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BMW 3 Series vs. BMW i4

iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW 3 Series and BMW i4 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW 3 Series and the BMW i4.

When we compare the BMW 3 Series's and the BMW i4's specifications and ratings, the BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, resale value and interior volume. The BMW i4 has the advantage in the area of base engine power. Based on this comparison of the BMW 3 Series's and the BMW i4's specifications and ratings, the BMW 3 Series is a better car than the BMW i4.

Pricing: A used 2024 BMW 3 Series ranges from $42,839 to $64,993 while a used 2024 BMW i4 is priced between $48,075 to $75,472. For a new model, the BMW 3 Series's price is between $47,938 and $68,399, with the BMW i4 priced between $54,795 and $77,602.

Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW 3 Series loses 50.1 percent of its value and the BMW i4 loses 61.5 percent of its value. This means the BMW 3 Series retains 11.4 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW i4.

Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW 3 Series’s base engine makes 255 horsepower, and the BMW i4 base engine makes 281 horsepower.

Passenger Space Comparison: The BMW 3 Series, a compact car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room. The BMW i4, a electric compact car, has the advantage in the area of cargo space.

Safety Ratings: The BMW 3 Series has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.

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Model & Pricing
BMW 3 Series
BMW i4

2024 BMW 3 Series
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BMW 3 Series for Sale

2024 BMW i4
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BMW i4 for Sale

New Car Pricing

Asking Price:

$47,938 - $68,399

Starting MSRP:

$44,500

Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

$48,375

Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

$31,800 - $79,900

New Car Pricing

Asking Price:

$54,795 - $77,602

Starting MSRP:

$52,200

Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

$47,030

Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

$38,990 - $52,200

Used Car Pricing

Avg Used Car Price:

$50,648

Price Range:

$42,839 - $64,993

Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

$52,490

Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

$35,163 - $100,522

# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:

1,325

Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:

7,105

# Good or Great Deals:

359

Used Car Pricing

Avg Used Car Price:

$62,096

Price Range:

$48,075 - $75,472

Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

$60,093

Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

$58,090 - $62,096

# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:

1,024

Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:

1,446

# Good or Great Deals:

67

5-year Depreciation

Depreciation $:

$22,483

Depreciation %:

50.5%

Resale Value $:

$22,017

Residual Value %:

49.5%

Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

48.9%

Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

33.5% - 53.5%

5-year Depreciation

Depreciation $:

$33,237

Depreciation %:

63.7%

Resale Value $:

$18,963

Residual Value %:

36.3%

Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

48.4%

Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

48.3% - 63.7%

BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings

Overall Score:

8.6 / 10

Reliability:

8.4 / 10

Retained Value:

7.4 / 10

Safety:

10.0 / 10

BMW i4 Scores & Rankings

Overall Score:

Not available

Reliability:

Not available

Retained Value:

6.7 / 10

Safety:

Not available



iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series

Avg Life Expectancy (years):

10.4

Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

10.6

Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

8.1 - 14.3

Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:

12.5%

iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW i4

Avg Life Expectancy (years):

Typical Category Life Expectancy:

N/A

Category Life Expectancy Range:

N/A

Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:



Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls

Expected Lifetime Recalls:

10.3

Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

2.2

Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)

1.2 - 14.6

Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls

Expected Lifetime Recalls:

9.7

Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

9.7

Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)

