Logic of average Tesla owner: I don't care about build quality because i save money so Tesla is better than BMW.... Ok children, go to bed now and let the grown-ups watch the video.
Thanks for the video. I like these type of cars (not SUVs) and that"s the reason (apart from superchargers) than my favorite EV car was the Model 3. One of my favourite brand is BMW and I love BMW 3 and 4 Series and I was expecting i4. I live in Spain and the price difference between both cars (Model 3 an i4) is 8.000 euros; if you match equipment, the difference increases to 5.000 euros more and, also, with the Model 3 LR you get state subsidy up to 7.000 euros than you don´t get with the i4 because of it`s price. These are the reasons that make my choice is Tesla Model 3. If BMW i4 would be a bit more expensive, it would be different.
I own a Tesla model 3 for 3 years now, previously i owned a Tesla model S P85+ and 5 BMWs (1s and 3s). I am currently selling the model 3 and going to BMW. I want to tell my car what to do on the road, i don't want my car to tell me what i should do. Also build and material quality for me is extremely important on a property of 60k Euro. Tesla will never get to the BMW build and material quality because they do not care about that, they have a different philosophy about auto-making, their value is in software, functionality and efficiency rather than quality, design and customization of options and settings. For example, phantom breaking for me is a terrifying thing i experience 10s of times every time i drive to the mountains (4-5 times a year), to the point where i cannot use cruise control anymore because of the fear it creates to me, my wife and kids when it happens. Last news was that the radar on model 3s was completely deactivated. Phantom breaking is now much worse. Musk does not care, people complain about this since before model 3 came to market. BMW never had this problem. Simpler system you say? No. Just the right system a driver needs i say. Same goes about, regen and a whole bunch of other options that Musk decided to suddenly remove from our paid and owned cars. BMW does not do that, you get what you test drive and that is what you experience. I like that, i do not like surprises every other morning i drive to work. I currently also own a Peugeot e208. Cruise control works like a charm. It even has highway self driving which also works perfectly. Never experienced phantom breaking in that either.
Ex Tesla Model 3 driver for 5 years. Took delivery of my new BMW i4 M50 last week so from experience I can tell you: Your comment describes exactly how it is.
Great review! So happy BMW finally launched their EVs. Strongly considering the i4 now. I’ve never really liked the look of Tesla, but it seemed like the only option if you wanted a more premium car. Now, I just have to excite myself about going from an suv to a car. 😅
IT´s great to have a choice finally - if you like driving and luxury you take the BMW - If a car is more an appliance for you - the more rational choice is the M3, if you can over driving in a very noisy cabin. It also depends where you live and how you can charge - that was always a problem in the UK, over here there are plenty of chargers from several companies. For me it's a no brainer, the BMW every day of the week, but hey I love driving and feel the car.
You say the Model 3 has adaptive regen? Is there a hidden setting for this? Neither my '19 Model 3 nor my wife's '21 Model Y have regen breaking that acts in a truly adaptive manner. It behaves more like the i4 in B-mode.
@@KFire No complaints. It is the best car I have ever driven. The only two cars that I am jealous of but they are way out of my price range are the Porsche Taycan and the Audi etron GT. Having said that my BMW i4 M sport edrive 40 has a much better range than both cars with an average range of 320 miles versus 240 miles
I've driven the standard i4 m sport without adaptive suspension and the ride is very good. It's also very refined. On the other hand my drive in a model 3 was far from smooth, the suspension never seems to settle down. There was also more tyre,suspension and wind noise and it rattled like a tin of nails. Yes it is a second quicker and the charging network is very good but this should soon be opened up to all electric cars soon. So I have to agree with the result that the BMW wins.
I too have driven both extensively and agree with much of what you say. But I feel you're exaggerating about the Model 3's ride and noise. And then there's price. To get anywhere near the Model 3 spec, you'll finish up paying £10,000 more for the i4 and suffering more depreciation. Even then, you'll miss a lot of key Model 3 features such as the invaluable Sentry Mode and incomparably better voice control than BMW's. People complain about having to go to the Tesla screen to adjust things, but in fact voice does almost everything and you rarely need to touch the screen while driving. I do agree the i4 rides better. It offers CarPlay and a hatchback too. But there's almost no underfloor storage and no froot. The i4 has a great big transmission tunnel and native maps that look as if they're from the last century. I've driven BMWs for the last 16 years and enjoyed them but have now ordered a Model 3. It won't be the right car for everyone but is terrific value and will continue to evolve through software updates.
Great review. Thank you. Just ordered the 35 model of the BMW last week. Don’t need the crazy 0-60 or slightly longer battery life of the 40. The Tesla is just not my cup of tea, style wise. The rear borders on being ugly.
