Tested: 2025 BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport LCI – The All-Electric 3 Series!

Life Cycle Impulse, or a ‘Facelift’ in Bavarian’s Tongue

2025 saw BMW Group Malaysia updating its BMW i4 all-electric gran coupe line-up, with the Life Cycle Impulse (LCI or facelift) version now only featuring a single non-M variant, the eDrive35 M Sport.

While it retains the signature four-door fastback coupe bodystyle with a sleek roofline, the LCI model does get some minor design changes, particularly on its lighting units. Up front, the i4 now wears a more simplified kidney front grille with diamond inserts, plus new LED headlights with dual DRL signatures.

Said new headlights are matched with new LED laser taillights with similar lighting signatures we saw on the new BMW M4. Given that this is an M Sport model, the i4 eDrive35 also gets several M Sport-specific exterior parts like the M Sport bodykit, a slew of gloss black accents courtesy of the M high gloss Shadowline trim, new 19-inch Style-966M bi-colour alloy wheels, and the M Sport badges.

2025 BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport LCI in Brooklyn Grey

Last but not least, two new exterior colourways are now available for the updated i4 — Cape York Green and Fire Red, on top of the existing colours like Mineral White, Black Sapphire, M Portimao Blue, and Brooklyn Grey (the colour of our tester).

To wrap things up, some may say that the LCI treatment might be a bit too subtle for the i4. But then again, the original model is already stylish and overtly sexy to begin with, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Sporty, Hi-Tech, Yet Ergonomic Cabin Setup

To match with its sporty exterior, the i4 LCI gets a pretty driver-centric cabin setup laced with *almost* all the modern amenities you expected to find in such a premium EV saloon.

Although not a full-blown M model, the M Sport trim does make the i4 eDrive35 look a bit more sportier, even on the inside.

We’ll get the M Sport bits out of the way first, which includes the flat-bottomed M Sport leather steering wheel, sporty M Sport front seats wrapped in new M PerformTex upholstery with contrasting red and blue stitches, and many more.

Despite the sporty and ergonomic design, the cabin is still dominated by the BMW Curved Display setup on the front dash, featuring a large 14.9-inch infotainment unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a smaller 12.3-inch digital metre cluster with M-specific graphics.

Other tech amenities primed here include a wireless charger, multiple USB-C ports, BMW iDrive central console dial, and a 10-speaker audio system. That said, the only notable changes brought by the facelift treatment are both the redesigned air vents and the new ambient lights layout.

Predictably, space is definitely not the i4’s strongest suit, with its sporty roofline warranted a rather limited headroom for rear passengers, as well as the tall central tunnel hump. Despite this, passengers still get their own dedicated A/C vents and USB-C ports here, as well as the same M PerformTex upholstery for the seats.

The upside for its fastback roof design is a much larger tailgate opening, which reveals its sizable and practical 470-litre boot space. For more space, you can fold down the rear space that frees up 1,290 litres of space for your cargo.

All in all, we say *almost* at the beginning because the new i4 eDrive35 M Sport does miss a few cabin amenities such as a panoramic sunroof and ventilation for the front seats, which would’ve otherwise make its premium price tag a bit more justified. That being said, we still think the new i4 deserves to be called a ‘premium’ EV saloon, just don’t expect a 5 Series level of opulence.

Still Drives Like a Proper Bimmer, Even for This ‘Low-Specced’ eDrive35!

Time to time, BMW has proven itself to be the master in crafting a delightful driving machine regardless of forms or powertrain types, and the new i4 LCI is yet another example of this.

Unlike the pre-facelift i4 we tested prior, the LCI model now comes in a single eDrive35 single-motor RWD variant producing 286 PS.

Unlike the pre-facelift i4, which comes with the eDrive40 trim, the facelifted model comes solely with the less peppy eDrive35 version, featuring a single RWD motor delivering 286 PS (210 kW) and 400 Nm. The power downgrade also translates to a slower century sprint time of six seconds flat for the eDrive35 compared to the 5.7-second time for the pre-facelift eDrive40 model.

Beyond the numbers, however, the new i4 eDrive35 M Sport still sticks true to its Bavarian DNA, delivering exhilarating driving experience with the same electric propulsion magic found in its fellow stablemates. It truly feels at home around sharp corners and fast bends, while being composed and collected on highway cruising speeds.

Part of the magic lies under the stellar CLAR underpinnings that the i4 uses, which is shared with other popular Bimmers like the 3 Series, 5 Series, and many more. And given it is an M Sport model, the new i4 also comes with an M Sport suspension system, while credit also has to be given to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres that come standard with the car.

Yes, it may not be the quickest Bimmer in a standing quarter mile, nor will it be the plushest and most comfortable of the bunch. But the i4 eDrive35 M Sport still delivers the exhilarating driving experience that has put BMW on the map for decades, this time in a fully electric form.

But Does It Suck at Being an EV?

Performance electric cars, while often lauded for their exhilarating drive and acceleration, often fell short at being what they are supposed to be at first—a straight-up electric car with decent range and charging performance.

For the LCI version, the i4 does not gain any significant upgrades on the battery front, as the eDrive35 version still gets the same 70.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack as before, albeit with an improved nett capacity of 67.1 kWh instead of 66 kWh on the previous version.

With a larger net capacity, the i4 eDrive35 is now rated with up to 500 km of WLTP range.

Thanks to this upgraded net capacity BMW claims a full charge can grant the i4 eDrive35 up to 500 km of WLTP range, which is a slight improvement over the previous model’s 483 km WLTP figure. With its less peppy single-motor setup, the claimed energy consumption rate for this EV fastback is between 15.1 kWh/100 km to 18.6 kWh/100 km, which is quite fair for a 400-volt-based EV.

Charging-wise, the i4 eDrive35 still accepts both AC 11 kW and DC 180 kW charging methods, with the latter enabling a 10-80% charge to be completed in 32 minutes.

Throughout our one-week stint of heavy-footed driving with the i4 eDrive35, we managed to get around 18- to 19 kWh/100 km,  or around 300 km to 350 km of range, which is still within the claimed energy consumption rate.

Yes, there are several Chinese EVs with more impressive battery techs and maximum range out there that will make the i4 look like an ancient tech. Then again, judging by its buyer demographics, we are certain that range and battery performance are on the lower end of their priorities list, but it is still good to know that the i4 eDrive35 is still a practical and usable EV for your less-sexy daily ordeals.

Should You Get One?

Overtly stylish, sporty yet ergonomic interior, sublime driving performance, and still usable as a daily-driver EV, the new BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport LCI continues the Bavarian’s long streak of creating some of the best-driving EVs we’ve tested so far this year.

With its sporty silhouette, sublime driving performance, and roughly similar price point, the BMW i4 LCI is truly an all-electric alternative to the 3 Series.

Still fully imported (CBU) from Germany, the i4 eDrive35 is tagged at RM294,800, which puts it on par with other premium four-door saloons, including its combustion-powered distance cousin, the BMW 3 Series.

For full ownership experience, you can get the new i4 with the BMW Service & Repair Inclusive package that adds a 5-year unlimited mileage vehicle warranty and service, albeit at the expense of a higher price tag of RM315,600.

Yes, it might not be the most high-tech EVs with advanced battery technology, but compared to the long-list of Chinese EVs we’ve tested prior, there’s not one that can still go toe-to-toe with the i4 in terms of driving experience. But then again, if this is the least of your concerns, then perhaps you are not really the targeted buyer demographic for the i4, or for any BMWs in general.

SPECIFICATIONS

2025 BMW i4 eDRIVE35 M SPORT LCI