2025 BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport facelift Malaysian review – worth buying over Tesla and BYD models?

2025 BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport facelift Malaysian review – worth buying over Tesla and BYD models?

Launched in Malaysia in January, the 2025 BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport facelift asks for RM294,800, or RM315,600 if you want a five-year warranty and six-year service package. That’s quite a bit more than its closest competitors – the RM181k-244k Tesla Model 3 and the RM164k-200k BYD Seal.

But we wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the zero-emissions Munich machine – besides updated looks courtesy of a redesigned kidney grille, M high-gloss Shadowline trim and 19-inch rollers, the i4 facelift boasts adaptive LED headlamps with BMW Selective Beam technology and laser tail lamps – you read that right. The latter is similar to the M4 CSL’s.

Interior updates include a new D-shaped three-spoke sports steering wheel and black M PerformTex upholstery, while the BMW Curved Display (12.3-inch digital instrument cluster + 14.9-inch central touchscreen), head-up display, tri-zone climate control, wireless charging and connected services resume their duties. Not a bad place to be in, really.

With 286 PS and 400 Nm of torque from a rear-mounted electric motor, the i4 eDrive35 M Sport was and is no slouch, sprinting to 100 km/h from rest in just six seconds on its way to 190 km/h, with M Sport suspension keeping things in check and making for livelier, more dynamic driving.

The 70.3 kWh (gross) battery now has a higher usable capacity of 67.1 kWh, giving it a 500-km WLTP range – 17 km up from before. Hook it up to a 180 kW DC charger and you’ll go from 10-80% in a speedy 32 minutes, or seven hours for a full charge with the onboard 11-kW AC charger.

This is all on paper of course, and if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is surely worth loads more. So hit Play to join Hafriz Shah’s latest deep dive – right after you’re done making that coffee.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • AskarRM1 on May 21, 2025 at 4:27 pm

    So, less space, less range, less performance, less technology, worse warranty and yet twice the price. Why? Just the badge?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 41 Thumb down 4
    • Cinkang Kong on May 22, 2025 at 11:22 am

      Why compare with BYD? It is much lower grade compared to Beemer and Tesla. Janganlah simply compare

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 5
    • Understand it as the best handling EV car. Not from me but from the reviewers!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • ericnam on Jun 03, 2025 at 2:06 pm

      you’ve basically pointed out the premise of the luxury segment – you pay for the prestige.

      no one takes a second glance at a Swatch even if it tells the time just as good as a Patek Philippe.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • John Doughh on May 21, 2025 at 5:55 pm

    You must be an absolute buffoon to buy the i4 over a Tesla Model 3 performance. 0-100 in 3 seconds in the MODEL 3 vs 6 seconds in the BMW. BUT YOU PAY 60K more for a worse car. Sure range on the BMW is more but just maybe 60km more ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 5
  • Sabri on May 21, 2025 at 8:21 pm

    Thank you china. No need suffer from European.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 1
  • Ever wonder why so many second hand BMWs that are sold off before the 5th year and also before 100km mark? That should give you an indication about German cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Annoynimouse on May 22, 2025 at 9:33 am

    The front grill’s got to go.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on May 23, 2025 at 1:14 pm

    RM100k is for the badge. just like how people pay more for Ferrari Purosangue vs Lamborghini Urus. Badge matters…. drive also feel proud.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Mistaken Identity on May 25, 2025 at 12:42 pm

    Impulsive buyer will buy this over-priced brand especially this model. with so many less to offer compared to new entry brands from China. Chinese brands redefine the term luxury & premium in auto industry. All the bells & whistles for a fraction of these German brands. Test drove a few Chinese NEVs, they’re impressive. Had a few BMW models in the past, from ICE, PHEV then BEV. For the BMW BEV, it’s a joke with that range! Now I just stay away from this brand. Always spend time in workshop than enjoying the car. Now with luxury Japanese brand..I’m having peace of mind. BMW can never be better than Japanese marques.. I’m talking from experience. What you get is anxiety and just a bit of feeling initially being proud driving an expensive car. That’s all.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
 

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