Back seats are a disaster , if your 6 Ft. your knees will be so high your thighs will not touch the seat properly after 20mins you will have cramp no joke. No it is,nt like the Tesla total different seating ergonomics , so the BMW will only seat 2 adults and 2 children on a long journey where as the Tesla will seat 5 adults.
it was the standard model with some upgrades but it wasn't the M50 which is way nicer and makes a Tesla look like some grade school electric car the only thing Tesla has is good computer tech as the other companies start to get better at that Tesla is going to have to start getting rid of the super cheap interiors and build quality of their cars and also do something to the body they all look the same no style at all
@@ericwilliams4551 style is a matter of taste. It is your opinion to not like the car. I like the older models of BMW. Had 4 BMW's. 528, 323, 320, 1600. Now the looks of the newer beemers I don't like anymore. Around 2000 models where for my liking the best looking cars. If I need a car and wanted to pay 130K for a car I would buy the Tesla Plaid. That's a real power car with 1020 hp.
I asked the BMW sales rep if I could test drive an I4. He didn't laugh, but said they are all pre-sold. BMW is not making many of these. Why compare to Tesla? You are implying that the legacy auto companies are starting to compete. They have to make at least 250,000 per year to make any money. They're not making money at less than 50,000 per year.
Most cars, even EVs, break even at around 20k a year, according to Sandy Munroe. Very dependent on how well they source their materials, though. BMW have been sourcing batteries for a long while so I imagine they have at least some margin, even if it's only a grand or two. Nothing Like Tesla's, though. Theirs is in double figures on a Model 3.
Most cars, even EVs, break even at around 20k a year, according to Sandy Munroe. Very dependent on how well they source their materials, though. BMW have been sourcing batteries for a long while so I imagine they have at least some margin, even if it's only a grand or two. Nothing Like Tesla's, though. Theirs is in double figures on a Model 3.
Have just ordered the i4 with the performance pack also in the Brooklyn grey. Did think about adding the sunroof but the extra weight concerned me. Hopefully, July for delivery. Also, fantastic review. Could watch her all day actually!
I have had a BMW and Tesla EV . I drive high mileage so need to charge away from my house. My advice is it Tesla supercharging is amazing , BMW have to use other networks . They are currently awful with broken faulty chargers. There is no stress with the Tesla and the user interface tech is seem less and updates are frequent and make the car better. Long distance has to be Tesla
I love how Tesla fanatics are trying to trash the i4 by: it costs more and has 20miles less range!!! Ok, calm down. Let the grown-ups watch the video now.
I'm not a Tesla fanboy and I've been looking around at every option for the future. Simply going on the site for the i4 to see what options it has instantly soured me. I'd have to spend over $60k to get decent options to even start comparing them (and that's not even the performance model that I believe she was reviewing). The base model of i4 eDrive40 is $5k over a Model 3 LR right off and that's with zero options. Have you even looked at the costs involved? I personally think the only fair comparison would be instead comparing it to a Model Y. At least then, they'd be in the same price bracket.
@@kyleb8117 I have looked and ordered. If you want a really quick plastic bucked that goes really fast i can make you one for almost no money at all. I want a nice build quality car. I guess you also would like Porsche to close down since they are more expensive than Tesla and thus pointless... and you say you are not a Tesla fan.... ok.
@@astroplutonium Build quality can be taken care of under warranty. I'm not really worried about it, *if* I were to go Tesla. (I am waiting for them to have an actual competitor because I would rather not have to worry about that.) You can hate all you want but I've so far had more plusses for Tesla than the relative competitors. Ioniq 5 is the closest I've seen but their perks are mostly comfort (like the reclining seat for the driver) and gimmicks I'll likely never use (like V2L). What you don't know (because you didn't bother to ask, you just naiively assumed) is that I have a running spreadsheet of plusses and minuses for EVs and every single one has a good amount of both. No EV so far is clearly winning. Tesla has its issues. It's not a "quick plastic bucket" like you like to put it so simply, but it's not God's creation like the fanboys will say. I have no idea what you're trying to say with Porsche. I'm saying the two cars aren't similarly priced, so it'd be like saying a Porsche is better than a Honda Civic. Duh. It's in a different price category. If a car costs $10k more, why are you comparing them?
@@kyleb8117 When you think build quality has to do only with warranty then you have lost the whole point of this comparison. Let it be, BMWs are not for you. Go buy enjoy your car and when it breaks take it to Tesla to fix it. Build quality is A LOT more than just warranty, it is your whole life experience with the car, your every day feel, your comfort while driving, sitting, pressing a button, handling the steering. Everything is build quality.... And again, what you think is gold might be someone elses shit. Accept it, the world is not revolved around you, people like different things, they are different and they value different levels of quality and that exactly is the reason that Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche and a whole bunch of other quality brands are still going strong. Bottom line: BMW 20k more expensive? No problem. Would still buy, still a better car than Tesla model 3. Because it is. Because wh/mile or 0-60 speed is not EVERYTHING people care about in a car. Do you get it now? But every time there is a real competitor to your precious Tesla you people go bonkers. I do not care. BMW? Still a better brand and quality products than Tesla. Because it is a fact.... because software does not mean anything for me. I do not buy a PC i buy a car. Now go enjoy what you have and stop arguing on RU-vid. You cannot win and i cannot win this. At least i respect the fact that you like something different.
