BMW i4 review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

The BMW i4’s hatchback opening offers more practicality than the saloon bodystyle of the Tesla Model 3, while the three-way split rear seats provide increased flexibility for carrying passengers and bulkier items. Up front, the standard fabric sports seats offer lots of adjustment to help you find a comfortable position, although if you fancy leather upholstery you’ll need to pay an extra £1,500.

There’s plenty of other standard kit designed to make the i4 easier to live with, including an automatic tailgate, a rear view camera, cruise control and auto air conditioning, while BMW provides a heat pump for all models that boosts overall efficiency by reducing the load on the battery.

Size

At 4,783mm long, the i4 is longer than the Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3, but is a touch narrower which should help when navigating through town traffic and dealing with narrow parking bays. In fact, the i4 is only 79mm longer and 25mm wider than a 3 Series saloon, so it’s far from unwieldy and should be an easy car to handle on the road.

Leg room, head room and passenger space

The i4 offers a low-slung driving position, but the cabin doesn’t feel cramped at all and there’s plenty of space upfront for the driver and front passenger. Those travelling in the rear aren’t as well catered for, as the i4’s battery takes up valuable space in the footwell, while the narrow centre seat doesn’t offer much room for a third rear passenger.

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Boot 

With a 470-litre boot capacity, the i4 offers more luggage space than a Polestar 2 or a Tesla Model 3, although both of its electric rivals offer an extra storage area under the bonnet which is handy for stowing charging cables. If you’re after a little extra practicality, then folding the i4’s rear seats opens up a 1,290-litre space for carrying larger items.

Towing

If you’re looking to tow a trailer or perhaps a smaller caravan, then the i4’s 1,600 kg maximum braked trailer towing capacity should have you covered.