2023 BMW i4 | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports
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- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
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You'd be forgiven for thinking that if a car is electric, it has to have a minimalist design, with weird door handles and every function controlled through a touchscreen. But the BMW i4 both looks and feels very much like a traditional sports car. But is that a good thing? We discuss the BMW i4 M50 we purchased for our test program, how it performs on our track, its questionable range, whether it carries on the "ultimate driving machine" lineage of its parent company, and how it compares to EV competitors from Tesla, Genesis, and Hyundai.
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SHOW NOTES
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00:00 - Introduction
00:13 - First Impressions: 2023 BMW i4
15:12 - Question: Why is there an additional plastic cover on all DC fast charging ports?
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2023 BMW i4
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Авто/Мото
I traded in my Model 3 Performance for one of these. On paper, the two cars are very similar. In the real world, they're quite different. The BMW is way more refined and has drastically better build quality and materials. The Tesla has its Supercharger network.
I am a self employed photographer, so I don't need a lot of range for my daily commute. A quick charge over night, and I'm good to go in the morning. Range has never been an issue with this car or the Tesla.
Tesla is opening up some superchargers for non Tesla
I was really close to ordering the i4 M50, but ended up ordering a 2023 330e xDrive because it's $20K less, does almost everything I need, and the i4 was over a year for wait time. I've had the 330e for over two months now and it's been great. I've been averaging well over 100 mpge for my 360 mile/week commute, and I can charge at work for free.
When did you try to order it? Hoping the wait times are better than that now. Probably depends on the dealer and what allocations they have as well.
I’ve had my ‘22 330e xDrive for over a year now and absolutely love it! I drive on electricity for my weekly commute and it’s a very comfortable, efficient car for long-distance road trips! 😎
The MSRP you mentioned was for the M50. The eDrive35 and eDriver40 start much lower.
I love my i4 edrive40. Paid 64k with premium, driver assistance pro, and parking assistance packages. My car gets 301 miles because it had 18" wheels. Also BMW understates the range. You guys really didn't do your homework.
Yep…our little i3 we leased was suppose to get 150. It gets more like 175-180 in “average weather”.
J1772/CCS ports are standard across Ford, Rivian, Lucid, Hyundai, Mercedes, BMW, VW (all their platforms) and is the European standard. Tesla is the outlier here and we can argue whether or not their port is better but the Western world has spoken it is J1772/CCS. One other thing, the BMW ports are not simple covers but hinged and more sturdy than a simple hanging piece of plastic.
But the physical ports are different between North America and Europe (CCS 1 vs CC2), probably due to our different electrical systems. There are more places with 3 phase AC power in Europe and their port supports that. So manufacturers that sell vehicles in both regions have to support 2 different ports anyways.
Tesla port is smaller and easier to use
Tesla sells more cars than all the others combined so by sheer numbers they have the lead
Now that Hyundai has put 800v charging architecture into their vehicles, it's not so much total range that I find head scratching, rather, why luxury manufacturers are coming out with cars today that take 45+ minutes to "fill up" when a Hyundai/Kia product can do it in 18 minutes.
The "propulsion sounds" is one of the features I turned off before I drove the i4 eDrive40 off the lot. Also the eDrive40 has the same range as the Tesla (real world tests) and the Mach e Premium AWD, 300 mi.
I have a 2023 i4 M50. I have taken many cross-country road trips and stop and go traffic. Your explanation of Driver Assistance Professional and Traffic Jam Assistance is wrong. DAP has adaptive cruise control along with lane centering and lane change. It has a passive steering wheel, which you need to touch lightly when it alerts you to let the i4 you are paying attention. You do not need to put torque on the steering wheel. The Traffic Jam Assistance is totally hands and feet free up to 40 mph with eye tracking. I also turned off the Icon Sound before I drove off the dealer lot. It took all of 2 seconds to find and turn off.
Did you have to order yours or did you find one on the lot? If you ordered it, how long did it take to arrive?
@Just Me I ordered mine. It took 11 months. It was delayed by 5 months because of the war in Ukraine.
To think they are being critical about pricing after they enthusiastically bought a 90k f 150 lightning. Besides they could have gotten lower powered it if pricing were truly a barrier. This is a m50 model.
I have one that's coming and about to be delivered. Been a long wait but I'm excited. Also the "whine" is from Hans Zimmer so that's a bit of an insult.
I thought the flimsy covers on the AC and DC ports were there if the external cover wasn't waterproof. Certainly keeps debris and water out
Just finished the 2nd year of our leased BMW i3. Love the little car. It’s been perfect. Only 1 year left on the lease😔 Won’t buy an i4 for 70,000 no way.