@@astroplutonium Ironic that I didn't argue the design aspect of build quality because it's subjective but you do, and then you go to say that I need to accept that it's subjective. You're not worth talking to. You put words in my mouth and then tell me what my reality is. You're living in your own fictional world arguing against strawmen I never put up. Hard to make a point to someone who not only ignores your point, but then argues against a point you never made. Have a nice day. 🙂
The steering feel is awful in the BMW i4 and the handling too. Probably one of the worst cars I drow in its class. You just can't trust a woman reviewing a car :) She must be totally numb.
Can’t buy a Tesla till they are made in Germany. Supporting the Chinese government does not sit right with my moral compass. It’s like buying a Mercedes in 1937. I love a HUD to.
Both excellent EVs. Tesla's charging network is definitely a plus. But agree with Vicki that single screen only dash and the generic 'insurance advert car' external styling just don't appeal. i4 looks far more interesting inside and out, and the fact that it drivers better is the clincher for me.
Where I live the BMW i4 is more than twice the price of the Tesla. It does not enjoy the same tax considerations as the Tesla. Imports from Germany at substantially hugher tax rates than imports from China that benefit from a mutual tax treaty. Thus tbe Tesla is a much better buy and value. If the two cars were the same price that decision becomes very difficult. I still might lean toward the Tesla as I think the overall drive train and platform is still a bit ahead. For example efficiency and the electric motors have a few more years refinement. But until BMW can sort out their import duty disadvantage Tesla will win out for sure.
Much better interior and exterior built quality together with the convenient physical buttons or HUD are critically sufficient benefits for me to enjoy driving. Focus on controlling and speaking to the screen the middle is the greatest obstacle to consider Model 3/Y. I am just a lazy person to get use of these….
Excellent and balanced analysis. The cost of those extras eg panoramic roof is so typical of BMW and pushes the price difference in favour of Tesla. The charging infrastructure might be improving but now queues are developing at non Tesla sites and reliability of charging is still an issue.
It’s not just the queues ! It’s the whole bloody (card/cable hassle ) and the route planning ! The Tesla network is superb ! I charged five times yesterday driving from the Algarve to St Malo. Each supercharger was at a good location such as a vineyard or boutique hotel ! Tesla are way ahead of the pack.
@@RemoteSpeed007 yeah after delaying it for more than a year giving BMW and Merc a chance to design and build the competition which so happens to be in this video. What a crap show of bait and switch politics to trap Tesla knowing full well a dedicated European Giga factory would have destroyed market share for their home brands.
@@BeIlows That is your opinion, but I think it is a false analyse!!! The whole world wont buy Tesla. Not every one likes car with bad quality, materials and lower safty. Tesla will be soon general car maker with about 20.000€ price!!!! This means cars for every poor people...Porsche, BMW, Mercedes or Audi would never sell their car at that price. they will make no compromisse for their quality. That means german car maker would not fear anything from Tesla!!!
@@BeIlows Even the chancellor came to the opening ceremony of the Tesla factory in Grünheide! I think this shows that Tesla is welcome in the country. By German standards, permission procedures and construction of the plant even went quite fast. We do have a lot of red tape here - regardless if it's Tesla or anybody else building.
@@appaches8605 The M3 is the safest car in all the tests and in injuries per distance driven. Giga Berlin has been ready to produce since august 2021. Buuuuuut something kept getting in the way of final approval. Allgood is completely correct. Corruption stinks.
The Tesla is just so ugly from the front vs the BMW, and the poor ride quality of the Tesla can be heard from the shakiness of your voice in the video. As you say if you are doing lots of miles on a daily basis and budget is the limiting factor then the Tesla wins, but it won’t put a smile on your face when you open the front door.
This obscures the truth of pricing and specs. A simple comparison online shows that the i4 is measurably more expensive than the 3 with similar specs. And that is without counting tesla's tech advantage. Sad BMW has put so much effort into building a less competitive vehicle.
good job from bmw, making electric car out off the ice 4 series grand coupe, great way to make a nice car without investing in new platform. but the middle tunnes inside, heaviness, range, i still think tesla is a better car. at lest for me, not to mention great charging infrastructure.
I’ve ordered the i4 with pro plus pack that includes adaptive suspension. I currently own a 330i. Before I bought it I tried the adaptive and non-adaptive set up . The difference in the quality of the ride was significantly in favour of the adaptive. I would not have ordered an i4 without it.
The BMW is obviously more expensive. My i4 M50 is over $75K. But no matter, its worth every penny over the price of the Tesla. The BMW exudes quality. Yet from the interior to the poorly painted door jambs, the Tesla screams cost cutting everywhere on the Model 3.
@@hotrod182 panel gaps and paint is the only quality modifier you guys seem to know about, you can bet the drive train, cells, and BMS is going to last longer in a tesla. The model 3 has a superior cooling system compared to even the 180,000$ Taycan turbo S, this allows it to outlast it on hard track use.
