How Good is 2023 BMW i4
The BMW i4 M50 was a remarkable performer during our EV of the Year testing and generated a lot of attention. Throughout the proceedings, mutterings like "I'd take this over many of BMW's internal-combustion cars" were audible. However, the i4 ultimately came in second place, in part because we were unable to test the more popular single-motor i4 eDrive40 version.
Despite this, the experience increased our enthusiasm, and as you can see from the fact that both variations were present at the 10Best proceedings, we weren't let down.
3.3 seconds is all it takes for the dual-motor M50 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. But when you boot it out of corners on the 10Best loop, its crushing 30-to-50 mph and 50-to-70 mph rolling-acceleration times of 1.5 and 2.0 seconds, respectively, are what really suck the air out of your lungs. In addition, the i4 M50's strong brakes and responsive suspension are so precisely adjusted that they successfully conceal the fact that the battery-powered M50 weighs a hefty 5084 pounds. It seems as though BMW transferred its top engineers to the i4 project.
No less stunning than its gasoline-powered counterpart, the rear-drive 430i Gran Coupe, the single-motor eDrive40 holds its own even better. Here, the i4 easily defeats the gasser in all of our standing-start and rolling-acceleration tests. While being a completely comfortable and tolerable daily driver, it is also quite balanced, nimble, and gratifying when driven hard. With EPA ratings of 301 miles on the base 18-inch tyres and 282 miles on the stickier 19s fitted to our test car, the eDrive40 also has an outstanding range. In our 75 mph highway range test, we came very close to matching that with a figure of 270 miles, which was rounded to the nearest 10 miles in accordance with our procedure.
The Gran Coupe's practical four-door hatchback design, which offers more rear-seat livability and baggage versatility than a 3-series sedan, is a feature that both i4s share. The exquisitely designed inside is fairly cosy and has a sizable, intuitively designed curved screen. In case you're not into that sort of stuff, it's also optional.
The BMW i4 distinguishes out even when compared to 10Best's wider selection of largely internal-combustion cars, whether they are rivals or corporate twins. It makes EV competitors, especially the Model 3 and Model S, seem rather rudimentary. And the i4 could just be able to convince BMW's enthusiast base to make the switch to electric vehicles themselves.