BMW's early i cars — namely the i3 and still-head-turning i8 — were neat experiments more than anything else. Things began to change when BMW rolled out the i4, bringing more range, more "traditional BMW-ness," and thus more mainstream appeal to the then-novel concept of an electric BMW.
Now, settling into this 2026 BMW i4 for one last time before it bows out to make room for a new i3, I'm reminded why the i4 remained one of our favourite EVs for so dang long.
What's new for 2026?
Despite this year being the i4's swan song, BMW nevertheless made a few mechanical tweaks for 2026. It now uses the same on-board inverter and silicone-carbide semiconductors as the i5, lending to less energy consumption and therefore more range. Natural Resources Canada pegs the base i4 at 536 kilometres, an improvement of 24 km over the 2025 car. Not bad!
The top-spec i4 M60 sees a few more changes. It used to be called the M50, but it receives a more powerful rear motor to go along with the upgraded inverter. As such, output now peaks at 593 horsepower, up from 536 hp the year before. Torque remains a still-meaty 586 pound-feet, and it now needs only 3.7 seconds to rocket from zero to 100 km/h.
One tweak not explicitly linked to the 2026 i4, but from which it still benefits, is BMW's expansion of its Individual paint colours to more models in Canada. Our particular tester is drenched in a delicious metallic maroon called Wildberry, over an ivory interior that wouldn't be my first choice, but is striking all the same.
What's it like inside?
The i4 won me over the first time around because it looked and felt immediately familiar. That holds true in this 2026 model; some might call it dated, but materials and overall fit-and-finish are top notch, visibility all around is pretty good despite the roofline, and there's still a decent helping of physical controls.
For a so-called four-door coupe, the i4 feels reasonably comfortable. The driving position up front is spot-on, and while there's obviously less headroom than a 3 Series out back, it's roomy enough not to trigger that deep-seated claustrophobia you never knew you had.
Cargo space measures 470 litres with the seats up and 1,290 folded; that's hardly class-leading, but it's plenty roomy for the occasional, impromptu Home Depot and/or Ikea haul. Plus, the liftback is practical as ever. No "frunk" is still a bummer, though.
What's it like to drive?
Depending on where you live, the i4 M60 puts out either 593 or 601 horsepower. Either way, that's a lot, and its 3.7-second null-to-100 run is two tenths faster than the M50. Put your foot into it and the i4 M60 rockets ahead with the performance-EV-ferocity you'd expect, properly rearranging your and your passengers' insides with everything cranked up to 11 and all 593 and/or 601 horses galloping.
But what still stands out is how lively the i4 feels. There's an unexpected amount of fizz in the steering wheel, and it weights up nicely at speed. It rides a touch firm, but doesn't feel overly harsh over bumps and potholes, and carries a, let's say more-than-respectable amount of speed and grip into your favourite on-ramp. The i4 M60 in particular comes in at around 4,800 pounds, so it ain't light, but its lively and tail-happy nature makes up for that.
What's the range and charging like?
Range and charging are perhaps the only two aspects that age the i4. Range is improved on lesser trims, but given our tester's performance-oriented disposition and 20-inch wheels, Natural Resources Canada rates the i4 M60 at 375 kilometres of range. And hooked up to a Level 3 fast-charger, BMW says the i4 is capable of recharging at speeds of up to 200 kW, and does the 10-to-80 per-cent zap in about half an hour. The best we could do was 45 minutes for a 21-to-80 per cent charge on a Level 3 charger that barely cracked 65 kW.
What's it cost?
The i4 M60 is pricey, kicking off at a somewhat reasonable $82,900, though this optioned-out tester carried a significantly heftier $106,150 as-tested price tag. That's a tall ask, but not necessarily a dealbreaker; I'd argue the i4 40-series models are the sweet spot for performance, range, efficiency, and most importantly, money.
Final thoughts
As enticing as BMW's Neue Klasse era is shaping up to be, losing the i4 after this year stings. The 2026 BMW i4 remains a hidden gem for people who want an EV but don't want to be shouty about it, and who still care about driving. Only time will tell whether the i3 will strike the same sweet spot.
Nevertheless, we hardly knew ye, i4. Gone too soon.