Compare the2026 BMW i4VS 2026 Lucid Motors Air

The i4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Air doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The i4 has standard BMW Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Air doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the i4 and the Air have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The i4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Air’s (12 vs. 10 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i4 for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Lucid Motors pays for maintenance for the Air (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

There are almost 8 times as many BMW dealers as there are Lucid Motors dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the i4’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the i4’s reliability 30 points higher than the Air.

The i4 stops much shorter than the Air:

The rear suspension of the i4 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Air, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The i4 has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Air doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The i4 M60 handles at .96 G’s, while the Air Grand Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The i4 is 7.4 inches shorter than the Air, making the i4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the i4 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Air doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the i4. The Air doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the i4’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Air doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The i4 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Air doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the i4 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Air can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the i4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Air’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The i4’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Air’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

The i4’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Air has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW i4, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lucid Motors Air isn't recommended.

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Lucid Motors Air by over four to one during 2025.