The BMW i4 is an advanced, futuristic electric vehicle (EV) with striking style and a posh interior. BMW added a new i4 eDrive35 for the 2023 model year, which joins the i4 eDrive40 and the performance-oriented i4 M50. The i4 is an important model for BMW, as it claims more than 57,000 EV sales worldwide in just the first half of 2022. The automaker states that it’s on track to convert half its global sales to electrics by 2030, so a solid mainstream sedan is crucial to those efforts.

The eDrive35 relies on the same electric powertrain as the other two cars do, but it comes with a single electric motor. Energy comes from a 70.2-kWh battery, which pairs with the motor to send 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. The i4 eDrive40 comes with 335 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, thanks to an 81-kWh battery, while the M50 delivers a consistent 536 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque. It’s also capable of an overboost function, which can temporarily increase power and acceleration.

The base i4 eDrive 35 comes with 18-inch wheels and should deliver a range of around 260 miles. BMW says the car can charge at up to 180 kW, and notes that it can recharge from 10 to 80% in 32 minutes.

Perforated synthetic leather upholstery comes standard, and all models get a glass moonroof. Multi-zone automatic climate controls with air filtration also comes standard. The car’s rear seats fold flat, opening the space for cargo, and the cabin features plenty of room for up to five people to ride comfortably.

The i4 comes standard with a curved display that includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 14.9-inch gauge cluster. Both reside behind a single piece of glass, and both are angled toward the driver. The system runs BMW’s latest iDrive 8 interface, and it offers voice, gesture, touch, and rotary controls.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. BMW also includes app functionality, with services for stolen vehicle recovery, remote vehicle unlocking, voice assistance, parking, navigation, and more.

Standard safety tech is generous, and includes forward-collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warnings, speed limit information, a rearview camera, parking distance sensors, acoustic pedestrian warnings, and a pre-collision system that automatically closes windows and pre-tensions seatbelts.

Pricing for the base i4 eDrive35 starts at $52,395, which includes a $995 destination charge. BMW says production will begin in the fourth quarter of 2022 and notes that the first units will go on sale in the US in early 2023. The 2023 BMW i4 competes most closely with the Tesla Model 3, but buyers may also consider the Polestar 2, the Ford Mustang Mach E, and the Audi Q4 e-tron.