2025 BMW i4 vs. i5: Which Electric Sedan Comes Out on Top?
In BMW's ever-expanding EV lineup, the i4 and i5 are undoubtedly two high-profile choices. For consumers who are considering a switch to electric vehicles, each of these vehicles has its own characteristics, and which one to choose depends on individual needs and driving preferences. The i4 features sporty handling and offers a classic BMW driving experience at a more affordable price, while the i5 emphasizes comfort and practicality with its larger size and longer range. Although the two share BMW's high-end design and advanced technology, they have different priorities in space, performance and driving style. So, which one is better for your e-mobility needs? Let's dig deeper and find out.
2025 BMW i4 Versions
i4 eDrive40
The i4 eDrive40 is the entry-level electric sedan in the i4 series, equipped with rear-wheel drive and a 335 horsepower motor that delivers 317 pound-feet of torque with both smooth acceleration and high performance. It a range of about 295 miles on a full charge, the longest in the i4 series. The car supports 200 kW DC fast charging, which can charge to 80% in about 30 minutes. Standard features include 18-inch aerodynamic wheels, LED headlights, and BMW's curved dual display powered by the latest iDrive 8.5 system. Starting at around $62,300, it's a cost-effective electric sedan.
430 Gran Coupe
If you're not ready to switch to pure electric, the 430 Gran Coupe is a sedan that combines performance with conventional power. It comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and optional xDrive all-wheel drive. The 0-60 MPH acceleration is about 5.8 seconds, and the power performance is stable. Key features include a sports suspension, adaptive dampers, variable motion steering and a Hamancarton sound system with a fuel economy of 25/34 MPG . Starting at around $49,650, it is suitable for consumers who still want to maintain the traditional fuel vehicle driving experience.
i4 M50
The i4 M50 is a high-performance version of the i4 series with a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that delivers 536 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque in Sport Boost mode, and 0-60 MPH acceleration in just 3.7 seconds. Despite its power, it still has a range of 271 miles and supports DC fast charging. The M50 also comes with an adaptive M suspension, M sport braking system , an aerodynamics package, and 19-inch M two-tone wheels . The interior design, which includes M sport seats and a distinctive blue interior, starts at around $67,300 and is an electric replacement for the M440i Gran Coupe.
M440i Gran Coupe
For drivers who prefer fuel cars, the M440i Gran Coupe offers a high-performance version of the BMW 4 Series. It's powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 386 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard xDrive all-wheel drive. 0-60 MPH acceleration takes just 4.6 seconds, and the 48V light hybrid system further improves fuel efficiency. The exterior design includes a cerium grey sport kit, M Sport exhaust and variable sport steering, while the interior features an M sport steering wheel, aluminium interior trim and atmospheric lights in 11 colours. Starting at around $63,200, it is the most fuel-efficient model in the BMW 4 series.
2025 BMW i5 Versions
i5 eDrive40
As an entry-level model, the i5 eDrive40 features a single-motor rear-drive system that delivers 335 horsepower, a range of 271-295 miles and a 0-60 acceleration time of 5.7 seconds, making it ideal for daily and trips. Its excellent performance and efficient battery life complement each other, making it especially suitable for city driving and highway driving.
i5 xDrive40
The i5 xDrive40 offers a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that delivers a total of 389 horsepower, 435 pound-feet of torque and 5.2 seconds of 0-60 MPH acceleration. While the range is slightly reduced to 248-266 miles, the all-wheel drive improves traction and handling, making it ideal for driving in bad weather and variable road conditions. This car also supports fast charging, charging time is very strong.
i5 M60
For drivers looking for extreme performance, the i5 M60 blends electric with the sporty genes of the M series at 593 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque, with 0-60 MPH acceleration in 3.7 seconds. While the range is reduced to 239-253 miles, the M60 is equipped with the exclusive M adaptive suspension and high-performance design to provide an exceptional driving experience for those who like speed and handling.
eDrive40 Version Comparison
Exterior and Design
The BMW i4 eDrive40 and i5 eDrive40 both feature BMW's signature electric vehicle design language, but differ in styling and size. The i4 features a four-door coupe with a low body and streamlined design that optimizes its aerodynamic performance with a drag coefficient of just 0.24. In contrast, the i5 has a more traditional sedan design, with a longer wheelbase and a higher roof, and an overall length of 199.2 inches, compared to the i4's 188.5 inches. Both models are equipped with a closed double-kidney grille and blue accents to symbolize their electric status, while the i5 offers an additional grille profile glow option for added luxury.
Performance and Range
Both models feature BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology, with a single rear-mounted motor producing 335 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, offering rear-wheel drive features. The i4 eDrive40, due to its lighter weight, has a slightly faster 0-60 MPH acceleration time of 5.5 seconds, compared to 5.7 seconds for the i5 eDrive40. The i5 comes standard with adaptive suspension for increased ride comfort, while the i4 is optional. In terms of range, the i4 eDrive40 has an 83.9 KWH battery and an EPA range of 359 miles, while the i5 eDrive40 has a slightly lower range of 295 miles due to being larger and heavier. Both support 200kW DC fast charging, which can be charged to 80% in about 30 minutes.
