BMW i4 2026: Revised single-grade EV lineup confirmed as luxurious German alternative to Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and BYD Seal

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BMW’s most successful EV and Chasing Cars’ 2024 Best EV +$80K-plus will return for MY26, exclusively in eDrive35 guise and with an improved standard equipment list. 

The i4 has seen huge success in the Australian EV market, with MY25 stock depleting months before the end of the calendar year. Originally introduced in 2022, BMW has sold 3340 i4 EVs up to September ‘25 — 2523 of those sales were eDrive35s. 

All-new MY26 stock of the i4 will be available to purchase locally by the end of 2025, says BMW, pushing an additional 18 kilometres of range to now total 448km (ADR testing standard), a standard-equipment M-Sport package, front seat heating and a glass sunroof. 

This luxury does come at a premium, with the i4 eDrive35 now $88,900 before on-road costs, up from $85,900. Crucially, this avoids the current fuel-efficient vehicle Luxury Car Tax threshold of $91,387. 

To add icing on the cake (or, perhaps, the sauerkraut to the bratwurst) the Bavarian EV is inherently eligible for fringe benefit tax exemptions if purchased under a novated lease. 

Undoubtedly the i4 medium electric sedan remains a peg above more conventional, price conscious rivals, predominantly the segment leading $54,900 Tesla Model 3, runner up $46,990 BYD Seal, and left-of-field $62,400 Polestar 2. Prices are before on-road costs.

So what does $88,900 actually get you over last year’s eDrive35? 

Beginning with the standard M-Sport package, the MY26 i4 eDrive35 adds new 18-inch M-Sport wheels, front apron, side skirts, a revised rear bar and diffuser, a new signature kidney grille design, and new headlights outside, and a new flat-bottomed ‘M’ leather steering wheel inside. 

The interior further benefits from front seat heating, an electric glass sunroof, and a new ‘operating concept’ (revised user interface) for the climate control system.

Under the skin, the eDrive35 remains relatively unchanged. BMW says the substitution for silicon carbide semiconductor components has reduced energy consumption by 4.5 percent, which accounts for an additional 18km of range over the previous model year’s 430km figure.

Else, the i4 is identical to the previous, featuring a 66.4kWh (net) lithium-ion battery, 400-volt electronic architecture, and a rear-axle electric motor, which produces 210kW/400Nm.

AC charging peaks at 11kW, taking seven hours to charge from empty, while rapid DC charging from 10-80 percent takes 32 minutes with a 180kW peak. 

Equipment and options

Stand-out equipment for the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 includes:

• 18-inch ‘M’ alloy wheels
• Three-zone climate control
• Heads-up display
• Heated power adjust front seats
• Electric adjust glass sunroof
• 10-speaker sound system
• LED headlights
• M Sport cosmetic package (interior and exterior)
• Wireless device charger
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Powered bootlid

Options for the 2026 BMW i4 eDrive35 are:

• $2000 Metallic paint with a choice of:
  • Black Sapphire
  • Mineral white
  • M Portimao Blue
  • M Brooklyn Grey
  • Cape York Green
  • Fire Red
    
• $2100 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels
• $2100 19-inch ‘M’ aerodynamic wheels
• $5000 20-inch BMW ‘Individual’ aerodynamic wheels