Test-Driving The Electric 2024 BMW i4 M50 Gran Coupe

The i4 M50 Gran Coupe provides much of what a primo BMW should be. It’s gorgeous. It’s reasonably powerful. It’s chic without appearing precious. It’s up-there pricewise at $69,700 MSRP, $87,845 with all the fixings. Anything anyone ever loved about a high-end electric sedan is here, with caveats.

What’s new

The 2024 BMW i4 is an all-electric luxury four-door sedan. It’s actually a buzzed-up version of the company’s 4 Series Gran Coupe. It shares that car’s design outside as well as the tech and driver aids. There are four trims available: the eDrive35, eDrive40, xDrive40 and my tester, the M50. Each trim has a unique powertrain configuration and available power as well as differing ranges. (Details below.) The i4 M50 is a carryover from 2023.

Looks

People eyeball you most everywhere you drive, but you don’t seem to draw the ire this badge can sometimes produce out in public. You are comprised of short, smart overhangs, a nice long wheelbase and a streamlined, flowing roof. You look dressed for any occasion –black tie, the club, the beach, Dunkin’ Donuts, anything. When you come out of somewhere and see your ride, it feels good.

Adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight look ever-so-secret agent. Its crisp rear diffuser and aerodynamic wheels – up to 19 inches if you wish – top off the snappy look.

Inside

There’s plenty of room up front, less so in back. Everything is laid out logically, where you can find and reach it. The Mocha Vernasca Leather smells and looks lovely. The sport seats are easy on the thighs and rear, but not overly coddling.

The roofline cuts off visibility ever-so, but not enough to panic over. The fans in the climate system make more of a racket than an electric vehicle’s should make but otherwise the car runs very quictly, with little noise from the tires or the wind. It’s all comfy-comfy and BMW-swank.

Technology

An optional 360-degree camera system is a great help and thus worth the money, and the Harman Kardon surround-sound system was minty fresh. (Another BMW trait.) The car comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration as standard. There’s a voice-activated assistant which can adjust the climate, find a radio station or an address. The system did not understand most of what I said to it no matter how clearly or slowly I spoke.

Four USB ports mean everyone can charge their devices; there’s also a 12-volt outlet and a wireless charger, optional.

Motor

The BMW i4 is available with different drivetrain options. I’ve also included the base prices, which don’t include options or delivery charge.

• i4 eDrive35 – single motor, rear-wheel-drive, 282 hp, base MSRP $52,200
• i4 eDrive40 – single motor, rear-wheel-drive, 335 hp, base MSRP $57,300
• i4 xDrive40 – dual motor, all-wheel-drive, 396 hp, base MSRP $61,600
• My tester, the i4 M50 xDrive – dual motor, all-wheel-drive, 536 hp, base MSRP $69,700

“The motors in the different models are fundamentally the same design,” a BMW executive emailed me for this story. “But the rear motor in the M50 is enhanced by BMW M and produces more power over a broader range.”

The Drive

It weighs 6030 pounds, and feels it. Though it’s as fun as a Beemer will be to blast around the mountains and into small towns as I did, it is not ferocious or particularly tight handling-wise. If you know that going in, you’ll get along. Also, the range of the M50 at 100% is around 250 miles, depending on driving habits and terrain, temperature, optional equipment, use of vehicle features, and other factors. That’s on the low side.

What I liked about the drive was the vehicle providing one-pedal driving, recharging the battery and minimizing driving fatigue in heavy traffic – you don’t have to keep doing that brake-accelerator-brake-accelerator thing that gets old quick.

While you’re not the fastest ride on the road, you still overtake, merge, everything you’ll need to do without a problem. Above all, it is a pleasant, satisfying, high-end drive.

Storage

Luxury vehicles aren’t usually known for their gargantuan storage, but your rear seats fold flat in three sections. I fit an adult bike back there and closed the lid, so that gives you an idea of storage. If you’re hooking up a child seat, Isofix anchors are clearly marked and you won’t have any problem. Unfortunately, there is no frunk.

Warranty

The federal government mandates that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles, and that’s what’s delivered here. The EV battery warranty also includes a replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

BMW, for the vehicle, includes a four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty. The i4 also comes with two years of complimentary fast charging at your nearest Electrify America station, though the freebie is limited to 30 minutes. It also includes 60 minutes of complimentary charging at 240-volt chargers, though those charging speeds are significantly lower.

Verdict: Looks: 10, everything else? A lot to love, with a few minor beefs.