SWITCHING TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAN FEEL ODD, BUT THIS CAR MAKES IT EASY AND FUN
If you're not used to them, electric cars can feel very odd. They don't idle, they don't shift, and they don't make any of the typical noises we are accustomed to when driving. The weirdness could turn off a lot of gasoline car drivers looking to make the switch.
The BMW i4 M50 xdrive may have a complicated name, but it's a simple transition for those looking to switch from gasoline to an electron-powered car.
BMW offers three EV models in Canada — the ix, the i4, and the i7. The base i4 rings in at $54,990, uses a single electric motor at the rear, and makes 254 horsepower. The i4 M50 uses the same battery pack, but adds an identical motor up front to boost the horsepower to 536 and give it all-wheel drive.
The rear wheel drive model has a notably longer range, at 484 kilometres, versus the M50 at 435 km. All that power hustles the incredibly heavy 2,276-kilogram sedan to 100 kilometres per hour in 3.9 seconds. This means the M50 is faster than its gasoline-powered counterpart, the X3 M340i, though the M50 does cost more. For reference, a dual-motor Tesla Model 3 will hustle to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.3 seconds.
My favourite part of the i4 M50 is just how BMW it all feels. Even though it doesn't idle like a gas engine, the car is started with a blue push-button in the same place as the internal combustion engine model. It also uses the same shifter and on the move it feels like most other BMW sedans of the past five years, albeit with much more thrust and extra heft.
Despite the mass, the i4 is a car that enjoys spirited driving and it's a blast to slingshot out of corners with that instant electric torque. Launch mode is typically a pain to engage on BMW M models, but on the i4 M50, it's a cinch. Just depress the brake and “gas” pedal fully, in that order, and then release the brakes. It's endless fun, though it does burn a couple kilometres of range each time you do it.
Electric cars are, by nature, almost entirely silent. BMW hired legendary composer Hans Zimmer to create one for the i4 and other EV models. Dubbed BMW Iconicsounds, the synthetic soundscape changes, depending on the drive mode you select.
The soundtrack can be toggled on and off using a complex path of menu selections, but it's easier to use a voice command. Saying “iconic sounds” will put a switch onscreen.
I preferred to drive around with the system turned off, for no other reason than it makes a perfect environment to listen to the premium Harman Kardon audio system, which was one of the very best I have experienced. If you really love premium audio in a car, this could be a reason to choose the i4 over gas-powered options.
All this comes at a price. The base i4 starts at $54,990, and the M50 AWD version costs a significant $18,000 more, at $72,990. Our test car had $14,045 in factory options, plus an additional $8,206 in dealer-option carbon fibre. That brings the total as-tested price to $95,241.
The carbon-fibre pack was the largest option here, and while it doesn't add performance, the look of real carbon may be worth it for some.
The package includes carbon-fibre front bumper pieces, a rear diffuser, rear spoiler, rear bumper insert, an Alcantara armrest, and a badge that says “carbon” on the dashboard. This car also had the $600 factory carbon-fibre interior option.
Other big-ticket items include the $5,750 Premium Enhanced Package. This is a catch-all upgrade that includes the premium audio system, heads-up display, 360-degree parking camera, and BMW drive recorder. There's also the $2,000 Advanced Driver Assistance Package which includes lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, radar cruise control and other assists. The laser headlights are a $1,500 option.
If I was buying an i4, I would go for the Premium Enhanced pack for the Harman Kardon audio. The driver-assist pack is also worth it for the radar cruise alone, in my opinion.
I would skip the exterior carbon, though it does look very smart. The biggest debate for me would be whether to spend another $18,000 for extra range and AWD.
Whichever variant and options you choose, the i4 is a great way to enter the EV field without driving a car that feels like a science project. And the i4 elevates the EV experience from a novelty to one that's legitimately enjoyable on its own merits.