BMW i4 review: running costs & insurance
Though the i4 is pretty expensive to buy, reasonable insurance, low tax and strong residuals mean the savings quickly stack up
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | Annual company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-43 | 3yrs/unlimited miles | 2yrs/20,000 miles | From £225/£449 |
BMWs have never been cheap cars to buy and that’s certainly the case for its electric models – but the i4 will be cheap to run. Its insurance ratings are about the same as for a similarly powerful petrol BMW, there’s no road tax (VED) to pay until 2025 and company-car Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bills will be a fraction of what they would be for a diesel or petrol-engined equivalent. Servicing is also cheaper and less frequent than for a combustion-engined BMW.
BMW i4 insurance group
It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but the cheaper eDrive35 is actually more expensive to insure than the mid-spec eDrive40, with each occupying groups 38 and 35-36 respectively. Neither is actually that bad when you consider that the equivalent (but less powerful) petrol-engined 430i Gran Coupe starts in group 34. The big jump up to group 43 for the i4 M50 is reflective of that model’s significantly higher power output.
Warranty
Like all new BMWs sold in the UK, the i4 is covered by a three-year manufacturer warranty, with no mileage limit during that time. BMW’s ‘i’ electric-car warranty also includes BMW Mobile Care and protection for the car’s high-voltage battery for up to eight years or 100,000 miles.
Servicing
As with all electric cars, BMW i4 servicing will be pleasingly affordable. The car only needs attention every two years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. BMW offers inclusive service plans for the i4 that start from £460 and include all service and maintenance work that you might need.
Road tax
Like all electric cars, the BMW i4 is zero-rated for road tax (VED) until 2025 and will remain exempt from the London Congestion Charge until 2025 too.
Depreciation
As mentioned, the BMW i4 is a pretty expensive car, so private buyers will be glad to hear it’ll retain anything between 53 and 60% of its value over three years and 36,000 miles – base models fare the best in this regard. A comparable Tesla Model 3 will only, at best, hold onto roughly 50% of its value over the same period – no doubt as a result of the model’s recent price cut.