If you’re looking at a 2024 BMW i4, you’ve probably seen the glossy range numbers: 250, 280, 300+ miles. Those are EPA estimates. A proper 2024 BMW i4 range test asks a ruder question: what does this car actually deliver at 70–75 mph, in the cold, with real traffic and real impatience behind the wheel?
Why range tests matter more in 2026
2024 BMW i4 range overview: headline numbers
2024 BMW i4 EPA range at a glance
On paper, the 2024 i4 lineup looks competitive. The rear‑drive eDrive40 with 18‑inch wheels is rated around 301 miles of EPA range, while the all‑wheel‑drive xDrive40 just edges it at about 307 miles on 18s. Step down to the eDrive35 and you’re in the mid‑250s; step up to the M50 and you land around 245 miles. These are solid numbers that put the i4 in the same conversation as the Tesla Model 3 and the better Korean EVs.
But the EPA test is a lab charade politely pretending you’ll drive 60 mph in California springtime forever. What shoppers actually want to know is how close the i4 gets to those numbers when the tires hit lousy American pavement.
EPA vs real-world range: what our tests show
Across independent tests, the 2024 BMW i4 generally does something refreshing: it gets close to its promises. Edmunds ran an i4 eDrive40 on 19‑inch wheels, EPA rated at 283 miles, and managed 307 miles in real‑world mixed driving, actually beating the estimate. A separate long‑term test of an xDrive40 has seen more modest efficiency, especially in bitter cold, but still sits within shouting distance of its EPA rating over thousands of miles.
The pattern that emerges looks like this:
- In mild weather at mixed speeds, the i4 can match or slightly exceed EPA range if you’re not abusing the right pedal.
- At a steady 70–75 mph on the highway, expect roughly 10–20% below EPA, depending on wheel size and wind.
- In sustained freezing conditions, you can see 20–30% drops, especially on short trips where the battery and cabin keep reheating.
Cold weather is the quiet range killer
Trim-by-trim 2024 BMW i4 range breakdown
Let’s talk about the 2024 i4 the way owners actually experience it, by trim, not by press release. Below is a simplified view of each model’s range character based on EPA numbers and published real‑world testing.
2024 BMW i4 trims: EPA vs real-world expectations
Approximate EPA ratings for 2024 and what you can realistically expect on a 70–75 mph highway drive in good weather, with a light load.
| Trim | Drivetrain | Battery (usable) | EPA range (best case) | Likely highway range (70–75 mph, mild weather) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eDrive35 | RWD | ≈68.7 kWh | ~255–260 mi | ~200–215 mi | Smallest pack. Good for commuters who charge nightly; marginal for long‑haul winter road‑tripping. |
| eDrive40 | RWD | ≈83.4 kWh | 301 mi (18") / 283 mi (19") | ~235–255 mi | Sweet spot: strong efficiency and enough buffer for real‑world highway use. |
| xDrive40 | AWD | ≈83.4 kWh | 307 mi (18") / ~282 mi (19") | ~235–260 mi | Best paper range. AWD traction but slight efficiency penalty in the real world. |
| M50 | AWD performance | ≈83.4 kWh | Up to 245 mi (19") | ~195–210 mi | Brutally quick. You will not drive this car gently enough to hit EPA numbers for very long. |
Real‑world highway range estimates assume starting from 100% charge down to about 10% remaining, which is how most people actually road‑trip.
Where the eDrive35 makes sense
How a good BMW i4 highway range test works
Everyone on the internet has a “range test.” Half are just anecdotes with a GoPro. A useful BMW i4 range test is boringly methodical so you can compare one result to another.
Proper BMW i4 highway range test: step-by-step
1. Start with a known, full charge
Charge the i4 to 100% on Level 2 overnight. Note starting state‑of‑charge (SoC), odometer, outside temperature, wind, and tire pressures. Use default drive mode; gimmicks skew results.
2. Hold a true highway speed
Pick a target (70 or 75 mph) and stick to it using cruise control where possible. Mix of gentle rolling hills and flat is fine; what matters is consistency.
3. Run a repeatable route
An out‑and‑back highway loop (or two directions of the same interstate) minimizes the effect of elevation and wind. Log distance and remaining SoC at each turnaround.
4. Stop at a realistic buffer
Most drivers don’t run to 0%. Stopping between 5–10% SoC gives a usable real‑world range figure and protects the battery from deep cycling.
5. Calculate efficiency and range
Record consumption in mi/kWh or kWh/100 mi. From that, you can estimate how the car will behave at different charge levels and in different weather.
6. Compare across trims or conditions
Repeat with a different i4 trim, wheel size, or temperature, using the same method. Now your 2024 i4 range tests are apples to apples, not apples to Instagram.
Weather, speed, and wheels: what actually kills range
Three big variables in any i4 range test
You can’t control the weather, but you can pick your wheels and your speed.
Highway speed
Above 65 mph, aerodynamic drag ramps like a bad credit card balance. At 75–80 mph, expect your BMW i4 range to drop 10–20% vs EPA, even in perfect weather.
Set cruise at 70, not 80, and the car suddenly feels like it gained a phantom battery pack.
Temperature & climate use
Cold batteries are lazy batteries. Around freezing, you might lose 20–30% effective range, especially on short trips with heavy cabin heat.
In hot climates, A/C has a smaller effect than winter heat, but sustained 100°F days can still shave range.
Wheels & tires
The i4’s larger wheel options look terrific and punish efficiency. Moving from 18‑ to 19‑ or 20‑inch wheels can knock 20–40 miles off range.
If you care about range, pick the smallest wheel you can live with visually.
Don’t forget winter tires
City driving: the i4 at its best
In stop‑and‑go driving, the i4’s strong regenerative braking pays dividends. You’ll often see consumption better than the EPA combined rating around town, especially in the eDrive35 and eDrive40, because every red light is a chance to claw back energy.
