56,395 for the i4 eDrive40 and $66,895 for the hotter i4 M50.
When it goes on sale early this year, the 2022 BMW i4 will be one of the first vehicles that form the brand’s electrification offensive alongside the iX. It will be followed by more all-electric variants including the i5 and i7 sedans, both of which slots above the i4. Several crossovers will also join the lineup including an all-electric X1. BMW has committed to building sustainable vehicles and has developed new electric motors without using rare earth metals. The company has also made it a priority to use more renewable, sustainable, and upcycled materials in their interiors. Every i4 owner will also get a $100 charging credit for use at EVgo stations across the U.S.
