BMW i4 briefly:

  • BMW i4 contains recycled materials inside
  • BMW i4 is a very quick and dynamic sports car built sustainably
  • The production of the car, as well as its batteries, is made with renewable energy
  • Secondary raw materials are being used for the production of the battery

Sustainability in the BMW i4 M50

One of the most important aspects of any model from the BMW Group is the care for the planet, without sacrificing the build or quality that the fans of the brands are used to and the BMW i4 is no exception.

The numbers and facts that you'll read in this test drive about this car's sustainability factor are dating back to 2021, so that for the facelift model that we tested, with the same electric motor configuration, the results are at least as good.

Firstly, compared to a BMW 4 Series with a 2 liter petrol engine, the global warming potential associated with the electric vehicle's entire lifecycle (from the moment of production and logistics and until the moment it's recycled), is about 32% lower. If we take into account the use of renewable power only for charging the vehicle, then the climate impact is just 36% of a petrol-powered 420i.

So, the decrease in emissions is obvious in the case of both models, but it's important to mention that, at least in 2021, recycling the petrol model was more planet-friendly than that of the battery-powered version.

That's because the battery recycling processes weren't as advanced as they are today. Battery recycling is a technological process that even now is continuously being developed and you can read more about the impact of batteries in the automotive industry from this article.

Another interesting thing to observe is that, in the case of the electric i4, production related emissions, as well as those associated with charging the vehicle, are about the same, if we take into account an energy mix usage for charging the vehicle.

But if we were to use renewable power only to charge this car, then almost its entire carbon footprint comes from production alone. For the ICE (internal combustion engine) version, about 60% of its environmental footprint comes from fueling it with diesel or petrol.

Two more technologies contribute to a lower impact on the planet for the electric model, which are eDrive and BMW EfficientDynamics.

We couldn't find exact number regarding the percentage of recycled materials incorporated in the chassis or the interior materials for the facelift i4, but BMW began integrating secondary materials in the manufacturing of all its vehicles back in 2021, something we emphasized in the test drive for the BMW iX.

We know the fact that BMW uses renewable energy for the production of its vehicles, as well as its batteries and the electric motors are being produced using as little virgin rare earth materials as possible since 2021. Instead, the company relies on secondary raw materials or alternative electric motors designs that don't use rare earths.

How is it to drive the i4 M50

Beyond sustainability, perhaps the most important aspect of this car is how does it feel to drive, how does it feel on the road and who is it for. I can tell you who's not going to appreciate this car very much. The BMW i4 in the M50 and M60 versions are probably not for someone looking for a long-distance family car, not because the range isn't good enough, but because it doesn't offer an optimal comfort, at least not on Romania's rough roads.

You're probably wondering what is a BMW i4 M50 and M60. These models have been optimized by the company's engineers to be more agile, more dynamic and faster, which is why they benefit from the "M Performance" treatment.

The team responsible for these modifications deals with the optimization of all BMW models that feature an M or M Performance version to make them faster and more pleasant to drive, but generally, the comfort is the one sacrificed due to the stiffer suspension, which doesn't take potholes as well, for example.

Thus, there have been added modifications to the suspension systems of both models, the braking system, as well as to the way the electric motors are being optimized, which offer a Sport Boost mode to deliver the best possible performance and acceleration.

The steering is also stiffer on these cars than on a regular BMW, in order to deliver maximum precision, meaning that the steering wheel requires more effort to turn. Also on these models, there are some exterior elements installed to improve the aerodynamic performance, as well as the esthetics and of course, there are plenty of "M" badges installed all over the car.

The BMW i4 M50 has a maximum power output of 544 HP, while the M60, launched just this year, bumps that up to 601 HP.

Being an M Performance model, because fans of the brand say it's not a "real" M car, this model favors the stability and performance around the corners and on winding roads, as well as acceleration and it's not as much about absorbing the imperfections.

Yes, it's a very rigid car, but that's what makes it special when it comes to sporty and dynamic driving. No corner will pose an issue for this car, no matter how tight it is and as a fun fact, the i4 M50 is the "blueprint" that BMW used to developed the i4 Racing model called "Elsa", used at various competitions in Romania.