This was mostly a fair review and the comments about the subjective personal taste points are appreciated. Both excellent cars and would make any owner happy. However, the Tesla is not just superior in acceleration. The driving dynamics make the Tesla one of the most maneuverable cars available as shown by the Moose test (See 77KM testing). This ability is important in emergencies. Also, to say the BMW is more practical doesn't ring true when you consider Tesla's degree of software superiority enabling countless options both while driving and while parked, deeper recess area in the trunk for storage, front trunk for more storage, the missing hump on the floor in back seat for more leg room and comfort, the lack of a shifter on the center console area thereby freeing up space for other storage, the much easier effort involved in finding a fast charger on a road trip with the extremely reliable Tesla superchargers, etc. The Tesla is the easier EV to live with, the best performing, the lighter and most efficient, the more practical and arguably the funnest EV to own. One more thing. Not sure in the UK, but in the US the FSD beta package on Teslas is available and it is amazing and getting better every few weeks. Agree that no one should yet consider it a fully automated car but no other car comes close to its capability. Again, this was a fair review and some of these points were touched on but my conclusion is that the Model 3 is the better car.
Hyundai ionic 5 for me, better build quality than the Tesla, looks better, more reliable, cheaper. Bit of a no brainer. I do like the ID Buzz, wait for spec and pricing in a couple of weeks.
@@ForeverNeverwhere1 I wish it was as clear from my perspective. (Last I checked, I have about 12 ways each is better than the other for M3 LR vs. Ioniq 5 Limited. Also around 5 ways EV6 vs Ioniq 5 compare to each other.) Thankfully I don't have the money to worry about it. I'm definitely with both of you on either of these two EVs over the i4 based on my initial look at it. I will say however, you're not being fair if you say it's cheaper. Ioniq 5 is an all-or-nothing trim choice. You're likely going Limited, which is $55k. Tesla Model 3 LR is $50k. It's not cheaper. It's cheaper than a Model Y, but Model Y has a lot of storage (and the usual Tesla perks if you're interested in those). I also think it's fair to say both vehicles are roughly in the $45-60k range. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's fair to say they're similar in price and just ignore that factor. I am curious what makes you think it's more reliable, though. I'm currently comparing all my options and any edge one has over another is definitely interesting to me. Is it because it's hard to get specific parts for a Tesla or maybe a commentary on their lack of customer service? (Both are listed as negatives on my list.)
BMW and other legacy auto manufacturers are screwed. All their EV’s make a loss but have to transition 95% of their businesses model to renewable energy by 2030. Not a chance.
In Canada where I am, the basic RWD Model 3 at it's base price today is 59,990 while the dead basic i4 edrive 40 is 54.990. Albeit once you start adding extras in, the BMW would likely be a tiny bit more...depending on the options you ordered. So in Canada at least, your suspicion wouldn't be correct.
@@gregmiller9957 in the UK the i4 40 starts at £51,905 and the Model 3 RWD £42,500. Most i4s I’ve seen reviewed have £10,000 or more in options….hence the question.
@@timpottle8092 Completely agree. I was planning to buy one until I started configuring/pricing it, realised how much it was going to cost over a Model 3 LR and how many Tesla benefits I was still going to lose...Superchargers, Sentry Mode, Voice Control that actually works and works well, more miles per kWh, and and and...
A very well presented comparison Vicky. From your review it's clear that neither car is perfect but saying that it would be very difficult to choose between the two if I was in the market and the choice was these two. If I had a third option it would be to wait a year or two to see what the used market for these two look like. Right now my preference would be the BMW even though I'm far from a fan of the huge nostrils for the grill that being electric it doesn't seem to need. It does look more dynamic than the Tesla and I prefer the interior of the BMW, running everything from a big centre mounted tablet is not ideal foe me although as you mention you should het used to it. The Tesla is a very close second though.
Tesla is superior on efficiency and software and (fading away) charging network. BMW is superior in build quality, comfort, noise, ride and a few other functions like practicality of the hatch back. I agree, no car is perfect but i would go for the BMW any day, even though it is 10k more expensive than the model 3. I currently have a fully specced i4-40 on order and will sell the model 3 before the new one comes. The only good thing for me with the model 3 is that it has so many fanatics that the resale value is really good, unlike the BMW... but i don't care about that either. I just like the car too much.
@@astroplutonium A great point you make. If Tesla continue to sell as well as they do there is a chance that for resale they could become a victim of that success. A larger pool of used cars to purchase from often impacts residuals. We saw this with BMW in the 00's, Audi in the 2010's and it seems the the three pointed star has re-emerged as the favourite in cars these days from what I see regularly on the road for later registrations. I'm with you though, out of the two the BMW is most likely the itch that I would scratch.
Also love the Tesla model 3 long range as it has an Acceleration Bosst feature you can over the air update for £1500 which takes the 0-60 down to 3.7 seconds standing or 1ft rollout of 3.5 seconds. That's really quick and really noticeable too! The motors are the same on the lon range as on the model 3 performance model just turned down a bit👍
If you actually have driven the Tesla and seen how the interior is cheep and then drove the BMW there is no comparison the BMW is so much more than Tesla and looks a million times better
@@ericwilliams4551 look at my comment and then your reply to mine😂 Can’t believe your butt hurt because I called out the main point of the video. Your response is of an dumb 5 year old…yes I have driven and it’s an amazing drive which I’m sure a lot of people agree if they have experienced the same. I must say I will try to feel the interior next time whilst I’m driving the car 🤣
I've driven both. There is no comparison. The BMW is better built and better to drive. It drives like a BMW, perfectly balanced and plenty of power that is delivered in a linear fashion. On the highway its great and on narrow twisty roads its great. If you want a car with no functional buttons, cheap looking interior and un even body panel gaps then by all means buy the Model 3. For some a big selling feature is the farting noises it can make. If you want a driver's car that is well built and a joy to drive buy the BMW.
