Question 1

Which has lower long-term cost — BMW 3 Series or BMW i4?

Accepted Answer

Based on national-average assumptions, the BMW i4 is about $1,282 cheaper to own over 5 years. The breakdown includes depreciation, insurance, fuel or energy, maintenance, financing, and registration. Your localized total may differ based on state fuel prices, insurance rates, and EV registration fees.

Question 2

Which is cheaper to insure — BMW 3 Series or BMW i4?

Accepted Answer

Insurance varies by state, ZIP code, age, and credit tier. Enter a ZIP to see a localized estimate; both vehicles' national-average premiums are shown on the compare page.

Question 3

Which depreciates faster — BMW 3 Series or BMW i4?

Accepted Answer

Depreciation over the first five years is itemized in the cost breakdown. Luxury and EV models typically lose more value in early years; segment leaders and Toyota/Honda hold value better.

Question 4

Is the BMW 3 Series better than the BMW i4?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you drive. The compare page scores both vehicles across five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, driver assistance, livability, and safety — combined into one MotiveGrid Score, alongside a 5-year cost breakdown and a clear verdict. Pick the one whose strengths match how you actually use a car.

Question 5

Why do these two vehicles get different ADAS (driver-assist) scores?

Accepted Answer

Our ADAS scale weighs sensor stack (radar + camera vs camera-only), hands-free operating domain (highway vs any divided road), driver-monitoring quality (eye-tracking vs torque sensor), and whether the system gets OTA improvements. Two vehicles can advertise the same feature names and still score 20+ points apart once operating envelope and update cadence are accounted for.

Question 6

Why does EV depreciation differ from a comparable gas vehicle?

Accepted Answer

EV residuals follow a different curve for three reasons. Aggressive manufacturer price cuts and subsidized lease deals compress the used market — a new EV often transacts well below MSRP, dragging down used values. Battery state-of-health uncertainty creates a risk premium on used EVs. And fast-improving charging speed, range, and ADAS hardware make a 3-year-old EV feel older than a 3-year-old gas car.

Metric	BMW 3 Series	BMW i4
MotiveGrid Score	68	56
Cost of Ownership	56	57
Powertrain	64	61
Driver Assistance	6	6
Livability	61	37
Safety	95	85
5-Year Cost to Own	$66,602	$65,320
Depreciation (5-yr)	$25,968	$32,077
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$9,942	$4,097
Insurance (5-yr)	$16,580	$14,570
Maintenance (5-yr)	$4,080	$1,915
Tires (5-yr)	$1,550	$1,875
Financing (5-yr)	$7,222	$8,711
Registration (5-yr)	$1,260	$2,075
Starting Price	$48,000	$57,900
Horsepower	255 hp	335 hp
MPG (combined)	35 mpg	—
Electric range	—	301 mi
Cargo volume	16.9 cu ft	10 cu ft
Seating	5	5
Towing capacity	3,500 lbs	—
Drivetrain	RWD	RWD

BMW 3 Series vs. BMW i4

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

Which vehicle is right for you

Cost of Ownership

Frequently asked questions

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