On winding roads and on a highway or a road with good quality asphalt, this car is almost perfect. The way it sits "planted" on the road, even at higher speeds, is just incredible and it reminded me a lot of the MINI Aceman, despite the fact that it was not the John Cooper Works version. BMW i4 M50 has two electric motors, with xDrive technology offering up to 544 horsepower and 795 Nm of torque and these numbers were impressive even for a large car, such as the BMW iX.

But, in the case of the i4, this motor configuration is installed on a sportier configuration, which sits closer to the street and that is a little more aerodynamic than the iX, having an aerodynamic drag of just 0.24. T

his, as well as the carbon fibers elements, such as the aileron on the back, help it stay still on the road at any speed and it makes it easier to control. It's a real pleasure to drive this car, especially if you adopt a more dynamic driving style (without being aggressive).

Otherwise, if you drive it normally, it's going to be just a rigid Gran Coupe, fairly uncomfortable for daily driving.

BMW i4 M50 may be the first car that I feel it's relevant to offer some performance numbers. So, for 0-100 km/h, you can expect to hit that in under 4 seconds and for 80-120 km/h it's going to take shy over 2 seconds, while for 100-200 km/h, between 8.5 and 9.5 seconds, depending on road conditions.

I won't go to the extent of confirming these numbers or not, but what I'd like to emphasize is that this car is scary quick and has a great potential on the road. And BMW put the Sport mode button right in a handy spot, on the center console, besides the Comfort and Eco Pro buttons.

That's also where you'll find a button from which you can disable or enable the ESP, but I recommend that you keep that turned on, as I did. And I also recommend that you make use of the head-up display to keep your speed in check at all times, otherwise you might find yourself going over the speed limit and in danger of getting a ticket.

The steering is also significantly more rigid than on any car that I've driven so far, even at lower speeds, so maneuvering in parking spots won't be as easy, but not too difficult, either. It's just a very precise steering, that's all.

So yes, as far as I'm concerned, this car deserves the M Performance badge and it's fast in a straight line, as well as around corners, that I was able to take on at higher speeds than I was being used to, but again, be tempered when driving it more dynamically on public roads or find a track to fully enjoy its potential.

But, if you want a more family-oriented i4, since this car is fairly spacious, as I'll soon detail, you can opt for one of the eDrive models or the xDrive 40 variant, which I'm pretty sure are more comfortable, without fully sacrificing the dynamic capabilities of a BMW.

Energy consumption and charging speed BMW i4 M50

I know, you'll probably tell yourself "who cares how much energy it uses, it's an M", but I want to give you a perspective. The energy consumption my testing unit achieved after a weekend of driving about 300 kilometers was about 24 kWh, so not that much more than the 21 kWh that I achieved with the iX packing the same electric motor configuration.

Still, I want to mention that I fully enjoyed the experience that the i4 M50 has to offer on pretty much the entire test, and given this, I consider the range performance to be very good. After almost 280 kilometers driven, the car was left with about 35% in the battery, so far from fearing an empty cell, while the climate control and the audio system worked continuously.

I charged it for exactly 10 minutes at a 150 kW DC charger, where it drew 149 kW and stabilized at around 100-110 kW, but without pre-conditioning the battery. After those 10 minutes, the percentage climbed to 59%, so almost 25% after 10 minutes of plugging-in, a very good result, considering that the car can achieve good range even on longer trips, if you don't push it too hard.

Another thing that I'm happy about is the fact that almost all i4s come with an 83.9 kWh, except the base eDrive 35 model, which packs a 70.3 kWh. For optimal range, the eDrive 40 and xDrive 40 models offer the best results and being more comfortable, you won't be too tempted to floor them often.

The eDrive 35 version is also the one to charge the slowest at 180 kW, while the rest go up to 200 or 205 kW.

When driving back to the dealership, I drove around 15 kilometers in the Eco Pro mode and the car used around 4% power for this trip, but it's true that I did push the pedal a bit more 2-3 times. What I really liked is that on this i4 M50, the Eco Pro mode works somewhat differently, meaning that it doesn't limit you as much as on the iX.

The climate control stays on, the acceleration goes beyond 25% power and the top speed limit is higher than 90 km/h. So, I don't know exactly how BMW optimized Eco Pro on the i4, but this is clearly a driving mode that I would use then I want maximum range or when driving in a more relaxed way. because it doesn't limit you in almost any way and the power is delivered promptly when needed, even though not as strongly.