If you lease your cars; then you aren’t “buying” them anyway! Lease programs on i4 are GREAT!
Does it have a spare tire?
This car looks great in green. I'd pair it with the cognac interior for the best effect.
I ordered mine in green with red interior. Can't wait to get it!
Interesting report. I do like the looks of the i$, but that would never be in my budget. For that money, I'd have to be able to live in it - like a house.
I expected you guys to be at the CES.
The range in smaller cars, even performance models, is so overblown. For a daily driver... anything nearing 200 miles is plenty. Every additional mile of range adds so much more in weight. I don't get the obsession with range.
i love my 330e and would love to get in an i4 but the pricing is still a little too high for me for what you get. Wish BMW brought the X1e to North America :/
My 2 cents - that Hanns Zimmer sound on acceleration was FANTASTIC.
It's obvious to me how polarizing this is to diff drivers but my buddy and I adored it when we test drove (going in, we thought it would be a stupid gimmick)
Go figure 🤷♂️
Yes, but you could turn it off. Something Funkhouser didn’t realize you could turn off 🤦♂️
See that rising accent over the 'e' in Coupé? That means you pronounce it as "Coo-Peh", not "Coop"
So with that answer, the second cover is to protect it from debris. If Tesla lacks this, does its port get debris and fail? Just wondering.
i4 was too small for me, but my FIL got the i4 M50. I'm happy with my EV6.
EV6 is Litterally built on a GIMP platform.............lol.
Apparently the CR Electric Bike ratings fall under the Cars department, so I was wondering if anybody from CR monitoring these comments could tell me which version of the top-rated Category 2 ebike Velotric Discover 1 was tested: the step-through or high-step? It would be more helpful and maybe even easier to simply post a picture of the bike that was tested. Also note that CR misspelled Velotric Velotic in the ratings. Thanks!
Love This #Tesla Content
One other thing I would just like to point out to that Prius comment.
Yes, the the beginning of it's life the Prius did sell more than the hybrid civic. But the Prius also beat out the original insight, in part because of it's practicality.
When Hybrids when mainstream and started showing up everywhere to some degree, the Priuses sales came way down.
I'd imagine for electric cars, we're over the "statement" section of the EV hump, and starting to head towards convention. Where a BEV that looks like a BEV is just rather tacky.
It's not there yet, but I'm betting we are headed that way.
17:41 or worse, the charge notices the extra resistance and decides it's not safe to charger your car.
The original Insight was an atrocious looking car. I thought Honda did that on purpose, to try to say nobody wanted hybrids.
The current Insight is much more attractive than any Prius.
I don't think that a normal looking vehicle should necessarily mean something proportioned to be able to fit an engine under the hood. A normal looking EV should still be something that makes best use of the interior space and accommodate the drivetrain. When the ICE vehicle replaced the horse and buggy I hope that they didn't spend long trying to make the new look like the old.
And a ski resort would be a good place to have destination charging as people can be parked there for a number of hours. A DC charging station would also be a good fit as people would probably want to get a meal at some point before heading back.
She has no idea how Traffic Jam Assist works. It allows you to drive fully hands free, but she’s right about the 40mph limitation. There is definitely an indication too, as you have to click the mode button again after a consent message pops up. So much for an “ADAS Expert”.
Can we get the 3 Mikes for an episode?
Whether $73k is affordable for a daily commuter depends upon the circumstances of the buyers. A $73k ICE BMW may not be affordable by everyone either. For those fortunate to have lofty incomes, this I4 could certainly work as an everyday short-commute car.
I'd go even further on the poor implementation of the "traffic jam assist" system, but from a different perspective. I have a X5 45e with that system, and as far as I can tell it's inferior in every way to the normal cruise control. The eye tracking is pretty bad, and requires you to stare straight ahead (glancing around for situational awareness causes it to disengage). And when it disengages, it just punts to driver control; it's not "fail safe" or anything. With normal cruise control, I just need to rest a hand on the wheel, not stare at a bumper trying not to blink. The next vehicle I buy will either not have eye tracking, or have a known and easy way to defeat it, because the current implementation is outright terrible, beyond just a gimmick.
Ryan is here.
Road trips? I have an I4 at all my homes for local trips and fly my jet on long trips. BTW the cover on the DC fast charger is to keep the electrons from leaking out. JMWU
Consumer Reports - BMW has lost its Crown in the USA .
TESLA model Y alone outsold BMW as a Luxury Brand .