If your life is mostly school runs and errands under 20 miles, range anxiety in an i4 is frankly overblown.
Highway driving: the honest truth
At 75 mph with climate control on, the BMW i4 behaves like most premium EVs: competent but not magical. The eDrive40 and xDrive40 are comfortable 220–250‑mile highway cars between charges in good weather; the M50 is more like 190–210 realistic miles if driven briskly.
The key is to plan charging stops around those numbers, not the bright EPA badge in the brochure.
Charging speeds and road-trip viability
BMW did the important homework on charging. All 2024 i4 trims support up to around 200 kW DC fast charging (the eDrive35 slightly lower, in the 180 kW ballpark). In ideal conditions, BMW claims 10–80% in roughly 30–35 minutes, and independent tests have delivered very similar results, around 34–38 minutes when the battery is properly preconditioned.
2024 BMW i4 charging performance snapshot
Approximate DC fast‑charging behavior for planning real‑world road trips.
| Trim | Peak DC rate | 10–80% time (ideal) | Miles added in 30 min (highway realistic) | Onboard AC (Level 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eDrive35 | ≈180 kW | ≈32–35 min | ~150–170 mi | Up to 11 kW; 0–100% in under 8 hours |
| eDrive40 / xDrive40 | ≈200 kW | ≈30–35 min | ~170–190 mi | Up to 11 kW; overnight full charge at home |
| M50 | ≈200 kW | ≈30–35 min | ~160–180 mi | Up to 11 kW; similar AC performance as other large‑pack trims |
Times assume a compatible 150 kW+ DC fast charger and preconditioned battery.
How to make the i4 an easy road-trip car
Used BMW i4 range: battery health and degradation
By 2026, the earliest i4s are several years old and starting to show up in meaningful numbers on the used market. The question smart shoppers ask is not just “What’s the range?” but “How much range has this specific car lost?” That’s a battery‑health question, not a brochure‑spec question.
What affects BMW i4 battery health over time?
Same chemistry, wildly different outcomes depending on owner behavior.
Usage & charging patterns
- Frequent DC fast charging from near‑empty to 100% accelerates wear.
- Leaving the car at 100% SoC for days also isn’t ideal.
- Gentle cycling between ~20–80% on mostly Level 2 is easiest on the pack.
Climate & storage
- Extreme heat and cold can speed degradation over years.
- Garage‑kept cars see less thermal stress than street‑parkers.
- Software and thermal management help, but can’t repeal physics.
How Recharged de-risks used BMW i4 range
Buying a used BMW i4? Range questions to ask
Ask for real battery health data
Don’t settle for “it seems fine.” Ask the seller or dealer for a quantified battery‑health report. At Recharged, that’s included by default via the Recharged Score.
Compare displayed range to EPA
On a full charge, compare the car’s projected range to original EPA numbers. A small gap is normal; a dramatic one can hint at degradation or simply very aggressive recent driving.
Check for heavy fast-charging use
High DC fast‑charging counts aren’t a deal‑breaker, but combined with high mileage they can explain slightly faster capacity loss. This should be reflected in a proper health report.
Test a real-world drive
Drive a known 40–60‑mile route at highway speeds and see how much SoC you burn. It’s a crude but revealing range test you can do in under an hour.
Look at wheel and tire setup
A used i4 on big 19‑ or 20‑inch wheels will have less real‑world range than EPA suggests. That’s not degradation; it’s drag and rolling resistance.
BMW i4 range vs rivals: Model 3, EV6, Mach-E
Range doesn’t live in a vacuum, it lives in a showroom full of rivals. If you’re cross‑shopping, here’s how the 2024 BMW i4 roughly stacks up against three usual suspects in similar battery/price bands.
BMW i4 vs key rivals: range context
Representative trims with similar pricing and performance, not every variant under the sun.
| Model | Drivetrain | EPA range (approx.) | Realistic highway range | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW i4 eDrive40 | RWD | ~301 mi | ~235–255 mi | Quiet, refined, very BMW in feel. Range solid but not segment‑leading. |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | AWD | ~333 mi | ~260–280 mi | Still the efficiency champ; great range per kWh, but more minimal cabin feel. |
| Kia EV6 RWD Long Range | RWD | ~310 mi | ~240–260 mi | Strong DC charging curve; slightly taller, more crossover‑ish packaging. |
| Ford Mustang Mach‑E Premium ER | RWD | ~320 mi | ~240–260 mi | Comfortable and practical; real‑world range broadly similar to i4 on highway. |
Numbers are approximate EPA ratings for 2024 model‑year vehicles on efficiency‑oriented wheel options.
So is the i4 "good" on range?
2024 BMW i4 range test FAQ
Frequently asked questions about 2024 BMW i4 range
Bottom line: should you worry about BMW i4 range?
If you want the short answer: no, not really. The 2024 BMW i4 is not the range king of the segment, but it is honest and competent. Treat the EPA number as the optimistic ceiling, lop off 15–20% for real‑world highway use, and you’ll have a surprisingly accurate picture of how far the car will actually go.
Where you should be choosy is in which trim you pick and which specific car you buy. An eDrive40 or xDrive40 on smaller wheels is the long‑legged sweet spot. A used i4 with verified battery health is vastly more reassuring than one sold on vibes and a quick demo drive. That’s exactly the gap Recharged was built to fill: we pair every EV with a Recharged Score Report that spells out battery health, fair market pricing, and expert, EV‑specific guidance.
If you’re ready to put the 2024 BMW i4’s range to work, not just admire it in a spec chart, consider starting your search with a used i4 that’s already been through that range test for you. Then your only real problem is figuring out which back road deserves all that instant torque.
