Considering moving away from a gas-powered vehicle to a more eco-friendly electric vehicle (EV)? Well, grab a cup of tea and settle in for a good read. Here are a few great reasons why the BMW i4 M50 is a worthy and mind-bogglingly fast choice.
The Excitement!
As a proud BMW 428i Gran Coupé owner, I quite literally did cartwheels when BMW Canada offered me the opportunity to test out the new BMW i4 M50. My own 428i is a blast to drive, so I was particularly excited to get behind the wheel of a vehicle that hits almost 100km/h in 3.3 seconds. Oooooh – I get goosebumps just typing that!
This all-electric beast DELIVERED. With 536hp, this powerful and luxurious Gran Coupé provides an outstanding driving experience while remaining extremely comfortable…maybe a little too comfortable. The cabin is weirdly quiet due to it being an EV as well as it being very well-insulated. A lead foot like mine needs a little noise to keep the speed in check.
Driving Range & Charging
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: how often do you need to charge this beauty and how far does it go on a single charge?
How Far Can I Go On A Full Charge?
On a full charge, you can expect a driving range of up to 435km, about the same as a gas- powered vehicle. I downloaded the My BMW app and BMW iDrive which provided me with the locations of thousands of public charging stations across Canada (including Chargepoint, Flo, Circuit Electric and BC Hydro).
To give you a real sense of range, I drove the BMW i4 M50 from Montreal to Ottawa which is over 200km. The trip used about half of the i4 M50’s charge.
Charging Can Be A Headache (If You Aren’t Prepared)
Don’t rely on charging this vehicle with the regular electrical outlet in your garage. While you can do so, it will take over 72 hours to fully charge which can really hamper your plans. If you are going on a road trip, it is imperative that you know where working charging stations are along your route (the My BMW app is beyond handy for this very reason).
If you’re thinking of buying this car without the home charging set up, DON’T. I recommend that you spend a few extra thousand dollars to be able to charge quickly at home.
Your local BMW dealership offers home charging accessories including the BMW Wallow and Flexible Fast Charger. This really is a must as using the Supercharger will charge this vehicle fully in less than 30 minutes. Again, I *HIGHLY* recommend this.
Fun Features
She’s A Looker
The car looks GREAT compared to its – ahem – very popular and ubiquitous all-electric competitor. The smooth plunging roof leading to a short and sporty rear looks great.
Personally, I love the hatchback which provides huge trunk space, but it does make the back seat a little tight. That’s fine with me as I only use the backseat to haul shopping bags home and my little dog Reese around.
I don’t mind the large double kidney-shaped grill either which many have panned. It just makes this EV look as aggressive as it actually is.
B Mode
Driving in “B Mode” was a trip too, as it allows you to drive without the need for the brake pedal! It takes some getting used to and watch out for it creeping forward a little when you ease your foot off the accelerator. With practice, you’ll get really comfortable with it quickly.
The Interior
The curved screen is beautiful and its display is super crisp and vibrant. Take some time to play with it before driving just to feel comfortable and safe (there are a ton of screens to swipe through). Also thrilled to have Car Play in this model which sadly, my own 428i lacks.
The ambient lighting is fun and you can choose from a variety of colours including BMW’s traditional and very awesome orange lighting.
Safety
Each i4 M50 comes standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
You may want to opt for the Driving Assistance Professional Pack which adds full-speed adaptive cruise control and active lane-keeping assist with steering assistance.
I tried this out and it feels like the car drives itself! It will give you a warning to keep your hands on the steering wheel though. SIGH! LOL!
There is also the Parking Assistance Pack, which offers a surround-view camera and automatic parallel parking for those of you where parallel parking strikes fear and frustration into your hearts.
In conclusion, “exhilarating” is the only word I can think of to describe the impressive BMW i4 M50. She’s a real head-turner…with zero local emissions to boot.
Want more information? Please contact your local BMW dealership for pricing or visit BMW.ca to learn more.
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.