1.5 - 127.5

BMW 3 Series Rankings

Best Luxury Small Cars

3 / 36

Most Reliable Luxury Small Cars

3 / 36

Best Family Luxury Small Cars

3 / 36

Luxury Small Cars with the Most Legroom

6 / 36

Best Luxury Small Cars for the Money

6 / 12

Luxury Small Cars with the Most Horsepower

10 / 36

Best Luxury Small Cars for Tall People

12 / 36

Most Affordable Luxury Small Cars

14 / 31

Most Comfortable Luxury Small Cars

18 / 36

Luxury Small Cars with Best Resale Value

30 / 36

BMW i4 Rankings

Most Affordable Luxury Electric Cars

3 / 14

Luxury Electric Cars with the Most Cargo Space

4 / 15

Luxury Electric Cars with Best Resale Value

5 / 15

Electric Cars with the Most Cargo Space

7 / 26

Longest Range Luxury Electric Cars

7 / 15

Most Affordable Electric Cars

8 / 19

Luxury Electric Cars with the Most Legroom

9 / 15

Electric Cars with the Most Horsepower

10 / 26

Luxury Electric Cars with the Most Horsepower

10 / 15

Electric Cars with the Most Legroom

12 / 26

Best Luxury Electric Cars for Tall People

12 / 15

Most Comfortable Luxury Electric Cars

13 / 15

Electric Cars with Best Resale Value

16 / 26

Most Comfortable Electric Cars

19 / 26

Best Electric Cars for Tall People

23 / 26

Available Body Styles

Sedan

Available Body Styles

Sedan

Available Drivetrain Options

Gasoline, Plug-In Hybrid

Available Drivetrain Options

Electric

BMW 3 Series Trim Levels

330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive

BMW i4 Trim Levels

eDrive35 Gran Coupe, eDrive40 Gran Coupe, M50 Gran Coupe, xDrive40 Gran Coupe

Warranty Information

Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:

4 years / 50000 miles

Warranty, Powertrain:

4 years / 50000 miles

Warranty, Roadside Assistance:

4 years

Warranty Information

Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:

4 years / 50000 miles

Warranty, Powertrain:

4 years / 50000 miles

Warranty, Roadside Assistance:

4 years

Safety Ratings

NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):

5 out of 5 Stars

2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

IIHS Safety Rating:

Not yet available

Safety Ratings

NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):

Not yet available

2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:

Not yet available

2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:

Not yet available

2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:

Not yet available

2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:

Not yet available

IIHS Safety Rating:

Not yet available

Base Drivetrain Specs

Horsepower:

255 hp @ 5000 rpm

Torque:

295 foot-lbs @ 1550 rpm

Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):

0.072 hp per pound

Base Drivetrain Specs

Horsepower:

281 hp

Torque:

295 foot-lbs

Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):

0.062 hp per pound

Engine Specifications

Engine Size:

2 liters

Engine Configuration:

Inline

Number of Cylinders:

4

Transmission:

Automatic

Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:

RWD / AWD

EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):


25 / 34 / 29

MPGe:

Not applicable

Range (city/hwy):

390 / 530 miles

Recommended Fuel Type:

Premium Unleaded

Battery Size/Capacity :

Not applicable

Maximum Charging Rate:

Not applicable

Engine Specifications

Engine Size:

Not Applicable

Engine Configuration:

Not Applicable

Number of Cylinders:

Not Applicable

Transmission:

Automatic

Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:

RWD / AWD

EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):


Not applicable

MPGe:

Not yet available

Range (city/hwy):

256 miles

Recommended Fuel Type:

Not yet available

Battery Size/Capacity:

67 kWh

Maximum Charging Rate:

8 hours (240V)

Standard/Optional Features

Alloy wheels:

Standard

Android Auto:

Standard

Apple CarPlay:

Standard

Bench Seats:

Standard

Bluetooth:

Standard

Internet Radio:

Standard

Keyless Entry:

Standard

Keyless Ignition:

Standard

Leather Upholstery:

Standard

Navigation System:

Standard

Paddle Shifters:

Standard

Power outlet:

Standard

Roadside assistance:

Standard

Satellite radio:

Standard

Sunroof/Moonroof:

Standard

Voice Recognition:

Standard

Adaptive Cruise Control:

Available

Automatic Parking:

Available

Heated Seats

Available

Heated Steering Wheel:

Available

Parking Sensors:

Available

Power Lift Gate:

Available

Wifi:

Available

Wireless Smartphone Charging:

Available

Air Suspension:

N/A

Captain's seat:

N/A

Cooled/Ventilated Seats:

N/A

Front Bench Seats:

N/A

Massage Seats:

N/A

Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof

N/A

Quad Seats:

N/A

Roof Rack:

N/A

Trailer Hitch:

N/A

Standard/Optional Features

Alloy wheels:

