[smatanovic]

Thanks Sir !!
My 2 weeks summer holiday to the sea side are bit worst considering all sea stuffs i bring with me.. (toys, beach umbrella, beach chair...) + stroller and baby bicycle..

In that case I don't think that anything other than an SUV is going to work. That said, when we were car shopping, we made the decision that we would pick a car that suited our day-to-day needs and rent when we needed something larger. Why drag around three rows and empty cargo space all year long, when you really only need it twice a year?

 

[Lucas86]

As others have said, compared to the Model 3 the i4 cargo space is huge. I know the numbers aren't that big of a difference, but the lift back makes the space much more usable.

My daughter has a large Dream Duffel dance bag which is roughly 36x20x20 and we are able to fit that, a large suitcase, and a couple small bags without putting the back seat down. I could barely fit the dance bag and small suitcase in my Model 3, and definitely not with a large suitcase.

thank you very much for your feedback. Do you own both cars? there is big liters difference difficult to explain if I4 really fit so better. Any pics to share?

 

[Lucas86]

In that case I don't think that anything other than an SUV is going to work. That said, when we were car shopping, we made the decision that we would pick a car that suited our day-to-day needs and rent when we needed something larger. Why drag around three rows and empty cargo space all year long, when you really only need it twice a year?

thats right ! We like to travel during the weekend and as of today the UX 320 liters is absolutely not enough even for a weekend: stroller+1 soft bag+1little bag and its full.

 

[spudlewski]

thank you very much for your feedback. Do you own both cars? there is big liters difference difficult to explain if I4 really fit so better. Any pics to share?

I traded in the Model 3, I had it for 4 years and many dance trips. The issue is more shape than space, which is why I use that particular bag as my measure since it's so unwieldy. The biggest issue I had with the Model 3 was fitting the bag through the opening and moving it to where I could make room for other things. For large bulky items, the lift back design is far easier.

I unfortunately don't have any pictures, sorry, but there are some here

 

[i4.phil]

A touring/wagon would be perfect. I wish we have more choices here.

 

[smatanovic]

thats right ! We like to travel during the weekend and as of today the UX 320 liters is absolutely not enough even for a weekend: stroller+1 soft bag+1little bag and its full.

Well I suspect you will find the i4 significantly more useful for weekend road tripping. But you won’t fit 2 weeks worth of gear without a rooftop box or similar.

 

[smatanovic]

A touring/wagon would be perfect. I wish we have more choices here.

This!!! My last few cars (2x Saab 9-5 and BMW e91) were wagons and it’s really my preferred form factor. A hatch like the i4 is second.

 

[i4.phil]

Bmw doesn't seem to want to sell small touring/wagons here. Right before getting the i4 i actually went to the mercedes shop and asked for small c-class touring, like those seen in magazines. They said none too and pointed to an E-class touring (too large) and the EQB. I said please not the EQB because it can't outrun the highway patrol (max 100 mph).

 

[Phillies8008]

Bmw doesn't seem to want to sell small touring/wagons here. Right before getting the i4 i actually went to the mercedes shop and asked for small c-class touring, like those seen in magazines. They said none too and pointed to an E-class touring (too large) and the EQB. I said please not the EQB because it can't outrun the highway patrol (max 100 mph).

I think more to the point is that Americans don't want to buy wagons*, and manufacturers like to sell things that people want. As unfathomable as it is to me personally, Americans love their crossovers, SUVs, and trucks.

*Arguably, crossovers are essentially just wagons with a slightly different form-factor, but that's neither here nor there.

 

[i4.phil]

There's a couple of audi and subaru wagons but i'm not too interested in those though.

 

[rollermonkey]

I think more to the point is that Americans don't want to buy wagons*, and manufacturers like to sell things that people want. As unfathomable as it is to me personally, Americans love their crossovers, SUVs, and trucks.

*Arguably, crossovers are essentially just wagons with a slightly different form-factor, but that's neither here nor there.

For years, I've described SUVs as station wagons with better PR, or minivans without a sliding door.

 

[smatanovic]

For years, I've described SUVs as station wagons with better PR, or minivans without a sliding door.

One of the most practical cars I’ve ever owned was a Mazda 5. Same chassis as a Mazda 3 (think VW Golf-sized car) but with three rows and sliding doors. It wasn’t particularly fast and the interior plastics felt like a child’s toy, but three rows and sliding doors in that small a platform was amazing when my kiddos were really small. We could transport all of their crap and not worry about a door being taken off while strapping them into their car seats.

 

[rollermonkey]

One of the most practical cars I’ve ever owned was a Mazda 5. Same chassis as a Mazda 3 (think VW Golf-sized car) but with three rows and sliding doors. It wasn’t particularly fast and the interior plastics felt like a child’s toy, but three rows and sliding doors in that small a platform was amazing when my kiddos were really small. We could transport all of their crap and not worry about a door being taken off while strapping them into their car seats.

Oh, that statement was never meant as a knock on minivans or station wagons. It's an insult of the herd mentality / lack of rational thought that has led to the monster market penetration of SUVs.

Minivans and station wagons were plenty popular until someone decided vehicles, when purpose-built for families were no longer deemed manly enough, and started becoming shorthand for personal insult.
Despite early SUVs being little more than station wagons with 4WD, (AMC Eagle, anyone?) that term has the word SPORTS in it, so that's manly, right? And UTILITY? That describes tools, and tools are manly, right?

...and just like that, the arms race to have the biggest dick, I mean SUV on the block took off.

It was genius marketing, but that doesn't mean I have to actually like it.

 

[Lucas86]

This!!! My last few cars (2x Saab 9-5 and BMW e91) were wagons and it’s really my preferred form factor. A hatch like the i4 is second.

Today I have tried skoda enyaq. It feels vety confortable with huge trunk.. more thank 500 liters!

 

[kipsate]

Oh, that statement was never meant as a knock on minivans or station wagons. It's an insult of the herd mentality / lack of rational thought that has led to the monster market penetration of SUVs.

Minivans and station wagons were plenty popular until someone decided vehicles, when purpose-built for families were no longer deemed manly enough, and started becoming shorthand for personal insult.
Despite early SUVs being little more than station wagons with 4WD, (AMC Eagle, anyone?) that term has the word SPORTS in it, so that's manly, right? And UTILITY? That describes tools, and tools are manly, right?

...and just like that, the arms race to have the biggest dick, I mean SUV on the block took off.

It was genius marketing, but that doesn't mean I have to actually like it.

Specially as EVs, SUVs suffer the most due to their lack of efficiency (size, poor aerodynamics). I vastly prefer station wagons as a family vehicle. We owned an 330e and were extremely happy with it. Unfortunately BMW will only release their first EV Station Wagon in late 2024.

But the i4 is the next best thing after a station wagon, having also a more attractive and sporty design. We really love our i4 and is has proven to be a very capable family car. I crossed Europe with two toddlers last year to spend two weeks in Mediterranean coast. The drive was smooth and incredibly relaxing.

 

[SKolja]

Trunk capacity is approximately one ****-ton.
Seriously, though, this is gear for me and my three teen aged kids, for one week.

se View attachment 37047

1 adult + 2 teenagers for a week long trip (30% takes just a fridge). 2+2 setup neds an i5 ;-)