This video sounds like a paid BMW ad, unnecessarily down on Tesla, especially when it’s superior in all the most important areas: real world range (i4 gets just 186 miles real world), charging speed, and charging availability.
I agree, a fanboy indeed. Owning a car is about much much more than charging-build quality, handling and ride and driver appeal to name but a few. Also the real world range on the BMW I4 eDrive 40 as tested here is around 300 miles, much as the fanboy would wish it to be less.
In Canada those numbers are flipped. The basic model 3 is 59,990 where as the basic i4 is 54,990 (I just checked the manufactures websites). I'm not sure why it is so different here than there. We ordered the i4...but wow, it's hard to image why the i4 edrive 40 would be literally double the price in AU. Our currencies are about the same.
@@gregmiller9957 Agreed. I would buy the bmw but for the additional cost and the fact that our base model 3 in Australia, has the highly desirable LFP battery.
Thank you for the video. One question, why compare the M BMW to the long-range Tesla instead of the Tesla performance? That would have been a more equal comparison. Also, you only breeze over visibility. The removal of the instrument cluster makes Tesla have extremely good visibility out of the front of the car. You don't mention that the Tesla seats have all the lumbar functions and a driver memory system that blows BMW's out of the water. You don't mention Tesla's AutoPilot, not to be confused with FSD, which is amazing. You don't mention that with the Tesla app you can set your car to wake up at the same time each day and either warm or cool the car to your liking. You like the infotainment system in the BMW, but the Tesla system has Netflix, Hulu, a full web browser, youtube, and video games, just to name a few. You don't mention that the audio system in the Tesla blows the BMW audio system away for richness and clarity of sound. The BMW M came with standard 18-inch wheels, while the Tesla Model 3 performance comes standard with 20-inch wheels specially designed for the Tesla. You don't mention that the Tesla not only has front heated seats but also rear heated seats. You said you preferred the handling of the BMW, which is surprising since most reviewers love the way the Tesla handles. Did you have the Tesla in sport mode? All in all I appreciate your effort, but your interview seemed biased toward BMW. Now don't get me wrong, I have owned several BMWs in my life including an M6, and I currently own a 640. However, I would take the Tesla Model 3 Performance over all those cars. My wife and I have a Porsche Panamera Hybrid on the way, so I'll tell you how that stacks up against the Tesla, it may dethrone it as my new favorite, but your review sure did the Tesla wrong.
She is comparing the i40 with the Msport aero pack (350hp RWD) to the LR model 3 (440hp AWD). So actually the LR has the edge in technical specs. I did not see any M50 in the video.
Lots of those features you say tesla has bmw has too. I've heard the upgraded bmw i4 sound system is close to the tesla's...definitely not 'blow out of the water'. Tesla infotainment has some cool features no doubt but bmw supports Apple carplay and Android Auto.
Tesla cars for me are exactly what you expect them to look like- a car designed by a tech head, which has more a vibe of an appliance than an automobile; slightly odd shaping externally, like a toy (Ken and Barbie car), and too minimal inside - with a big screen. BMW looks like a car designed by a company that has evolved an automobile design over decades. Having said that- I’m not a fan of BMW either….😁
I'd say the i4 looks, internally and externally, like a car designed by a company stuck in the past. The same applies to pricing, with packaged options that force you to pay for two or three things you don't particularly want in order to get one you do. They're nearly all standard with Tesla. And those comments come from a long-term BMW driver.
@@gannetripple I agree with internal styling of BMW being somewhat dated, but externally I think there is a clear difference/improvement in comparison to the Tesla. I actually think the Tesla, especially when compared to other EV’s looks quite cheap both internally and externally. One big screen- I really don’t think is an advancement in practicality or provide an aesthetic which provide any individual character (hence my likeness to an appliance comment). We are already seeing a move back to some physical buttons- so it will be interesting to see how design evolves.
