Petrol v electric: Which is better at the same price? BMW 330i v i4

The argument against electric cars was always that they were more expensive than internal combustion cars. But, how do they stack up when they cost the same? The BMW i4 recently had a price cut which makes it cheaper than the BMW 330i - Paul Maric sets out to figure out if you should buy the 2024 BMW 330i or the 2024 BMW i4 eDrive30.

Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
Exterior: 01:10
Interior: 04:42
Driving - 330i: 08:29
Driving - i4: 13:25
Skidpan: 19:37
Performance: 23:09
Verdict: 24:07

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CarExpert:

Paul Maric:

#bmw #review #electric

[Omggtr]

Just purchased an i4 e-drive35 absolutely wrapt with my purchase so much car for the price. Definitely make sure it suits your lifestyle/ commutes. this car choice was made due to the commute to work being perfect for an electric car. It was purchased via novated leasing so making use of all the benefits !

[leratomotsumi]

"Gooddayyyy I'm Paul" always does a good review

[lexuslicata]

Bought my wife the I4. I have the X5M. We drive the I4 90% of the time. Fantastic vehicle. Going forward our second car will always be electric. It’s a no-brainer.

[ThomasTomAczel]

I'm on my 4th new BMW, this time an i4 eDrive 40. My previous cars were a 1997 E36 323i manual, (a wonderful driver's car), then a 2006 E90 325i auto (A horrible characterless car, I hated it), a 2015 F32 M Sport 428i (a fabulous car, but had lost the beautiful silky six), and now the i4. 
Let me tell you I'm NEVER going back to an internal combustion engine car. I love the smoothness, the silence and the instant torque of my EV. It's not quite the well balanced beautifully planted open road tourer the 428i was, (there's no getting away from the weight of that battery even though it's situated low in the car), and the steering also feels more "wooden", but in every other way the electric car is a generation leap better. 
Additionally running costs are much, much less; either solar panel subsidised at home, or free Chargefox charging, so far, with just an occasional need to charge at Evie or BP Pulse chargers.
Servicing is much cheaper too; there's nothing to do. Brake wear is negligible. Tyres will probably wear faster because of the additional weight. 
My first 12 month service, as far as I could tell, was just to top up the windscreen washer fluid, plus, presumably, a quick check on the diagnostic computer. 
There's so few wearing parts, I fail to understand why EV's depreciate faster than ICE vehicles.
I'm a total convert, and find it difficult to imagine that there will still be petrol and diesel powered cars being sold 15 years from now. They make no sense any more.

[brycedubois]

Recently sold my 330i for an EV; a BYD Seal (novated lease). The surprise to me was, I don't miss the BMW... Remarkable in how unremarkable the shift was. Helped that the BYD is a proper car (not a mobile operating system). Buttons and controls where I need them (like on the steering wheel). And yes, I can charge at home (and at work). Really enjoying the switch.

[educational-]

Hans Zinmer famous composer? Legendary composer! 🤭

[eshanmirash]

Just bought a 330i and have been loving it!! Such an incredibly capable car that balances performance, comfort and efficiency perfectly. I like a firmer ride so the harsher suspension doesn’t bother me too much (it deals with bumps very well, almost like air suspension, which is the highlight imo). With a more urban driving focus I’ve been seeing fuel consumption figures between 7-8.5 L/100km but on the freeway it will get into the low 6’s with ease and when hyper-miling in eco pro mode I’ve seen as low as 3.6L/100km (albeit with a lot of downhill sections in the Dandenong mountains).

[zaamuro]

That is an interesting strategy from BMW to get people into the electric i4 (unintentional probably, more to do with getting people to go for the 330i by removing the base model 3 series).

[AndrewTSq]

I think the cars are subsidud in Australia, cause the I4 is $20k more expensive in Sweden, where we do not have that anymore. So saying EV's are cheaper are not really true. If taxpayers pay for the subsidues for your car, its cheaper.

[bdayapraar]

I appreciate that this was a fair and reasonable review. So few and far between these days.

[paulvictor]

I would like a plug in hybrid with the same size engine, not a smaller one as most manufacturers do. Perfect for daily commute and highway driving without having to rely on faulty chargers and queueing.

[stuartmaybe]

330i equivalent to i4E40.
This EV I4E35 (entry level), you reviewed would be equivalent to 320i.
Great review !!!!

[Digwind]

I like that you included a little bit of fun in this review. Can't wait for ioniq 5 N donut test!

[alister_grigg]

Great comparison. Had an EV for 18 months now, Polestar 2 LRDM in my case, and will never buy another ICE vehicle for general daily use. Just won't; not because of costs but because around town, in traffic, the EV is just way nicer to drive and own. No petrol station visits, pretty much no maintenance, warm up (or cool down) remotely before getting in the car, etc. Now for road trips different story, we have a Mercedes GLE as well and use that for trips.

[galooney]

Love your work. Thinking outside the box

[rallychamp]

But it is not all about the financial costs, is it? In an urban environment the tailpipe emissions are noxious. Does no one there ever walk around town suffering the stink of petrol exhausts waiting at a cross walk? Fuel economy suffers in urban driving. Electric cars make such a difference in town, for drivers and pedestrians.

Is Australia not feeling the effects of climate change? Can't Australians be bothered to do anything about it?

Reading some of these comments, I'm shaking my head.

[philipmilosevich]

I'm in sales and cover some 600-650km/wk. It would be impossible to have a half charge in the 'tank' and then get a call from a customer with an issue and have to race off to fix it...then turn around and hit the freeway to go home and not knowing what the freeway will be like. Range anxiety on top of sales anxiety is not going to work

[gregnote]

21:47. You can see the weight of the car making i4 less nimble. Both are great cars. For me, if the cost was the same, I would've go for the i4. But since they are not, 330i.

[istair]

10:46 BMW official technical specifications for the current 330i is "min. RON 91" and has been for years.
This M-Sport in not an M-Series, if it was a true M3 Competition, then yes: "Fuel RON 98 (min. RON 95)".

[udeshhhhhh]

I appreciate that you did the drifting bit with the 330i. I was tossing up between getting the 2025 S3 with the RS3 diff over the 330i considering I wouldn't really be able to control slides with the 330i since they don't offer the LSD anymore. Understood that I won't really need one after I watch this bit. Couldn't find the confirmation anywhere else and great to see one of our own confirming it that Id be happy with a 330i😏 love from Melbs