BMW Philippines has been steadily increasing its push for electrification with the iX and the iX3, and it’s great to see a handful of these units on the road. However, for those looking for a battery-powered sedan that doesn’t break the bank like the i7, the i4 is now available in the local market but only comes in one variant.

The BMW i4 is essentially the electric version of the 4-Series Gran Coupe, keeping the dynamics of an ultimate driving machine in a zero-emission vehicle. SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation only plans to introduce the base eDrive35 model to the Philippine market.

The lowest-end trim was a wise choice for its 2,065kg weight compared to the xDrive40 and the M50 due to a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive configuration. The 70.2kWh battery pack churns out a healthy 282hp and 400Nm—giving comparable figures next to the 430i Gran Coupe—and a decent range of up to 483km.

Spanning the cockpit are the 12.3-inch information display and the 14.9-inch infotainment system found throughout various other BMW models with version 8.5 of iDrive. The 12-speaker sound system envelops the cabin for Hans Zimmer’s IconicSounds.

The i4 is also the first local-spec model fitted with BMW ConnectedDrive for Filipino consumers, linking their vehicles through the MyBMW companion app. Features like vehicle vital checks and remote software updates are included in the package, which is perpetually free for life.

The i4 eDrive35 will start at P4,490,000 with a five-year or 200,000km warranty while having no competition in the electric compact luxury sedan segment. However, compared to the 420i Gran Coupe’s price tag of P4,890,000, the P400,000 difference appears to be the better deal for those looking for the EV thrill and the number-coding exemption.