Long Term Test: 2024 BMW i4 xDrive40

This is the first in an ongoing series of long term test drives by your team at Vicarious and EMOTION magazines. Our goal is to test drive new vehicles of all kinds over a period of several months to better understand how they work in our everyday lives. Sometimes the only way to evaluate a vehicle is to take it on the city streets and country backroads we know best, fill it with our family, our stuff and put it to the test. Then it’s up to us to summarize what we discovered in a way that is both informative and most importantly helpful. On that note, let the drives begin!

As a new husband way back in 1982, I remember looking forward to a future filled with dreams of financial success and the ability to one day own several of my favourite sports cars. One of those on my personal bucket list back then was a 3-Series BMW sport sedan. I am not afraid to admit it, there was something special about that bright red second-gen 320i polished to perfection and looking oh so good in the showroom of the local dealer that tugged at my heartstrings. Truth be told, we were there to look at a different, much more affordable and practical car at the time, but just the thought of it now still stirs my emotions.

So, when BMW Canada presented EMOTION with the opportunity to drive the new 2024 BMW i4 xDrive40 as part of our long term test drive fleet, it required absolutely no convincing on my part to say yes. To top it off, while the colour wasn’t the same bright red as that ’82 320i, it was equally, and in some ways more appealing, parked at BMW Canada headquarters featured in Sunset Orange Metallic. But this would be a much different sport sedan than what I could have possibly imagined more than 40 years previously. This BMW was the i4 xDrive40, and that means it is all-electric. So how would it stand up compared to its gasoline counterparts of today and to my memories of what driving a BMW should be like?

The simple answer is that after spending the last few months test driving it under all conditions; from bad weather, epic rainstorms and slick pavement of spring and summer 2024, to bright sunshine and perfectly dry twisting backroads, the 2024 BMW i4 xDrive40 drives and feels exactly how I imagined a midsize BMW sport sedan should. And to top it off, I never have to think about stopping for premium gasoline, a requirement of many sport sedans these days, but rather just plug it in at home once a week and drive off the next day with a full charge.

Here are some of the highlights from the past few months:

– The future of electric sports cars is bright. I have been pleasantly surprised by the fact that driving the electric 4-Series BMW is in many ways akin to driving a gasoline-powered version of the same. No, they are not completely alike. That would not be possible as horsepower and torque are unique for all models across the 4-Series line-up. But where I expected a significant drop-off in handling and acceleration, the i4 xDrive40 continues to provide thrills, especially in Sport mode. Handling is tight, speed builds rapidly and it feels planted to the road the way you expect a BMW should.

– The maximum electric range to date is consistently around 410-450 km on a full charge. At the outset of our test drive, I did install a home charging station to make it easier to charge overnight and during off-peak hours. Also, charging options where I live in the Niagara Region of Ontario are few and far between. Off-peak hours are the easiest and least expensive for charging and while I have yet to run it down to zero, typical charging times to reach the maximum level take approximately 10 hours with our Level 2 Grizzl-e charger. The next morning, I just get in and don’t give driving on battery power a second thought.

– The overall exterior design is eye-catching and everything you expect from a BMW. I am sure it is partially the colour as Sunset Orange Metallic really pops, but over the course of several months numerous people who I don’t know have complimented me on the look of the car. It helps that it features 19-inch Aero wheels finished in burnished Midnight Grey.

– Inside, there is little to complain about as well. Seats front and back are covered in BMW SensaTech, an animal-free leatherette alternative that is both comfortable and stain-resistant. The interior colour choice in our case is black, which is a nice fit for the orange exterior. Front seats offer exceptional body support and adjust multiple ways to fit most occupants. Back seats are equally comfortable, but this is a midsize sedan, so rear legroom is at a premium and headroom is somewhat restricted. The ease of getting in and out of the back is also tighter than hoped, which is a reflection of the rear door design. Small children in back work well to a point, just don’t expect to seat an adult or teenager in the middle between two car seats.

– In summary, the 2024 BMW i4 xDrive40 surpassed what I expected from our long term test drive of this all-electric 4-Series sedan. My heartstrings may not be pulled in the same way as my nostalgic memories play when thinking about that first bright red 320i, but there is no denying there is everything to like about how the i4 performs in every day driving conditions, or pushed hard on country two-lane roads. This is no runner-up to the gasoline sport sedans of the past and present. It stands the test as a fun-to-drive, easy-to-use, electric Bavarian masterpiece that should provide driving excitement for years to come.

The Facts: 2024 BMW i4 xDrive40

Long Term Life: 4 months, 4,450 km

Base MSRP: $69,900 (CAD)

Optional Equipment:
Premium Enhanced Package: $9,250
SensaTech dashboard, parking assistant plus including surround view, Harmon/Kardon surround sound system, BMW drive recorder, digital cockpit professional, head-up display, premium essential package contents.
M Sport Pro Package: $2,500
19” aero wheels, 860M, midnight grey, burnished, performance non-RFT, additional exterior designation removal, M leather steering wheel, M aerodynamics package.
Advanced Drive Assistance Package: $2,000
Driving assistance professional, traffic jam assistant, steering and lane control, evasion assist, cross-traffic alert- front, active cruise control w/Stop and Go, lane change assistant, lane keep assistant.
Sunset Orange Metallic: $900
Aluminum Mesh Trim: $250
Black Exterior Contents: $400

Price as tested: $85,200 (CAD)