0:25 Just about every single mid-tier CUV from the established OEMs is a better value than the model Y. The Y is extremely overpriced. The only way Tesla has managed to contain their pricing while still generating high margins is by replacing their US exports to Europe with Chinese exports to Europe. 2:00 I think you're underplaying the size of the BMW's cargo space with the seats folded down. Not only can you actually get large boxy items through the hatch opening of the BMW that you couldn't through the model 3's trunk opening, like a large box or even a rigid square wooden chair, the overall cargo space with the seats down is greater than the model 3's. The only way the 3 competes in overall cargo space is by using the underfloor storage and frunk. Now say you need to pickup one or multiple large items that, assuming they can get through the model 3's trunk opening at all, won't fit in either the frunk or the trunk. Now you're left with far less usable space than the BMW. Me thinks you were trying to be a bit "too fair" in this comparison, which ended up coming across as a bit biased in the comparison. Also, as someone who owns a PEV, I imagine one of those charging cords will be almost permanently plugged into your garage outlet, with the other being a travel charger. I don't see why you'd ever keep both in the car. Maybe on a trip, in which case, you won't want them under the floor anyways in case you have luggage or camping equipment stacked up in the trunk. 3:00 Not everyone drives with 3 people in the rear seat, especially over extended distances. The importance of a flat floor is a bit exaggerated IMO. It's nice to have, but what's it worth exactly? Headroom's a different issue if you're often driving around with tall people in the back. The 4 series was never good for head room. I imagine the 3 series electric will be better for that. 8:20 i4 comes standard with air suspension on the rear. Fronts are coils. Adaptive dampers comes standard on the i4 m50. As to value, again, you're paying for German production of the i4, versus Chinese production of the model 3. Tesla has to cut prices due to their higher volumes as a result of the rapid ramp of their Chinese plant. I imagine this will balance out eventually. 8:55 The Tesla doesn't have adaptive regenerative braking as far as I know. It's always max lift-off regen. It may have automatic emergency braking, but the car won't change the regen when approaching another car or junction. I'm not sure what the BMW system does. That's one thing that hasn't really been covered all that much in reviews. Static objects, like parked cars are difficult for all vehicles to handle; so not sure why BMW was singled out here and not the Tesla. 11:25 The car won't steer itself off the motorway unless you have the Enhanced Autopilot package that costs £3,400. The standard autopilot is essentially just your normal lane keep assistance and Adaptive cruise control. It will change lanes for you if you hit the signal. Additional: While you mentioned "perceived" interior quality being better in the BMW (No, it's just better), you didn't point out things like fit and finish, road noise, road compliance over rough surfaces, or even quality of important stuff like wheels/tires/brakes. It's one thing to just say "this car is more expensive"... but it isn't price that ultimately matters, but value. If the i4 is nicer to drive every day and doesn't develop creaks and squeeks over time, but the model 3 does due to their cheaping out on production, then the i4 will not only be a more comfortable ride over the years that the customer may own it, but it'll retain its value better. You did end by saying you'd CarGurus would likely choose the i4.... but IMO, you didn't do the greatest job of explaining why. Also... this is a personal opinion of mine, but where a vehicle is made matters. When my spending is your income, and your spending is my income... what happens when we start moving production to China where less of a vehicle's revenue, especially vehicles as expensive as these, goes to the laborers, and more funnels its way into corporate profits; essentially a transfer of wealth upward that makes the rich richer. German manufacturing workers are some of the best paid and best treated workers on the planet. If we don't support that type of business model, then it's just a downward spiral to the bottom. I respect all workers, regardless of nationality. What I don't respect is OEMs selling vehicles into expensive markets at expensive prices, but using low wage nations to spike their profits. How can my spending be your income, and your spending be mine... when more and more of our spending is going to the executives and wealthy shareholders of the corporation? You may not want to point this out in your reviews... but it IS a big deal.. and probably SHOULD be covered in reviews.
Tesla is starting to build cars in Germany this week. Would have been sooner if not for the delay in permits approval. "Tesla doesn't have adaptive regenerative braking as far as I know." It does now, update done recently. That is one of the major advantages of the Tesla their OTA updates are the best in the industry. In terms of value for money, no contest you get much more with a M3 than the BMW. Charging network - no contest, efficiency way better on the tesla, range better on the tesla, performance better on a tesla, technology better on a tesla. Tesla is a purposely built ev, BMW is a gas car converted to ev. (Hence the extra 1000lbs weight) In spirited driving I expect the much heavier BMW will be way behind the Tesla m3. You can't cheat physics. But before you respond - I don't care which car you buy, if you like the BM more, then go for it. You will love any ev compared to a gas car.
@@RemoteSpeed007 They're starting production of the model Y in Germany, not 3. How many Ys actually come out of Germany should be an interesting question; being that the company has found so much profitability from their Chinese production, and is already looking to double the production capacity in China... not Europe. Based on the regen braking update description, it'll now use regen at slower speeds while AP is enabled, instead of the brakes. It doesn't adapt the lift-off regenerative strength when AP isn't engaged when approaching another car or intersection like was suggested here. The advantages of OTA... I could argue that it's a lack of care to properly tune the vehicle during pre-production... essentially rushing vehicles to production with the hopes that eventually they can weed out the problems with OTA updates. And gimmicks of course. Sadly this is becoming the norm in the industry, with other vehicles now claiming to have OTA capabilities that are needed to fix or refine things that shouldn't have been issues in the first place. The i4 40 is RWD only, and weighs about 450 lbs more than the model 3 LR. The extra weight is mostly a result of Tesla using more expensive aluminum in their cars and very little noise insulation, whereas BMW is using more steel, more noise insulation, higher quality interior furnishings, extra electronics for a driver's cluster, a hatch, and is overall a slightly larger vehicle. Tesla is concentrating heavily on cost reduction and weight reduction, while giving less care to noise and road compliance. This isn't simply a result of the Tesla being "purpose built". Even at 500 lbs heavier and only RWD, Car Gurus is claiming they prefer the driving feel of the BMW... so that's quite the accomplishment. The i4 m50 would compare more with the model 3 performance. No doubt, people can make their own decisions about the cars they want to drive, but my intent was to make sure people are properly informed about what they're buying.
