With the quirky, goofy i3 city car and the cartoony but fast i8 sports car, BMW played at the margins with its first electric vehicles. Although intended to demonstrate BMW's innovative spirit, you have to wonder how many BMW enthusiasts were turned off by their eccentricity. In contrast, BMW's newest electric vehicle vehicles seem closer to the corporate norm. So, the 2022 BMW iX SUV is blatantly contemporary. Its conventional SUV form softens its more controversial design elements. It pairs perfectly with the 2022 i4, a BMW EV that is — finally — pleasingly conventional.
It arrives in two forms: the i4 eDrive40, with a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive, and the i4 M50, which has two electric motors and all-wheel drive. The former costs $55,400 and the latter $65,900 before options, a $995 destination fee, or any government tax credits.
The 2022 BMW i4 is a car that lacks BMW’s usual EV design theatrics. This five-door hatchback’s handsome, conservative appearance is refreshingly adult despite its outlandishly sizable plastic grille. Inside, the i4 lacks the minimalist modernism that characterizes the BMW iX. Instead, it maintains the same design aesthetic of the 4 Series Gran Coupe. In fact, it’s indistinguishable from most other contemporary BMWs. The faithful will feel at home.