Materials and comfort in BMW i4

BMW i4 is a solid car that's built with quality materials and almost without any hard plastic, at least not on the version tested by me. There's not as much leather as on the iX, but there's plenty of textile and soft materials on the doors, as well as on the dashboard. The car sits lower on the street, so the driving position will be sportier and getting in and out of the car might be a little tricky at times, but you do get used to it.

I truly appreciate that, even though this is an M Performance model, the front seats have been very comfortable on this car and much more pleasant on longer trips than those on the iX, since they featured that extended leg rest.

They have heating, I'm not sure if ventilation, as well, on my testing unit, because I didn't need it, and the backseat is heated itself and very comfortable. The climate system works wonderfully in the front, as well as in the back.

The back passengers will have plenty of headroom if they're 1.80 meters in height at most, otherwise they might feel a little constrained, but as far as legroom is concerned, I think they'll be pleased plenty.

The boot is 470 liters in capacity and is plenty big, given the chassis type, and I really needed to carry some luggage, which were large, rather than heavy, but the car did very well, considering that it's not made for this.

Another interesting thing is that, on this car, there is a traditional sunroof, which I haven't seen on any car tested so far. It goes on the front-half of the vehicle, which can be opened in a single ventilation position and the textile cover for it can slide backwards and forwards through an electric system, but you need to keep the button pressed whenever activating it to completely slide it.

BMW i4 comes with spring struts in the front for all its versions, while on the back, there's either independent multi-link suspension or air suspension, all with transversal stabilizers. My car had air suspension on the back, but that didn't make it more comfortable, as it was still optimized more for dynamics, as expected. On the standard i4 I expect the ride to feel differently, although this wasn't unbearable, rather just a bit "jumpy".

Technologies and software BMW i4 M50

As far as the technology is the concerned, the BMW i4 M50 offers a very similar experience to the iX and you'll find here about the same driving and parking assisting features, as well as the infotainment features. Of course, these additions will depend on the version you pick.

The operating system is identical and fairly easy to operate, now that I'm more familiar with it, but I would still like to have an Apple CarPlay shortcut. Otherwise, from the buttons placed intuitively on the center console, you can access the driving modes and even activate or deactivate the camera views, as well as the parking sensors. The Harman Kardon sound system packs 17 speakers and sounds very good, even though not as punchy as the one on the iX, but the audio experience is superb here, nonetheless.

You can opt for augmented reality-assisted navigation and the adaptive cruise control works very nicely here, with some of the best lane keep assist I've seen yet. It doesn't correct your position on the road harshly and only corrects you when you're really going over the lane and otherwise it will leave you with plenty of space to maneuver, in case you need to avoid an obstacle, for example. Apple CarPlay connectivity is flawless and the system responds very well to inputs.

You can adjust battery-related settings, such as programmed battery charging to 100% or a percentage that you prefer, as well as limit the charging speed on AC power, if you need this feature. Also, in the settings you will find quick diagnosis features for the battery, as well as temperature readings and that's also where you'll find the last service visit or when to next one might be programmed.

Just like on the iX, I really appreciate that BMW installed physical buttons on the steering wheel for the base features, such as those for the adaptive cruise control or the speed limiter or media-related ones, no touch here, just good old physical buttons that are very easy to find.

Conclusions BMW i4 M50

So, can I recommend the BMW i4 M50 or would I advise you to rather pick a standard i4 or another model from BMW? Honestly, I really liked the driving experience with this car, being clearly one of the most fun to drive so far, alongside the likes of MINI Aceman or the Renault 5 E-Tech. Still, I would not pick it as a family car, at least not in this configuration. An eDrive or the xDrive models I think would be more comfortable on longer trips, being still very dynamic.

As far as the space and comfort go, the i5 might be the more suitable car for you, since you can pick it in a touring version, as well, but that's another type of car and I'm not sure it is as dynamic as this one.

The competition that I could think of for the i4 are the Tesla Model 3, the Polestar 2 or the Hyundai Ioniq 6. But those are exactly the futuristic "spaceships" that I told you about in the beginning and probably, if you were thinking about buying the i4, it was also because of the more conventional design it sports.

In the base eDrive 35 version, the i4 starts at 51.000 euros, but the M50 version that I've had for the weekend with the extras such as carbon fiber exterior elements and the driving or parking assisting features, reaches almost 94.000 euros, a price tag that only you can decide if it's worth.