Technology and Safety
The i5 eDrive40 features an iDrive 8.5 system with a 12.3-inch digital dashboard + 14.9-inch touch screen, which is more advanced than the i4's iDrive 8. In addition, the i5 offers an optional BMW interactive light band to enhance the sense of technology combined with ambient lighting. The i5 offers an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound option, while the i4 features a 16-speaker Harman Kardon system. In terms of safety features, both cars have automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, but the i5 has a more robust passenger cabin structure and supports 85 mph Class 2.5 highway assistance. In addition, the i5's "Parking Assistant Pro" supports remote parking on smartphones, while the i4 offers a more basic version.
xDrive40 Version Comparison
Exterior and Design
TThe i4 xDrive40 and i5 xDrive40 represent BMW's all-wheel-drive electric models in different market segments, with significant differences in appearance size, performance, range, technical configuration and safety systems. The i5 xDrive40 is longer and more executive sedan in styling, while the i4 xDrive40 has a sliding back design, which is more compact and sporty overall. In addition, the i5 comes standard with 19-inch wheels, while the i4 comes with 18-inch wheels, and both are optional with 20-inch wheels.
Performance and Range
Both cars have a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, with the i5 xDrive40 producing a maximum of 335 HP , slightly more than the i4 xDrive40's 326 HP . Still, the i4 xDrive40, thanks to its lighter body, accelerates 0-100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds, slightly faster than the i5 xDrive40 . Moreover, the i5 is equipped with air suspension, which improves the comfort of long-distance driving, while the i4 uses traditional suspension and focuses more on sports handling. In terms of battery life, the i5 xDrive40 is equipped with 81.2 kWh battery and WLTP range of 485 km, while the i4 xDrive40 although the battery is slightly smaller , but with lower energy consumption, WLTP range of up to 510 km.
Technology and Safety
In terms of technology and safety, the i5 xDrive40 uses the updated iDrive 8.5 system, while the i4 xDrive40 remains the iDrive 8, both with 12.3-inch gauges + 14.9-inch center control screen. The i5 also comes standard with augmented reality navigation and 5G Personal eSIM support, which are only optional or unavailable on the i4. In addition, the i5 has more advanced driver assistance features, including hands-free highway driving and an advanced lane-keeping system. Both cars have a Euro NCAP 5-star safety rating, but the i5 has more advanced sensors and more comprehensive safety features.
i4 M50 And i5 M60 Comparison
Performance
BMW's high-performance electric vehicles offer a unique experience for fans pursuing their passion for driving, and the i4 M50 and i5 M60 represent this philosophy. The i5 M60 delivers 593 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the i4 M50's 536 horsepower. In terms of acceleration, the i5 M60 goes from 0 to 60 MPH in 3.7 seconds, compared to 3.9 seconds for the i4 M50. Both models feature dual motor all-wheel drive for excellent traction and stability. With its larger size and weight, the i5 M60 delivers robust performance at high speeds, while the i4 M50 offers a more flexible handling feel. In addition, the i5 M60 is equipped with a larger brake rotor to accommodate the additional vehicle weight, and both cars support adjustable regenerative braking for single-pedal driving or traditional driving habits.
Technology
The i4 M50 has a WLTP range of 271 miles, slightly higher than the i5 M60's 253 miles, largely due to the i5's larger size and weight. Both models offer a DC fast charge of 205kW, with the i4 M50 charging to 80% in about 30 minutes and the i5 M60 taking 30 minutes. In terms of technical specs, both are equipped with the BMW iDrive 8.5 infotainment system, but the i5 M60's 14.9-inch center control screen is slightly larger than the i4 M50's 14.3-inch control screen and features a "highway assistant" feature that allows hands-free driving on highways with speed limits of 85 MPH. In addition, the i5 M60 features a unique BMW interactive light strip design to enhance the technological feel of the interior. Both cars support wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control and My BMW remote monitoring to ensure a smart and connected experience.
Pricing Comparison
Here is a price gap between the BMW i4 and i5 models, reflecting their differences in performance and configuration. The basic eDrive35 version of the i4 starts at $57,900, while the basic eDrive40 version of the i5 starts at $67,100. The price difference is even more pronounced for high-performance versions, with the i4 M50 starting at $70,700 and the i5 M60 at $84,100. Typically, the price difference between versions with similar configurations is around $14,000 to $15,000. The i5 model comes with more luxury features, including a larger display and more advanced driver assistance systems, while the i4 offers relatively basic equipment.
Conclusion
The BMW i4 and i5 respectively represent two options in BMW's electric vehicle lineup to meet the needs of different consumers. The i4 has a sportier design, great range and a lower price, while the i5 offers a more spacious interior, greater comfort and more advanced technology. The i4 is suitable for consumers looking for flexible driving and a lower starting price, while the i5 is more suitable for drivers who need more space and a luxury experience. As BMW continues to expand its electric lineup, these two models demonstrate the brand's commitment to providing diverse options for environmentally conscious luxury car buyers.
