- The M50 is the highest performance model in the BMW i4 range.
- Acceleration figures aside, this isn’t the best-handling or best-driving i4.
- The M50 has less driving range than other i4s but charges quickly and predictably
Until BMW’s Neue Klasse series arrives in 2025, with “outsider” i3 EV Beyond that, the i4 remains the entry point for electric vehicles in the German automaker’s lineup, but at nearly $90,000 for the top-performance i4 M50 version I just drove, it seems like the most unlikely entry-level electric car.
In the two years since the i4 hatchback was launched, the market around it has changed a bit. Hyundai Ioniq 6 proved that a sedan with a roofline similar to its own could be remarkably spacious and efficient. Pole Star 2 has shifted its focus to rear-wheel drive. And perhaps most notably, Tesla Model 3 Performance has been completely renovated.
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
Spending more time in the i4 reminded me that this EV is a worthy rival to those models, but with a completely different set of priorities—aiming to bring BMW’s signature driving experience further into the electric realm. And it made me realize that the lesser i4 versions deliver that in a less burdensome way than the M50.
Whether or not this is the ultimate electric driving machine, my time with the i4 M50 made me appreciate the well-integrated wireless Apple CarPlay, the impressive Harman Kardon audio, the stripped-down interface from the i5 and i7, and the crisp head-up display that adds a lot of versatility to the interface.
Over a few days this spring, I drove the i4 M50 from Portland to an event at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, and back. No, sadly, I didn’t take it to the track. But I did try it out on some of my favorite back roads and some errands around town, and here are the pros and cons of the i4 as I experienced it.
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
Pros: M50 is responsive, quick to steer
The BMW i4 M50’s acceleration feels punchy and almost supercar-quick. That’s because a pair of rear-biased permanent magnet motors produce 469 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque (or 536 hp and 586 lb-ft in Sport Boost mode). With an official 3.7 seconds to 60 mph for the M50, it feels much quicker than the rear-wheel-drive i4 eDrive40 and its 335-hp, 317-lb-ft 0-60 time of around 5.4 seconds—in part, perhaps, because the M50’s tires are so good at providing all the traction it needs. The M50 also steers very quickly and precisely, which matches the character of its all-wheel-drive electric powertrain, though we’d like more feel through the wheel.
BMW i4 M50 2024
Cons: Not the driving experience of the 3-Series
Take the i4 off the country road and it feels heavy, especially in this M50 build. It feels like it should have an 8-Series badge rather than a 4-Series badge. The i4 M50 has an official curb weight of 5,018 pounds. That’s about 1,000 pounds heavier than today’s 840i coupe and nearly 1,500 pounds heavier than a base 2024 3-Series. While I only glimpsed the immense cornering potential of the low-profile, grippy Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Elect summer performance tires—255/35R20s up front, 285/30R20s out back—the steering doesn’t load as reassuringly or respond to the road as the steering on the iX electric SUV. Or, for that matter, the eDrive40 I drove on some of those same roads two years ago. The M50’s on-road ride quality isn’t great either. Between the air suspension, adaptive M dampers, specially tuned anti-roll bars and front strut tower brace, something just isn’t right. If it’s not the weight, then it’s probably the simplicity.
BMW i4 eDrive40 2023
Pros: BMW i4 has expected fast charging times
i4 is not exactly one of the fastest charging electric caror an EV that charges at a particularly high power. But BMW electric cars have offered “no surprises” DC fast charging since the i3, and this M50 i4 is no exception. During a stop on the road, with the 350kW EVgo connector plugged in at 4% charge, the i4 quickly ramped up to around 205kW, and reached 71% in just 30 minutes.
BMW i4 M50 2024
As Green Car Reports has previously highlighted, using the 150kW connector instead won’t slow you down much. With the previous i4 eDrive40, I plugged into the 150kW connector at just 3% charge and got to 67% in 30 minutes. Just to see what happens to a peace of mind plug in a suboptimal situation, I plugged the M50 into the 150kW connector at 40% charge and got to 22% in 10 minutes.
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
Cons: M50 has poor range and efficiency
The i4 M50 I drove came with the 20-inch wheels, with matching M wheels, M Sport brakes, and Shadowline trim and lights. The i4’s stance with this combination is great, but the wheels cost $2,500 more up front. The ride quality isn’t the same with them, and you’ll lose a lot of range if you opt for them instead of the 19-inch wheels that come with the M50. The M50’s official EPA range drops from 269 miles with the 19s to 227 miles with the 20s this test car had. That’s down from the 301 miles the eDrive40 version can squeeze out from the same 80.7 kWh battery capacity.
BMW i4 eDrive40 2023
Note that most BMW i4 2025 has a slightly improved operating range, plus a refreshed interior look.
In the 336 miles I drove the i4, it averaged 2.6 miles per kilowatt-hour, according to its trip computer, on a highway-focused mix, with an ambient temperature around 55 degrees and climate control set to automatic at 69-72 degrees. While the eDrive40 seems to be overshooting its range, I quickly saw that 227 miles was optimistic for the M50 in real-world conditions. I’m pretty sure that Polestar 2 with Performance Package beats it in real-world driving conditions, with an EPA rating of 247 miles.
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
BMW i4 M50 2024
Pros: i4 front seat comfort
The BMW i4 has excellent front sport seats, including extendable legroom and driver-side width adjustment. Yes, the center console feels a little cramped compared to expansive layouts like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3, but I got used to it quickly, and the seats were refreshing after hours on the highway.
BMW i4 eDrive40 2023
Cons: Everything is in the back seat
The 3 Series has never had great rear-seat space, and the i4 follows that tradition and more. The i4 has narrow door cutouts and a low roofline in the back, especially around the door openings, so getting in and out is difficult. With the front seats adjusted for 6-footers, there’s barely any legroom in the back, and anyone close to 6 feet will bang their head on the soft headliner. On the window sticker and in marketing, BMW is labeling the i4 as a Gran Coupe for 2024, when it’s not a 2023, so this may be part of an effort to make shoppers see that this is a price worth paying for a more stylish roofline. Cargo space with the rear seats up is just 10.0 cubic feet, but more than 45.6 cubic feet when folded. Just pick the latter; this is a hatchback—and in the spirit of a coupe.
BMW i4 eDrive40 2023
BMW i4 M50 2024
Basic price: $70,695
Tested price: $87,845 (M Sport Pro Package, HP Tire Package, many other trim and technology options)
Motivation: Dual permanent magnet motor, combined output 469 hp and 538 lb-ft, 536 hp and 586 lb-ft in turbo mode; all-wheel drive
EPA effectiveness: Electric range is 227 miles, combined 2.4 mpg
Hits: Powerful powertrain, quick steering, predictable charging times, supportive front seats.
Girls: Rear seat space is cramped, powertrain is heavy, and the M50’s range and efficiency are poor.