@@updlate4756 The advantages of OTA - about 98% is for improved features, or additional features +UI improvements. "properly informed about what they're buying." I'm doing the same. Do you own an ev? How do you expect someone to make an informed decision when you only mention the advantages of the BM? The M3 has way more advantages. List them as well.
@@updlate4756 "It doesn't adapt the lift-off regenerative strength when AP isn't engaged when approaching another car or intersection like was suggested here." Why is that so important? Overall the car with 2 motors(M3) is a higher performance vehicle and lighter and more efficient, with longer range. Did you not say you don't know if the Bm has it anyway? Seems like you trying to split hairs.
@@updlate4756 "How many Ys actually come out of Germany should be an interesting question; being that the company has found so much profitability from their Chinese production, and is already looking to double the production capacity in China... not Europe." This is a very naive point of view, the factory would need to run at full capacity to be able to be profitable. The first model Y's were maid in the US and are still made in the USA for USA customers, same will apply for the German factory. Why the negative speculation? You a BM dealer? You can't really believe they will idle the factory in Germany and then ship cars from China to Germany, I have read thousands of posts and have never come across such a out of this world theory by anyone else, even the most avid Tesla haters.
It's astonishing really that we have yet another EV vs Model 3 video... Please stop it already. Safe to say we all know what a Model 3 is now because of all of the new EV vs Model 3 videos. They aren't in the same league either.
Be good to know the ‘as spec’d’ retail pricing of the two cars in the test - that i4 looked like it had multiple option packs fitted. Most modern BMW ride relatively poorly without adaptive dampers fitted, so they are a must have option
It would be nice to know what she spec'd for sure. Here's some (American) prices for upgrades from base model: Adaptive M Suspension - $700 Dynamic Handling package - $1,750 Driving Assistance - $1,700 Parking Assist - $700 Premium pack (heated front seats and ambient light) - $950 Ventilated front seats - $350 Head-up display (HUD) - $1,000 Personal eSIM 5G - $300 Harman Kardon surround sound - $875 Iconic sounds (adjust vehicle sounds) - $100
I like the look of the BMW but Tesla is years ahead in the EV game and the big car manufacturers know they have an almost impossible task ahead of them. BMW aren’t even nibbling away, Tesla is doubling (plus) production this year whilst many others can’t deliver until 2023. 😀
Somethings should just be a physical button though, or dedicated always-on touchscreen. I hate going through menus to make small changes to things I constantly change.
Tesla is the new BMW. It’s the brand everyone aspires to own. It doesn’t matter how good anything else is, it will never be a Tesla. Every time you see a Tesla you will doubt yourself. To compare them simply as cars really misses the point. A Tesla is a status symbol. A Rolex is no better at telling the time than a Casio.
Lol, it’s not a status symbol in Vancouver where it’s becoming just as common as a civic/Corolla, if anything it’s becoming boring seeing so many of them, that’s the exact opposite of a status symbol item.
@@nuckv7544 no, that’s exactly what a status symbol is. Exactly the same way that people have been spending every penny they have to get a poverty spec 116d for the last 10 years.
@@jakelaughton683 gotcha so a car that’s as common as a civic in a city is a status symbol lmao. If I walked down a grocery aisle and found a guy wearing a Rolex in every other aisle, suddenly it’s not so special anymore, status symbol = exclusivity aka out of the reach of the average man. Meanwhile 6 out of the 15 houses on my street in a middle class neighborhood own a Tesla lol.
@@nuckv7544 them being common is a direct result of them being a status symbol. People are prepared to get into debt to own them. That’s how it works. At a certain point they become so common that they aren’t cool anymore. Like I say, look at BMW over the past 20 years.
As soon as you said the BMW was a much nice looking car, I knew this review was going to be a BMW love fest again. 0/10 for unbiased reporting. Anyone who thinks and BMW looks good is either being paid or is blind
Looks is subjective, but have to agree, from the outset the bias was clear and obvious!!! The "perceived" level of quality "feel" is another hypocritical biasedness!!! Again, the Model Y should have been the more comparable!
I would not buy any car that does not have front trunk space anymore, it is just so convenient day by day. So I would buy any Tesla or Porsche Boxster.
The established car manufacturers have NOT caught up with Tesla ! Don’t tell lies ! (i) the Edrive 40 isnt shipping (try getting one 😂) (ii) they don’t have the supercharger network, (try driving across Europe without one ) (iii) BMW lose money on every car, Tesla are making 35% GM (iv) the M3 standard sound system sounds way better than the BMW HK system. (v) the Tesla is way quicker and more fun to drive. (I was lucky enough to drive a “Bracknell car “ last week. (Vi) Teslas screen and nav functions are way quicker than the horrid tardy iDrive (vii) Autopilot works well and reduces fatigue on 1000 km days. I admit the BMW looks better both inside and out and their dealer network works to much higher standards than the woeful Tesla dealers.
