Comparison
BMW i4 vs Tesla Model 3
eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) vs Premium RWD: range, price, charging, running costs and road-trip stops.
Best range Tesla Model 3 363 mi vs 333 mi
Best value Tesla Model 3 $42,490 vs $57,900
Faster charging BMW i4 30 min vs 36 min
5-yr energy Tesla Model 3 $4,400 vs $3,850
Winner by category
6 categories comparedRange winner
Tesla Model 3
363 mi vs 333 mi
Value winner
Tesla Model 3
$117/mi vs $174/mi
Charging winner
BMW i4
30 min vs 36 min
Efficiency winner
Tesla Model 3
250 Wh/mi vs 285 Wh/mi
Utility/family winner
BMW i4
Ahead on seats, cargo, and tow capacity
Performance winner
Tesla Model 3
4.9 s vs 5.5 s
Side-by-side comparison
Featured trims| Spec | BMW i4 | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Trim used | eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) | Premium RWD |
| MSRP (USD) | $57,900 | $42,490 (better) |
| Range | 333 mi | 363 mi (better) |
| Efficiency | 285 Wh/mi • 3.51 mi/kWh | 250 Wh/mi • 4 mi/kWh (better) |
| Battery (usable) | 80.7 kWh | 82 kWh (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| DC max | 205 kW | 208 kW (better) |
| AC max | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| 10–80% (DC) | 30 min (better) | 36 min |
| Roadtrip score | 81.3 (better) | 79.1 |
| Miles added (15 min est.) | 99 mi (better) | 96 mi |
| USD per mile of range | 174 $/mi | 117 $/mi (better) |
| 0–60 mph | 5.5 s | 4.9 s (better) |
| Top speed | 118 mph | 125 mph (better) |
| Cargo | 17 cu ft | 21 cu ft (better) |
| Tow rating | 3,527 lb (better) | 2,205 lb |
Pick the BMW i4 if…
- You tow: rated for 3,527 lb vs 2,205 lb.
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if…
- You want the lower price: $42,490 vs $57,900 to start, $15,410 less.
- You drive long days: 363 vs 333 miles of rated range.
- You want lower running costs: about $3,850 vs $4,400 in energy over 5 years.
- You want to use Tesla Superchargers without an adapter: it has a native NACS port.
Availability: 2026 is the final model year for the BMW i4.
5-year energy cost: BMW i4 vs Tesla Model 3
| Charging mix | BMW i4 | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 285 Wh/mi | 250 Wh/mi |
| All home charging | $3,250 | $2,850 |
| 80% home, 20% public DC | $4,400 | $3,850 |
| All public DC fast charging | $9,100 | $8,000 |
60,000 miles (12,000 a year) at rated efficiency, $0.17/kWh at home, $0.48/kWh at public fast chargers, plus 10% charging loss. A 30 mpg gas car at $3.20/gal would spend about $6,400 on fuel over the same miles. Use your own rates.
500-mile road trip: charging stops
| BMW i4 | Tesla Model 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| First leg (90% to 10%) | 226 mi | 247 mi |
| Each leg after a 10-80% stop | 198 mi | 216 mi |
| Fast-charge stops | 2 | 2 |
| Time spent charging | about 60 min | about 70 min |
| DC port | CCS1 | NACS |
Highway range taken as 85% of rated range. Each stop is counted as a full 10-80% session at the listed time, so the last stop is often shorter in practice. Cold weather and high speeds add stops. Charging time calculator.
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