BMW i4 review

As a purely electric model, the i4 comes with two electric motor options to pair with its 87kWh battery pack. For both the Sport and M Sport, BMW fits the eDrive40 setup that comes with a single motor mounted on the rear axle. The M Division-developed M50 is fitted with two motors – one on each axle – to give four-wheel drive and additional performance.

With the eDrive40, the i4 has 340hp and 430Nm of torque at its disposal. With only rear-wheel drive, 0-60mph takes 5.7 seconds and it can go on to a top speed of 118mph. Not the fastest EV  around, granted , but it’s more than capable of getting up to speed on country roads and motorways.

On the M50 though, BMW has let its M Division work its magic, so it can sprint to 60 from standstill in just 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 140mph. The acceleration is almost identical as an M3, although the petrol-powered M will reach a higher top speed – and it has that bit more character an EV can’t replicate.

If you’re after range over performance, then you should look towards the eDrive40-powered models. They offer a claimed range of 367 miles depending on conditions and how you drive it – so around the market average of all electric vehicles.

But if you want that punch of electric performance, the M50 has a 316-mile range. So the additional performance and added weight of an extra motor does make a bit of a difference.

You’ll also be pleased to hear that the i4 has flexible charging options. You can choose to charge up at home using a 11kW wallbox, but charging takes 8.5 hours – so maybe something for overnight.

But if you’re out on a long journey and need extra juice, you can charge up at DC points. At a 200kW charger, you can add 102 miles of range to the eDrive40 and 87 miles to the M50 in just 10 minutes – that’s pretty speedy. Maximum charging capacity of the battery is 210kW, so if you can find a charger with that performance, it’ll fill up even faster.

As with most BMWs, you can place the i4 easily on the road and, especially with the four-wheel drive in the M50, you get plenty of traction out of the corners. But as is the way with other EVs, steering feel is lacking – something that you would need to get used to.

You also have to get used to how heavy it is. The i4 tips the scales at 2,125kg and up until you push it hard round a corner, BMW has done a great job of hiding that weight. But when you’re weaving down a country road at higher speeds, you’ll feel the i4’s heft – making the lighter and equally powerful petrol-powered M3 that bit more enjoyable to drive.

Views out of the cabin are rather good, with the A-pillars not restricting your eyeline out to the side, and the rear view window is large enough for minimal issues. However, the bonnet does restrict your sight out of the front, so you may want to look towards an SUV if you want a better view.

On the motorways, you’ll find the i4 is very refined, and the expected wind noise is very minimal indeed. Tyre noise is more dominant, but even that isn’t very intrusive.

In the UK, you get the choice of 17”, 18” and 19” wheels on the Sport and M Sport models, while the M50 has the option of 19” and 20” wheels. Even with the largest alloys, the M50 is very comfortable thanks to the adaptive M suspension – so cracks and expansion joints won’t disrupt the ride much at all.

With that adaptive suspension, you can use the comfort and sportier setups – and even the sportier M50, which is stiffer, feels very comfortable in the softest mode.

Drivers can also choose to use the ‘B’ driving mode. This turns the regenerative braking up, and means you can have true one-pedal driving as it brings you to a complete stop when you lift your foot off the accelerator.