Model 3 is more efficient, charges faster, is cheaper to fuel, safer, faster, has more range, and is much less expensive. Trip planner is also better, you have to test a long trip in an EV to understand the value of this. Your perfect panel gaps in the BMW won't help you to reduce the stress when you will struggle to find a proper charger.. Teslas also have Sentry mode, RU-vid, Netflix, games,.. Would chose the Model 3 any day
Yup, Model 3 is cheaper all the way around. Cheaper quality, poor paint quality, noisy, rattling, low quality ride. Tablet on a board dash. Yes, there is a reason why all these reviews are coming out saying the BMW is the superior complete experience. The Tesla Fanboys are hurt, as they used to have so much fun making fun of the BMW, only to find out it is the preferred car. And this was an opinion shared by many current Tesla owners! Sometimes the truth hurts.
You say the BMW is more practical, but thats not really the case. It has less total storage (frunk and under floor) and no flat floor for a third person. The Tesla has better performance, AWD, access to supercharger network, flat floor. So it boils down that you like old school feeling and Tesla takes it to the next level…
The Tesla is the best EV company going.... and the reason is that everting that it brings. From small things like the stereo in the Tesla is epic. The games / the easter eggs / the updates / the potential for FSD / and autobiddexr - Tesla storage / solar pack is epic.... and the guy is landing rockets! Really - the best overall car if you compare everything is hands down the Tesla. If you are a BMW fangirl then yeah - you don't care if it is better or worse - you just go for BWM. If you want to see what Tesla can do in a straight line - Check the Porsche Turbo S vs.... wait for it.... Model X Plaid which is a BIG SUV... and in that video from Drag Times the SUV just walks away from the "Sports Car".
@@rotoehu9266 Haha - not at all - just giving the truth. I guarantee I've had way nicer BMWs than you have had.... so my view is from reality. My last BMW was an 850i which was supposed to be the pinnacle for BMW and it was nothing but a service centers nightmare. I had that car for 7 years before I couldn't take the MONTHS it would take the dealer to fix an electric issue. Cry all you want - I love cars - but I also love the truth. Currently in my stable is a Tesla / Porsche / Diesel Truck.
@@mullholand Please tell us more about the 850i you had. You're a lucky guy that you got to enjoy it for seven years already even though the current model didn't come out until 3,5 years ago. Maybe that's why it was broken so much? Must have been a pre-pre production model. We can definitely see that your view is from reality. You very much sound like a former BMW owner and not at all like an Elon stan that pretends to have experience with other brands to not sound like a fanboy.
Funny how people who review cars don’t do their homework and misrepresent a car they are reviewing. The software in the Tesla is far superior to what the bmw offers. The real reason the Tesla does not have buttons is because the voice controls are second to none. The screen is for people who struggle with advanced technology and need a screen to interact with. It also acts as a redundant system. There are plenty of videos on voice commands for Tesla on RU-vid. Next is the ability for Tesla software to integrate with 3rd party apps also plenty of videos on RU-vid for this. The app I use allows me to use Siri to issue voice commands using my Apple Watch. And more commands have been added since I purchased the software. BWM has none of those capabilities. Tesla software provides way more entertainment options than the bimmer does and comes in handle when you’re using pubic charging stations. But the bimmer has apple CarPlay….ancient software for the technically challenged and car manufacturers who don’t spend a dime developing good software. In the review you glanced over the face the bimmer does not have a frunk with adequate storage. The bimmer is hideous looking in the front, but at the end of the day it’s about preference. The Tesla is a next level experience especially for those who luv to leverage the power of advance technology to make life easy and the bimmer is for someone who wants a car that just doesn’t run on gas.
In first 30 seconds it was obvious who pays her bills. Disgraceful journalism - aka shilling. NO COMPARISON OR MENTION OF: RANGE, PRICE, MPGE, CHARGING NETWORK, AUTOPILOT, OVER THE AIR UPDATES, PERFORMANCE, ACCELERATION.
Funny, I just watched it and heard her mention all of those things. I guess you closed your ears after the first 30 seconds. Which of the two cars do you own so that you can speak from experience?
Nice car and all. I just don't get why is it still so expensive for the average person. the car is basically empty inside with no starters, alternators and all of the parts that goes into the regular gas car. monthly payments are ridiculous. i would love to get one but Elon just charging for it arm and leg. the $36,000 for model 3 was somewhere priced fairly but still all of the options are software protected. I'm disappointent
The model Y is more a comparison here - the BMW is flabby compared to the Tesla (1.8t vs 2.5t😳) so it’s way more inefficient and still lacking in many EV areas including performance
Efficiency is consumption per kg. Not only measured as consumption. Most extra weight on BMW is due to higher quality - not due to the ICE platform. Look at weights of other premium cars as MB EQE and EQS that are non ICE platforms… Build a kit car on carbon platform - you will call it efficient due to ridiculous low weight - but do you want to drive it?