The Munich-based brand’s all-electric coupe-style saloon arrived in 2021 as a sleek EV that proved immediately popular due to its impressive range, class-leading refinement and exceptional drive.
It has excellent levels of performance and excellent ride comfort to boot. In short, it’s a very good EV to drive: the steering its quick and accurate , which provides reassuring confidence; the rear-mounted motor also delivers strong levels of performance and grip which makes it more pleasing to drive than the Polestar 2.
The M50 model delivers even more power, 537bhp to be exact, but for day-to-day driving the eDrive40 has more than enough punch for anyone.
While it is a premium EV, it does come at a cost, particularly after you’ve added some optional extras. The entry-level i4 eDrive35 starts from £49,995, while the longer-range eDrive40 costs from £57,890.
Opt for the range-topping hot M50 version and the price rises to £71,085 – and this is likely to be more than £75,000 with options.
The eDrive40 has an excellent range, with the i4 capable of travelling up to 365 miles on a single charge. Better still, the i4 can be charged at a speed of up to 205kW, which means you can boost the battery from 10-80% in as little as 30 minutes.
Of course, varying factors impact the range of an EV such as cold weather and weight, but the i4 offers good efficiency and a real-world range of between 316 and 320 miles.
Its looks are divisive, despite its sleek looks and coupe-styling. The front-grille carried over from the 4 Series Gran Coupé is the main talking point when it comes to design – and in this blanked-off format it’s certainly controversial.
Other details like the BMW-i accents on the doors and grille won’t be to everyone’s tastes; the more aggressive styling of the M50 – which goes without the blue bits – looks better.
The infotainment system is excellent and very easy to use. The i4 gets the latest infotainment system which is operated through a curved 14.3in touchscreen display. Its graphics are a cut above, with the touchscreen responsive and well configured.
BMW also adds a rotary controller in the centre console which makes it easy to move between menus when on the move, rather than use the touchscreen.
Even though the coupe looks make the i4 stand out, this does have a detrimental impact on space in the back, with the plunging roofline limiting head room. This isn’t helped by the rear seats being positioned slightly higher in the back due to the battery sitting in the floor of the i4.
There is also a large central hump in the floor which encroaches on leg room, especially for the middle rear passenger.
The build quality is impressive, with the interior delivery excellent levels of refinement for a classy, premium feel. The cabin is laden with top notch soft touch materials, and everything feels very well screwed together.
Granted, the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron offer more plushness, but they’re both substantially more expensive than the BMW.
The performance-orientated M50 variant isn’t as dynamic as its rivals from Tesla and Porsche and you lose a significant amount of range. With 537bhp the M50 has plenty of punch, and is good for a 0-62mph sprint in 3.8sec.
Despite its searing performance, the handling isn’t as sweet as the eDrive40 due it is having less weight on the nose, and there is more body lean in the M50, even with the M Adaptive Suspension.
Despite its couple-styling, it does offer good levels of practicality. It gets a large 470-litre boot, too, which is bigger than one found in the Tesla Model 3 (425-litres) and Polestar 2 (405-litres). There are also some handy cubby holes and storage spaces found throughout the cabin.
If you’re covering big miles and are reliant on the public charging network, it’s worth noting that the Tesla Model 3 has far better access to a plug due to the American brand’s widespread and unrivalled Supercharger network.
Finding a charger that offers up to 200kW is a challenge these days, so if you’re planning on doing longer journeys it might be worth considering the Model 3.
