Even after modest improvements last year, BMW just couldn’t leave the already good i4 alone. The 2026 BMW i4 receives a number of subtle improvements that continue to make it competitive in the electric sedan segment. Most importantly, the range-topping M60 (formerly called the M50) gets a power boost, but both the base vehicle and the M60 benefit from minor range increases from new silicon carbide inverters. Other small changes – like the introduction of optional glass controls for the first time on an i4 – are less significant, but keep things interesting. Unfortunately, the eDrive35 car is not returning to the US market. But at least the prices remain the same as last year. As we said about the 2025 BMW i4, it’s just a good thing this year.
2026 BMW i4 electric motor and performance
Like last year, the new i4 is available in three flavors. The i4 eDrive40 is the base model and only rear-wheel-drive offering, offering 335 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. A $1,400 Dynamic Handling package is available for the eDrive40, which adds variable sport steering and an adaptive M suspension – worth it if you plan on canyon carving. The xDrive40 model accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph (4.9 seconds versus 5.5 for the RWD model), thanks to 396 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The extra grip from all-wheel drive probably doesn’t hurt.
The 2026 BMW i4 M60 replaces the old M50 car with performance upgrades that match the new logo. In sport mode, the maximum power increases to 593 hp. It cuts the zero-to-60 mph time to just 3.6 seconds, a tenth of a second quicker than last year’s model. If you know BMW, it might be even faster. The $2,500 high-performance tire package is again a worthwhile addition if you plan on taking the car into the corners. It’s also the only way to get 20-inch wheels.
2026 BMW i4 charge and range
Every 2026 BMW i4 model is powered by the same 81 kWh battery pack. With DC fast charging, the car can regain a range of up to 90 miles in about 10 minutes, thanks to peak outputs of up to 200 kW. Connecting to a Level 2 setup, such as a BMW Wallbox, ensures a more consistent recharge and a range of up to 30 miles per hour at charging speeds of up to 11 kW. Official NACS and Tesla supercharging support is available on almost all BMW electric vehicles, and the new i4 is no exception.
The BMW i4 2026 also benefits from a slight increase in range thanks to the new inverters. Both the M60 and the eDrive40 enjoy an estimated range of around a dozen kilometers more when equipped with 19-inch wheels. Opting for 18s gives the eDrive40 an additional range of 15 miles compared to last year’s model. Even with 20-inch models, the M60 achieves a range increase of five miles. We wish the winnings were a little bigger, but hey – we’ll take what we can get.
Interior and cargo space
The 2026 BMW i4 carries over the subtle changes the model underwent last year. Vernasca leather is available in about half a dozen variants, but the standard car comes with SensaTec – leather is a $1,500 luxury. The Premium Package ($1,750 for eDrive40 vehicles) continues to offer good value and includes a heated steering wheel, a Harman Kardon sound system, and some decent tech. New for 2026: optional glass control. At $650, it’s probably worth adding on if you’re into that sort of thing.
Cargo capacity remains on par with previous years, and BMW continues to equip the i4 with a versatile 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat to make transporting longer or bulkier items easier. Despite the modest-sounding 10 cubic feet of space, the hatchback layout offers genuinely useful space, comfortably accommodating luggage, weekly groceries, and just about anything else most owners are likely to haul routinely.
2026 i4 technology and connectivity
Two model years ago, BMW upgraded the i4 to the iDrive operating system 8.5, which is still available here. There’s nothing new to report here, and it remains a familiar curved display consisting of a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch central information display. The Premium package mentioned above includes a head-up display and the entertaining Iconic Sound Electric – two more good reasons to add it if you order an i4. Most of the other optional technologies in the car are more focused on driver assistance.
Safety and driver assistance functions
Like almost all modern BMWs, the 2026 BMW i4 is equipped with driver assistance systems as standard. Forward collision mitigation, active blind spot detection, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert are all free. For $500 you can add adaptive cruise control (for some reason it’s called the Driver Assistance Package). The $1,700 Driver Assistance Professional Package adds Traffic Jam Assist and other technologies and allows hands-free driving at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on some highways. Another new change for 2026 is the addition of the Drive Recorder as part of the $800 Parking Assistance package. We’d still add it as the 360-degree camera and self-parking features are worth the money.
Prices for the BMW i4 2026
There are no price changes for the 2026 BMW i4, which is a welcome surprise. That means you’ll still be looking at $57,900 to get behind the wheel of the base rear-wheel-drive car. Or spend $62,300 on the 2026 BMW i4 xDrive40. The i4 M60 still costs $70,700. Notable competitors include the Porsche Taycan, which is priced $40,000 higher base-to-base, and perhaps the Lucid Air, although that offers a very different driving experience.
2026 BMW i4: Our opinion
Overall, I don’t think anyone here at BMWBLOG has anything really negative to say about any version of the BMW i4. Putting aside the realities of electrification and modern vehicles — weight, aggressive steering, perhaps aesthetics — the 2026 BMW i4 continues to incrementally improve on the car that wowed us when it debuted nearly four years ago. Dynamically speaking, the i4 M50 – now presumably the M60 – is by far the most complete package for the money you can have in the EV space. Our review of the i4 eDrive40 from when the car came onto the market has stood the test of time. It’s as BMW as it can be – at least until the inevitably even better cars of the new class finally replace it.
