Strong on impact, weak on prevention: BMW i4 falters where it should warn
The electric Bimmer aces both crash tests but stumbles on driver-assist tech, lighting and a too-quiet seatbelt chime — no Top Safety Pick for the i4.
BMW i4 does a solid job of protecting people in a crash, but by today’s safety standards that’s no longer enough. The electric liftback went through IIHS crash testing with strong scores, only to lose points on driver-assist systems and headlights.
In the small and moderate overlap tests, the i4 performed confidently. The first scenario simulates striking a tree or pole with the driver’s corner of the car; the second mimics an offset collision with another vehicle. In both, the body structure did exactly what it had to. The tougher test with a dummy in the rear seat earned an Acceptable rating for occupant restraint: the belt allowed a bit more rebound movement than ideal, though injury risk remained low.
The trouble started where the car is supposed to prevent a crash in the first place. Under the new IIHS protocols, the AEB system earned Good in pedestrian scenarios but Poor at detecting cars and motorcycles. For an EV at this price point, that’s an uncomfortable signal: buyers expect not just a sturdy shell, but electronics that spot the threat early.
The headlights came up short too. On base trims, the low beams throw too much glare into oncoming drivers’ eyes, and the high beams fail to light up straights and curves properly. The seatbelt reminder was rated Marginal because of a quiet, short chime. As a result, the i4 earned neither Top Safety Pick nor Top Safety Pick+.
In the United States, the BMW i4 is sold in three versions. The base eDrive40 starts at $57,900, the xDrive40 at $62,300, and the M60 at $70,700. The top dual-motor version delivers up to 593 hp and sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds.
The current i4 has been in production since 2021, and its age is starting to show — not in the battery or performance, but in the details of active safety. The next generation is expected in the summer of 2028 on the Neue Klasse platform. Until then BMW will have to live with a paradox: in a collision the i4 is strong, but it’s better never to reach that point.