Names matter. In the car world, a single letter can define an entire era. Think about the "M" for BMW or "RS" for Audi. But lately, the letter "I" has taken over the conversation. It used to just be a prefix for fuel injection. Now? It’s the calling card for the biggest technological pivot in automotive history.
When you look at cars that start with an i, you aren’t just looking at a list of vehicles. You're looking at a battleground. On one side, you have the legends like the Isuzu Trooper—rugged, boxy, and smelling of diesel. On the other, you have the ultra-silent, hyper-fast IONIQ 5 or the BMW i7. It's a weird mix.
The BMW i-Series: Not Just Your Typical Luxury Sled
BMW basically bet the farm on the "i" sub-brand back in 2011. Most people forget how radical the i3 was when it dropped. It looked like a stormtrooper’s helmet and was made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It was weird. People laughed. But then the i8 arrived with those butterfly doors and a three-cylinder engine that sounded way better than it had any right to, and suddenly, "i" meant "cool."
Fast forward to today. The cars that start with an i in BMW’s lineup are the ones keeping the brand relevant. The i4 is basically a 4 Series Gran Coupe that went to electric finishing school. It’s heavy, yeah, but the instant torque makes you forget that the second you hit the pedal. Then there's the i7. It has a 31-inch theater screen in the back. A literal cinema in your car. Why? Because BMW decided that luxury in 2026 isn’t about the engine roar; it’s about how well you can ignore the outside world.
Hyundai’s IONIQ Revolution
Hyundai did something brave. They took a nameplate—IONIQ—and turned it into a design powerhouse. If you haven't seen an IONIQ 5 in person, it’s hard to grasp the scale. It looks like a small hatchback in photos, but it’s actually the size of a crossover with a wheelbase longer than a massive Palisade.
The IONIQ 6 goes the other way. It’s all curves and aerodynamics. It looks like a polished river stone. Honestly, it’s polarizing. Some people hate the "banana" shape, but it cuts through the air so efficiently that the range numbers are genuinely impressive. This is where the industry is heading. Function is dictating form again.
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What about Isuzu?
We can't talk about cars that start with an i without acknowledging the workhorses. Isuzu doesn't sell passenger cars in the States anymore, but globally, the D-Max is a king. It’s the antithesis of a BMW i7. It’s dirty. It’s loud. It’s built to be beaten up in a Thai rainforest or an Australian outback.
The Isuzu Impulse is a deep cut for the enthusiasts. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it had those iconic "shrugging" eyelids over the headlights. It was a Lotus-tuned handling machine that most people have completely forgotten about. If you find one in a barn, buy it. Seriously.
The Weird Ones: Invicta and Intermeccanica
The car world is full of ghosts. Invicta is a British name that refuses to stay dead. They produced the S1 back in the early 2000s—a car that used a Ford Mustang V8 and had a body made from a single piece of carbon fiber. It was a nightmare to produce. Then you have Intermeccanica, an Italian-Canadian hybrid company that makes some of the most beautiful Porsche 356 replicas on the planet. These aren't just "cars." They are mechanical art pieces for people who find a Camry offensive.
Infiniti’s Identity Crisis
Infiniti starts with "I," obviously, but the brand has had a rough decade. They used to be the "Japanese BMW." The G35 and G37 were legitimate contenders. Now? They are leaning hard into the QX series. The QX80 is a massive, chrome-heavy beast that feels like a private jet on wheels. It’s interesting to watch a brand try to pivot from "sporty" to "opulent" while the rest of the world is pivoting to "electric."
Why "I" became the default for EVs
Ever wonder why every tech-forward car starts with "I"? It’s the Apple effect. Steve Jobs started a naming convention that we just can’t escape. Intelligence. Innovation. Internet. Individual. It’s a marketing shorthand that tells the consumer, "This car has more microchips than a Best Buy."
- Ineos Grenadier: This is for the people who cried when Land Rover changed the Defender. It’s a box. It’s rugged. It’s built by a chemical billionaire who just wanted a "proper" 4x4.
- Imperial: Chrysler’s old luxury arm. We’re talking 1950s excess. Tailfins so sharp they could draw blood.
- Impala: The Chevy legend. Whether it’s a '64 SS or a 2000s rental car, the name carries weight.
The Technical Reality of Modern I-Cars
Let's get into the weeds for a second. When you're looking at cars that start with an i like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, you're dealing with 641 horsepower. In a Hyundai. Think about that. Ten years ago, that was supercar territory. Now, it’s a family car with a drift mode.
The shift to 800-volt architecture in these cars is the real game-changer. Most EVs are 400-volt. The "I" cars from the E-GMP platform (Hyundai/Kia) can charge from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes. That’s the threshold. That’s the point where an electric car stops being a "project" and starts being a tool.
Common Misconceptions
People think "I" cars are all the same. They aren't. An Isuzu MU-X has nothing in common with an i-MiEV (Mitsubishi’s weird little electric egg from the 2010s). You have to look at the era.
- The Analog Era: Isuzu, Imperial, International Harvester (the Scout is a legend for a reason).
- The Transition Era: Infiniti, the early BMW i-cars.
- The Digital Era: IONIQ, Ineos, and the new wave of Chinese "I" brands like IM Motors (Intelligence in Motion).
The Ineos Factor: A Different Kind of "I"
The Ineos Grenadier deserves a special mention because it’s a rebel. In a world of sleek cars that start with an i, the Grenadier is a brick. It uses BMW engines (the B58 straight-six, one of the best engines ever made) but puts them in a chassis that feels like it belongs in the 1980s. It’s proof that there is still a market for mechanical simplicity, even if that simplicity costs $75,000.
Actionable Insights for Buyers
If you’re actually in the market for one of these, here’s the reality check.
If you want luxury without the gas bill: Look at the BMW i5. It’s the sweet spot of the range. It drives like a "real" car, not a spaceship. You get the build quality of a 5 Series with the silent thrust of an EV.
If you want value and tech: The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is still the king. The depreciation on early models is starting to hit, which means you can pick up a used one for a steal. Just check the battery health report before you sign anything.
If you want to go off-grid: Find an old International Harvester Scout II. They are rising in value like crazy. It’s an investment you can actually drive through a river.
If you’re a gearhead on a budget: Search for an Isuzu Impulse RS. It has a turbo, all-wheel drive, and "Handling by Lotus" badges on the side. It’s one of the coolest forgotten cars of the 90s.
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The "I" category is a microcosm of the whole industry. It represents the tension between where we’ve been (Isuzu/International) and where we’re going (IONIQ/i7). Whether you want a rugged 4x4 that will outlive you or a digital lounge that will drive itself on the highway, there’s something in this alphabetical niche for you. Just don’t expect them to all play by the same rules.
Next Steps for Your Search
Before you head to a dealership or start scouring Bring a Trailer, do these three things:
- Define your "I" profile: Are you looking for "Internal Combustion" (Isuzu, Infiniti, Ineos) or "Innovation/Electric" (IONIQ, BMW i-series)?
- Check the Platform: If buying electric, prioritize 800-volt systems if you plan on doing long road trips. It cuts your charging time in half.
- Verify Parts Availability: For brands like Isuzu (in the US) or vintage Internationals, ensure you have a local specialist. These aren't cars you take to a standard Jiffy Lube.