Review: BMW i4 eDrive40.
Our full review · Specs & price Belgium 2026
Real-world range = WLTP × 0.78 (Belgian winter conditions, motorway 130 km/h). Official BE configurator price, .
Our review of the BMW i4 eDrive40
The BMW i4 eDrive40 is the electric company car of choice in Belgium: a rear-wheel-drive premium saloon with 340 hp, 590 km WLTP, from €64,900. In mixed use, reckon on 430 to 450 km of real range, and 350 to 380 km on the E411 motorway at 130 km/h. It targets the high-mileage executive who wants the driving feel of a BMW without the BIK (benefit in kind) tax of a diesel. Its real limitation is rear-seat space, not the powertrain.
Driving & comfort
On the E40 towards Ghent or the E411 towards the Ardennes, the i4 does what no EV at the same price does as well: it drives like a real BMW. Rear-wheel drive, 430 Nm, precise steering, a settled chassis even loaded with two adults and two children. The flip side is the weight: 2,050 kg you feel in a tight bend, and a 12.5 m turning circle, one of the worst in the class, awkward in a Brussels car park. In the back, above 1.80 m, headroom runs short because of the sloping roof, and the central tunnel inherited from the combustion platform spoils the middle seat. The hard lower-door plastics feel out of place at this price. Ride comfort is firm but never harsh, even on Flemish cobbles.
Daily charging
In everyday Belgian use, the i4 charges mainly at home: 11 kW AC, meaning one night to refill an 83.9 kWh battery (around 80.7 kWh usable). On the motorway it takes up to 205 kW on DC and goes from 10 to 80% in a claimed 31 minutes, the time for a coffee at the Wanlin services on the E411. In a Belgian winter, at 0-5 °C, the battery takes longer to ramp up to full charging power if it hasn't been preconditioned before the stop. For a commuter doing 60 km a day, a single charge a week is enough.
Total cost of ownership
This is where the i4 becomes rational. Ordered or leased in 2026, a 100% electric company car stays 100% deductible against corporate tax, a rate locked in for the whole ownership period with the same taxpayer (it falls gradually towards 67.5% for orders placed after 2027). The 2026 BIK (benefit in kind taxed on the driver) is calculated on the legal minimum for zero-emission cars, i.e. €1,690 a year, against several thousand for an equivalent diesel. The TMC (registration tax) is cut to the regional minimum, and home charging at around €0.35/kWh works out at close to €7 per 100 km, half the cost of a premium diesel. BMW servicing comes down to the annual inspection and tyres, with no oil or belt changes. The real item stays the entry price: at €64,900, the i4 only truly makes sense as a company car.
- The driving pleasure of a proper rear-drive BMW: 340 hp, 430 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 s
- 430 to 450 km of real range in mixed use, among the best in its price bracket
- Fast charging up to 205 kW: 10 to 80% in a claimed 31 minutes
- Unbeatable company-car taxation in 2026: 100% deductible, BIK minimum €1,690/year
- Premium fit, finish and insulation, genuine road-noise silence on the motorway
- Rear seats tight above 1.80 m: sloping roof and a central tunnel that serves no purpose on an EV
- No front boot and no folding rear bench as standard: limited versatility behind its 470 L
- 12.5 m turning circle, one of the worst in the class, awkward in town
- Entry price of €64,900, hard to justify outside a company car
Our verdictAs a company car, the i4 eDrive40 is one of the best electric choices on the Belgian market: it drives like a BMW, covers 430 to 450 km of real range and costs next to nothing in BIK. As a private purchase at €64,900, it is too expensive and too tight in the back for a family. It's an executive high-mileage saloon, not a family car.
An executive or self-employed driver on a company car, a high-mileage motorway user who wants BMW driving feel and EV taxation.
A family regularly carrying three rear passengers or bulky loads, and a private buyer on a tight budget.
Full specifications
BMW i4 eDrive40 in Belgium — what you need to know
Typical Belgian trips
With 454 real km, the i4 eDrive40 covers Brussels–Ardennes (≈ 260 km return) without charging, Brussels–Coast (≈ 220 km return) without charging.
Tax benefit
For self-employed and companies, this model is 100% tax-deductible in 2026 (last year at this rate). No direct purchase grant for individuals. Road tax is greatly reduced for this EV.
Home charging
With 11 kW AC, a full charge from 20% takes approximately 6 hours on an 11 kW wallbox. On a 230V plug (2.3 kW): about 29 hours. Overnight charging easily covers the average 50–80 km/day.
Frequently asked questions — BMW i4 eDrive40
What is the real-world range of the BMW i4 eDrive40 in Belgium?
Reckon on 430 to 450 km in mixed use, against 590 km WLTP. On the E411 or E40 motorway at 130 km/h, range falls to 350-380 km. In a Belgian winter (0 to 5 °C), expect another 15 to 20% less, i.e. around 360 to 380 km in mixed use. Real consumption sits around 18.5 kWh/100 km, more on the motorway.
Is the BMW i4 a good company car in 2026?
Yes, that's exactly its home turf. Ordered or leased in 2026, it stays 100% deductible against corporate tax, a rate locked in for the whole ownership period. The minimum BIK (benefit in kind) for zero-emission cars is €1,690 a year in 2026. Watch out: for orders placed after 2027, deductibility falls gradually towards 67.5%.
How much does a full home charge of the BMW i4 cost?
With an 83.9 kWh battery and a domestic rate around €0.35/kWh, a full charge costs close to €28, i.e. about €7 per 100 km. That's roughly half the cost of a premium diesel using 6 to 7 L/100 km. On a motorway rapid charger, reckon on 2 to 3 times more per kWh.
Is the BMW i4 suitable for a family?
For two children, yes. Beyond that it shows its limits: the rear bench is narrow, headroom runs short above 1.80 m because of the sloping roof, and the central tunnel makes the middle seat uncomfortable. The 470 L boot is decent, but there is no front boot and the bench doesn't fold as standard. A family with three teenagers should look at an SUV instead.
How long does it take to charge the i4 on the motorway?
The i4 eDrive40 accepts up to 205 kW on DC and goes from 10 to 80% in a claimed 31 minutes, the equivalent of a coffee break at an E411 service area. To hold that speed, precondition the battery via the sat-nav before the stop, especially in winter, otherwise charging power takes longer to ramp up.
BMW i4 eDrive40 or Tesla Model 3: which to choose in Belgium?
The Model 3 wins on price (from €42,990), quoted range and the Supercharger network. The i4 wins on fit and finish, quietness, the driving pleasure of a rear-drive BMW and its company-car image. With a €22,000 gap, the Model 3 is more rational; the i4 mainly makes sense on a corporate lease where the monthly difference is cushioned by the tax treatment.
Does the BMW i4 cope well with a Belgian winter?
Reasonably. The battery's thermal management is effective, but like any EV the i4 loses 15 to 20% of range between 0 and 5 °C. The right habit is to schedule cabin preheating while plugged into the mains and to precondition the battery before a rapid charge. On the E411 on a January morning, expect 360 to 380 km rather than 450.