2026 BMW i4 M60 Review

The 2026 BMW i4 is the closest you can get to an all-electric 3 Series — that is until the upcoming i3 goes on sale next year.

In the meantime, the i4 is the electric version of the 4 Series four-door — BMW calls it a “Gran Coupe” — and it even shares the same platform, which also underpins the 3 Series. For 2026, the i4 gets updated electric vehicle (EV) internals that bring increased efficiency and a little more driving range, while the top trim tested here is now called the M60.

Powertrain: 8.5/10

The last thing the i4 needed was more power, but the increased efficiency made possible by a new silicon carbide (SiC) inverter brings output to 593 hp compared to 536 hp last year to go with the same 586 lb-ft of torque. That makes the i4 M60 more powerful than an M3 Competition, and nearly as quick to 100 km/h from a standing start.

What the numbers don’t describe, however, is the immediacy of the torque delivery, which shoves your body into the seat and doesn’t let up even at highway speeds. Using launch control, which allows for maximum acceleration off the line, sees all four wheels clawing at the surface below for traction before blasting you towards the horizon. The accompanying acceleration soundtrack — which, by the way, was designed by famed composer Hans Zimmer — also does its part in adding to the sensation of speed.

Driving Dynamics: 8/10

The silent powertrain and spaceship-like sounds through the speakers are your biggest clues that the i4 is an EV. In all other ways it drives and feels just like one of its gas-powered counterparts. That means you get nicely weighted and very precise steering, a front end that’s easy to point into a corner, and minimal body roll.

Everything that’s good about the 3 and 4 Series applies to the i4, including a well-controlled and comfortable ride. If handling is high on your wishlist, it doesn’t get much better than the i4.

Comfort: 7.5/10

The i4 M60 gets an air suspension for the rear axle and adaptive dampers that can be set to comfort mode, all of which handily absorbs cracked, winter-scarred roads while still maintaining ride stability during cornering. An excellent pair of front seats helps keep occupants in place but also nicely supported and cushioned during long drives. The rear seats also have enough leg- and headroom for a pair of adults, but a large hump in the floor — a holdover from the platform’s gas-powered DNA — makes the middle seat only suitable for children.

Equipment: 7/10

Even in M60 guise, the i4 can be configured with a whole range of optional extras that quickly inflate the price, but the standard features include the flat panel screen that houses the instrument display and infotainment touchscreen, an M-specific leather-wrapped steering wheel, and adaptive dampers. The M60 also gets an additional “sport boost” drive mode, which allows for maximum power delivery and also enables the launch control function.

The tester seen here had an optional leather-wrapped dashboard and centre console, an upgraded stereo, and a built-in dash camera. It also had a glass gear selector, rotary infotainment controller, and start button. A sports package added bigger brakes, a rear spoiler, and laser taillights. All told, it had more than $23,000 in options.

Design: 8.5/10

While it’s called a Gran Coupe in BMW parlance, the 4 Series is a sportback sedan. Its design boasts a roofline that flows gracefully backwards into a chopped rear end that’s capped with a tidy little spoiler.

Most of the initial shock of the grille introduced with the current-generation 4 Series seems to have settled. [Speak for yourself, Kunal. We still see shades of Winifred Sanderson. (Google it.) —Ed.] The design was polarizing but has aged rather gracefully over the last few years. This tester’s optional paint paired with its white interior made for a striking combination.

Instead of a traditional cluster of gauges, the 12.3-inch driver display and 14.9-inch touchscreen live under a large curved piece of glass that sits on the dash behind a thick-rimmed leather steering wheel. It’s classic BMW inside, with supportive seats and a driver-centric centre console.

User Friendliness: 7.5/10

Nearly everything inside, including the climate control system, is accessed through the centre screen, with only a few basic physical buttons (including for the front and rear window defrosters). There’s a volume knob, and the centre console still has buttons for drive-related functions, but that’s it.

The infotainment system is fairly easy to use and very responsive, and has great graphics, but the main menu is a jumble of apps and icons. It’s a bit of a mess and not as well designed as previous iterations of the system. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is superb.

Efficiency: 7.5/10

Considering the i4 M60 has nearly 600 hp from its two powerful electric motors, it’s a very efficient EV even at highway speeds, which isn’t typical. Officially rated to consume 21.4 kWh/100 km combined, this test routinely saw figures in the 18 to 20 range without any special concessions made by driving efficiently or turning off the climate control. The M60 is also the least efficient version of the i4, with the single-motor eDrive 40 coming in at a much lower 17.7 combined.

Maximum range for the M60 is rated at 447 km, which is 17 km more than the previous M50 thanks to more efficient power electronics. It’s worth noting that these figures are only possible if the i4 is equipped with 19-inch wheels; opt for the 20-inch alloys and the range drops significantly.

Charging is rapid, with maximum speeds of 205 kW if the battery has been preconditioned and you find a fast charger capable of supplying that output. BMW quotes a 10-to-80 per cent charge time of 30 minutes in ideal conditions, with our own testing seeing speeds reach 180 kW during a charging session.

Everyday Usability: 8/10

The i4 has a large glass hatch that opens to reveal 470 L of cargo space, which expands to a crossover-like 1,290 L with the rear seats folded. It offers much more space than the 3 Series sedan and looks even better thanks to its sleek roofline.

Safety: 7/10

The BMW i4 received a rating of “Good” for crashworthiness and front pedestrian crash prevention from the Insurance Institute for Highway safety (IIHS), which is the highest possible score. It also received a rating of “Marginal/Poor” (trim dependent) for the headlights, and “Marginal” for its seatbelt reminders.

Most driving aids are accounted for here, but an optional driver assistance package is required to get active cruise control, steering intervention, and blind-spot collision avoidance.

Value: 7/10

The i4 M60 commands $6,400 more than the gas-powered M 440i but has more than 200 hp extra and can accelerate nearly as quickly as the M3 and M4. It’s also a zero-emission vehicle that you can charge in your garage every night and ditch the gas station entirely.

A Tesla Model 3 Performance would be the closest competitor, offering similar performance and range but for a lot less money. The i4 comes at a premium partly because of its badge, but it’s also a higher quality product with richer feeling materials and a better driving experience.

The Verdict

The 2026 BMW i4 M60 takes all the inherent goodness from the 3 and 4 Series and adds an electric drivetrain into the mix. It’s a lot of fun to drive, with crisp handling and instant electric torque. It’s an expensive vehicle, but there are few other equivalents that provide the same level of driving engagement, ride comfort, and technology.