BMW i4 review

On the face of it this is a mighty attractive idea and an easy thing to describe: an electric 4 Series Gran Coupe. Although to be truthful it's not that, because frankly that'd be a bit of a bodge-up.

It has a different floor, suspension and even seats, all to fit around the electric bits. And it wears a new dash that's on-trend with the enormo-screen experience beloved by fashion-forward EV buyers.

By which of course we mean the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. Yup, the i4 has in its sights those low-slung, fast but not-ridiculously-unaffordable electric cars.

Run me through the options.

The RWD eDrive35 packs 282bhp and 295lb ft for 0-62mph in six seconds flat, powered by a 70kWh battery (67kWh useable) that's good for 299 miles of range between charges. If you're brave enough, that is.

Then there's the eDrive40, which upgrades the battery (84/81kWh) and harnesses more oomph - 335 and 317lb ft - for 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds. The big appeal here isn't the bragging rights but the extra range: 359 miles on paper.

But aren't 'performance' EVs supposed to be lightning fast?

Step up to the twin-motor i4, AWD M50 and it just might. 0-62 in 3.9s courtesy of 526bhp and 586lb ft. It sits in the M Performance hierarchy and costs £72k. As you'd expect it has firmed-up suspension. But its bigger tyres and extra motor erode the range to 315 miles.

The M50 is startlingly rapid, especially so if you've double-pressed the mode switch into 'sport boost'. A fairly po-faced name compared with 'Ludicrous' or 'Plaid' we know, but it's effective.

While most electric cars seem to run out of enthusiasm once you're broaching UK motorway speed, this one keeps forging ahead into autobahn territory. It's limited to 140mph (the RWD cars manage 118mph) and can get there in quite some hurry. That's partly due to the design of BMW's motors, which have no permanent magnets. That also means they use no rare-earth metals.

Is the M50 the one to have then?

Er, probably not. Sure it has frankly brutal acceleration and grip, especially as the test car had optional 20-inch wheels and tyres. But perhaps in pursuit of all that, it sacrifices the delicacy and feel of the best of BMW's cars.

Whereas the cheaper i4s have nicer steering, a more compliant ride, and a lighter-hearted RWD attitude to corners. It's not so fast, but it's more fun on real roads.

What about those screens?

The i division's airy, new-materials openness, as seen in the i3 and iX, doesn't show up here. The i4's cabin is pretty much what we expect from a BMW sports saloon. Well, five-door hatch actually (there’s a big and useful boot out back).

However, this is a new display system. It’s a pair of curved screens joined under a single glass sheet, bracketed proud of the dash itself. The screen system itself works well, and you can configure it with multiple options. There's also an iDrive controller wheel. But most of BMW's other shortcut buttons have been banished. So there's no longer one for the driver aids, and that's a right pain. In fact the whole thing is borderline baffling (how many times have we said this with the latest cars?): too many functions, anti-intuitive, tries to do too much for you and mostly fails.

How many EVs will BMW make?

Loads. We've seen battery versions of the X3, 7 Series and 5 Series, and there's plenty more to come. Electric X2, anyone?

There are also the specialist, all-in EVs, although that’s now only the iX since the i3's demise. From 2025 there will be a new batch of EVs called the Neue Klasse, with long range thanks to their batteries being built into the structure, and heavy reliance on recycled metals.

Still, traditionalists can take heart: the company is also developing another new generation of combustion engines for intro the same year.

We like the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, but there's still a vacancy for a really sweet-driving alternative. The i4 is that alternative. In eDrive40 guise it rides very well and handles more deftly than any other comparative EV. A little heavier handling and slightly numb on steering compared to an ICE 3 Series, but otherwise good.

The new screen interface is a mixed blessing, but otherwise the cabin has all the qualities of a typical BMW. It's snug and well-made. The frameless doors are a nice touch, and, well, it’s not as offensive as some of the stuff BMW’s been churning out recently.

Meanwhile, this is a car with the sort of range that should allow almost anyone to do almost any of their road trips. It charges fast, and brisk driving or low temperatures don't harm the range as badly as some EVs. It runs Tesla’s battery tech close for year-round use.

It doesn't look like a spaceship, but lots of people don't want that. This car’s secret superpower is that it’s a proper BMW.