BMW i4 M60

FIRST DRIVE There may be a new 3 Series EV hitting BMW showrooms very soon, but revisions to the existing i4 mean there's plenty of life - and appeal - left in it

- Richard Ingram [e-mail]

THE BMW i4 has long sat in the Tesla Model 3's shadow. Similarly capable on paper, the European EV costs around £10,000 more than Elon Musk's pioneering electric saloon - whether you opt for the most basic eDrive35 Sport, or this allsinging, all-dancing 593bhp M60 xDrive.

And that's a shame, because in the original 14, BMW built a supremely talented EV - on what was essentially a compromised do-it-all, petrol-electric shared platform. Few EVS made such a compelling case for those who put driver engagement at the top of their new-car must-have wish list.

The 14 still has a few years left to run, despite an all-new 3 Series EV and hot iM3 being just around the corner. To maintain appetite for the electric Gran Coupé, BMW has injected some life into the sleek four-door, including more range across the board, and extra power for the flagship M version.

These technical changes follow a series of visual upgrades in 2024, which gave the car a cleaner and more modern appearance. The i4 has never been as polarising as some modern BMWs, yet the changes - with revised lighting front and rear, plus improved quality inside - herald a subtly improved look.