2022 BMW i4 vs 2022 Dodge Charger

After entering the modern electric car era with the radical i3 hatchback, BMW is dialing things back a bit. The 2022 BMW i4 isn’t as radical as the i3, but it may also appeal to a wider audience.

Instead of a dedicated platform, the i4 uses the same body shell as the gasoline BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, which in turn is a four-door version of the BMW 4 Series coupe and convertible. The result is an electric vehicle with dimensions fairly close to the BMW 3 Series, the Bavarian automaker’s signature product. By offering an electric alternative, BMW is showing that it’s serious about electric vheicles (EVs).

The i4’s closest rivals are the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, as both are electric four-doors from premium brands. Most of BMW’s traditional rivals, such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz, are focusing on electric crossover SUVs and more expensive sedans for now. The Porsche Taycan is positioned above the i4 in price and performance aspirations.

As with other BMW models, the i4 launches in multiple configurations based on its drivetrain rather than conventional trim levels. The single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) BMW i4 eDrive40 is the base model, and the one we test drove for this review. Buyers looking for more power can upgrade to the dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) i4 M50, which is featured in our video review, above.

A living fossil is an animal that exists today that resembles a long-extinct species. There are a number of sharks and mollusks that fit this description. And the same could be said for the 2022 Dodge Charger. It has muscular proportions, a similar layout, and an identical name to long-dead forebears, but it carries on in its own way—despite the veracity of any shared DNA.

Given how much the auto industry is changing, the Charger is an unlikely car for this decade—or even this century. But perhaps not. As much as the industry is rapidly evolving, buyer behaviour might not be so quick to change. For every electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast, there are those who truly wish to stick to their guns when it comes to traditional gas vehicles. And certainly many lament the dwindling light of the big, thirsty muscle car.

Whether it be nostalgia or a more timeless form of automotive enthusiasm, the Dodge Charger clearly hit a nerve with many over the past two decades. Whether you prefer electric cars, hybrids, 4x4s, or even mass transit, it’s hard to argue the fact that the automotive world is just a better place with cars like the Dodge Charger in it.