BMW i4 gets 4-star rating in Euro NCAP crash test

KUALA LUMPUR: BMW is well known for making premium cars kitted with all luxuries and high-end safety technologies. However, one of the brand’s EVs, the i4, recently received four stars in the Euro NCAP safety assessment test, which was quite surprising as well as disappointing for enthusiasts and BMW fans.

The all-electric Gran Coupe was crash-tested in both RWD and AWD specifications viz. eDrive40 and M50. The category-wise scores are -

• Adult Occupant Protection - 87%
• Child Occupant Protection - 87%
• Vulnerable Road Users - 71%
• Safety Assist - 64%

As reported by Euro NCAP, the EV performed better in adult and child occupant protection categories. It offered good to adequate protection at the frontal mobile progressive deformable barrier, side mobile barrier, full-width barrier, and pole impact tests. However, it lacked in preventing occupant to occupant injuries. When it comes to the child restraint system, the EV lost points with only ISOFIX and i-Size offered on the back outboard seats.

Further, the agency noted that the autonomous emergency braking system and road user detection system worked well. But, the car lacked a system for the prevention of a secondary collision.

“BMW’s battery-electric compact executive car i4 shows that luxury does not always mean better safety performance. Equipped with a similar sensor set to the 3 Series tested in 2019, the gran sedan missed out on some critical crash avoidance points and achieved a 4-star rating,” Euro NCAP said.

Among the i4 safety technologies are adaptive cruise control with stop and go, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane centring assist, 360-degree camera system, blind-spot monitoring, Active Protection for Pedestrians, Acoustic Protection for Pedestrians, park assist, and Parking Assistant Plus.

In Malaysia, the electric sedan is on offer in two variants - eDrive40 M Sport and M50, priced at RM 374,210 and RM 415,210, respectively. The mentioned prices include the sales and service tax. The EV locks horns with the Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5; the Korean EVs that enjoy a perfect 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Also read: All-new BMW i7 coming to Malaysia, here’s what to expect?