TESLA sold 158,612 more than BMW in 2022, and with 8% DECLINE in LEGACY auto in 2022.
TESLA sold more than 491,000 in 2022 , and 56% higher than 2021.
I was very well acquainted with the parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents of this car. It has a face that none of them could love.
Must diagree. Have owned BMWs since the late 70’s. This a beauty and am going to trade in my 2019 540i. A year ago I was about as anti ecar as possible. Two electrical engineer friends say our grid in Houston will never support more than two ecars with level 2 charging per block. Simple solution for me. Will just charge overnight with a 110 outlet.
I think it's worth noting that there are, in theory, two different "artificial" sounds that an EV or hybrid makes. I'm a little disappointed that the CR team didn't mention this distinction and I'm unclear as to which of these sounds that they found annoying. In the BMW i4, the interior "soundtrack" was famously designed by Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer (Interstellar, Dune, others). It was designed to add drama to the driving experience for driver and passengers alike. On the outside there is a tone/sound that must be emitted during low speed driving to alert the visually impaired to the presence of a vehicle. Now I don't know of Zimmer is responsible for THAT sound, or if the BMW EV outside sound is better, but on Honda and Toyota EVs and Hybrids I can tell you that the whine is a "tune" I like to call, "Haunted/Dying Refrigerator." THAT sound is terrible.
BYD is number one selling electric vehicle fyi
To the girl in the video: loving your look/style 😊😊
She's not a girl, she's a woman.
Daily driver EV = Leaf or Bolt. Road tripper EV today is only a Tesla for its supercharger network. We have a Leaf SV plus as our daily driver and a Subaru Legacy for road trips, together they cost less than one Tesla Y. This BMW is not for your typical frugal CR subscriber.
Daily driver EV = Prius Prime PHEV. Road tripper = Prius Prime PHEV. At the time we bought it, it cost less than a new Leaf or Bolt. We're retired and don't do a lot of daily miles, so I realize this wouldn't compute for most people. I just couldn't resist substituting our variables in your equation. I also agree Tesla's charging network makes their cars the only practical choice if an EV is your only car.
You're wrong about Assisted Driving Plus...it's not a gimmick and it makes driving in traffic far less burdensome. Maybe it'd be helpful if you guys actually drove the cars you're talking about or talked to consumers who use them.
Putting gigantic beaver teeth on the front of the car does not make it look "normal". It needs a beaver tail hanging off the back. It looks like it wants to chew down a tree and build a dam.
I expected CR to talk about reliability, but nope. What about battery replacement at 9-10 years?
I leased a BMW i3 and took it in for its first service almost 2 years in to the lease. The screen says the next service is 6-2025. It’s been perfect. Everything works…no problem whatsoever.
A small car, you Americans are hilarious and you guys tested the wrong i4. Should have tested the e40, rear wheel drive inly, better sterring, no understeer and better range
OMG! OMG! It looks like a real car! Come one CR. Wake up and smell the coffee. EVs are the future; and the present, for that matter.
300 plus is needed
Another podcast, another fundamental misunderstanding of EVs.
Quit complaining about prices.
Yeah,price is irrelevant. I wonder why they get federal tax rebate?
Ok Uncle Pennybags 👍
A normal looking car? Well, a normal looking BMW, since they couldn't get away from the electric razor grille. Which is not needed at all.
I don’t see how this is a good car. It’s too pricey for what it is, it’s not good looking, the range sucks, etc. it being a BMW though, I’m sure I’ll be seeing it everywhere soon.
CR: EV's look like spaceships... some people want a normal looking car.
i4: GIANT bucktooth fake grille, obnoxious fake engine noise, shoehorned into an ICE platform. Jacked up to $70k.
This ain't it, my man.
Only lease a BMW.
They constantly break down after the warranty expires
Owned a BMW since the late 70’s. Never had one break down, before or after the warranty expiration. Problems with one? Of course, but what car doesn’t.
the BMW i4 is a CRAP car, its built on a OUTDATED 3 series GAS car body , its not even a BESPOKE EV Skateboard Platform.
the BMW is too SLOW, too HEAVY, too INEFFICIENT, and too short RANGE.
its got even worse NAVIGATION & Infotainment. BMW is not even using the MOST Advanced Computers & Software.
BMW wont be able to SCALE to Economy, because they dont make their own Battery cells, Cathodes, battery Recycling, Li Refining, and Li mining. BMW lacks also Advanced 4680 battery cell, Structural Battery pack, and Underbody GIGACASTING.