Standard

Android Auto:

Standard

Apple CarPlay:

Standard

Bench Seats:

Standard

Bluetooth:

Standard

Internet Radio:

Standard

Keyless Entry:

Standard

Keyless Ignition:

Standard

Leather Upholstery:

Standard

Navigation System:

Standard

Paddle Shifters:

N/A

Power outlet:

Standard

Roadside assistance:

Standard

Satellite radio:

Standard

Sunroof/Moonroof:

Standard

Voice Recognition:

Standard

Adaptive Cruise Control:

Available

Automatic Parking:

Available

Heated Seats

Available

Heated Steering Wheel:

Available

Parking Sensors:

Standard

Power Lift Gate:

Standard

Wifi:

Available

Wireless Smartphone Charging:

Available

Air Suspension:

Standard

Captain's seat:

N/A

Cooled/Ventilated Seats:

Available

Front Bench Seats:

N/A

Massage Seats:

N/A

Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof

N/A

Quad Seats:

N/A

Roof Rack:

N/A

Trailer Hitch:

N/A

Safety Features

Backup camera:

Standard

Driver Attention Monitoring:

Standard

Forward Collision Warning:

Standard

Pedestrian Detection:

Standard

Rear Seat Reminder:

Standard

360-Degree Camera:

N/A

Blind Spot Monitoring:

N/A

Lane Departure Warning:

N/A

Lane Keeping Assist:

N/A

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:

N/A

Safety Features

Backup camera:

Standard

Driver Attention Monitoring:

Standard

Forward Collision Warning:

Standard

Pedestrian Detection:

Standard

Rear Seat Reminder:

Standard

360-Degree Camera:

N/A

Blind Spot Monitoring:

Standard

Lane Departure Warning:

Standard

Lane Keeping Assist:

N/A

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:

Standard

Interior Dimensions

Front Head Room:

38.7 inches

Front Leg Room:

42 inches

Front Shoulder Room:

56 inches

Rear Head Room:

37.6 inches

Rear Leg Room:

35.2 inches

Rear Shoulder Room:

54.6 inches

Cargo Space:

13 cubic feet

Overall Interior Volume:

94.0 cubic feet

Interior Dimensions

Front Head Room:

38.2 inches

Front Leg Room:

41.5 inches

Front Shoulder Room:

55.2 inches

Rear Head Room:

36.6 inches

Rear Leg Room:

34.2 inches

Rear Shoulder Room:

54.3 inches

Cargo Space:

16.6 cubic feet

Overall Interior Volume:

90.0 cubic feet

Exterior Dimensions

Curb Weight:

3536 lbs

Width:

81.4 inches

Height:

56.8 inches

Length:

185.9 inches

Wheelbase:

112.2 inches

Ground Clearance:

5.6 inches

Exterior Dimensions

Curb Weight:

4553 lbs

Width:

81.6 inches

Height:

57 inches

Length:

188.5 inches

Wheelbase:

112.4 inches

Ground Clearance:

4.9 inches

Standard Wheel/Tire Information

Wheel Size:

18.0 x 7.5 inches

Wheel Type:

aluminum alloy

Tire Size:

225/45R18

Standard Wheel/Tire Information

Wheel Size:

18.0 x 7.5 inches

Wheel Type:

painted aluminum alloy

Tire Size:

225/50R18

Exterior Colors

Black

Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black

Blue

Phytonic Blue Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic

Gray

Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic

Red

Melbourne Red Metallic

White

Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic

Green

Not available

Orange

Not available

Exterior Colors

Black

Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black

Blue

Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic

Gray

Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Frozen Pure Grey II Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic

Red

Aventurin Red Metallic

White

Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic

Green

San Remo Green Metallic

Orange

Sunset Orange Metallic

Interior Colors

Beige

Canberra Beige

Black

Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching

Brown

Cognac / Mocha

Gray

Oyster

Red

Tacora Red

Interior Colors

Beige

Canberra Beige

Black

Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching

Brown

Cognac / Mocha

Gray

Oyster

Red

Tacora Red

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