2023 BMW i4 Gran Coupe Performance

We've become used to the instant torque kick one gets from electric vehicles, and even the smaller and less performance-focused i3 had a good kick to it, but the i4 has a tangible performance focus. The base model - until the eDrive35 arrives, at least - is the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 which produces a solid 335 hp and feels fast everywhere. This BMW i4's 0-60 mph sprint time is 5.5 seconds, and the top speed is set at 118 mph. This level of performance should satisfy most needs, but for those who want to go faster, the all-wheel-drive M50 will provide and then some. This dual-motor version produces a combined 536 hp and will launch the i4 from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.7 seconds before hitting a top speed of 130 mph. That 0-60 time is a full tenth quicker than the performance-focused RWD M4 Coupe. In many real-world scenarios, instant torque delivery makes the M50 feel faster than the M4. If this is the future of BMW's performance electric vehicles, we're in for a massive treat when full-fledged M models start to appear.

The slowest model is the upcoming eDrive35 yet this BMW i4's specs are still pretty good. It generates 281 hp and a can achieve a respectable 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds, so it's not much slower than the eDrive40 at all.

No BMW i4 towing capacity figures were published by the automaker. Like most smaller EVs, it's not going to be the first choice for towing even lighter loads as this will drastically affect the range.

Both the RWD eDrive35 and eDrive40 are powered by a single electric motor. It sends 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque to the wheels through a single-speed automatic transmission in the 35, and 335 hp/317 lb-ft in the 45. This setup feels lively enough for most everyday driving situations, and you'll be surprised at how hard this car leaves the line. Step up to the M50, and the number of motors doubles, and xDrive AWD is added to the mix. The M50's dual motor setup produces a massive 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque, giving it explosive acceleration and incredible highway overtaking abilities. This is the option to go for if you like moving really, really fast. The two top trim levels make use of an 83.9-kWh battery with a net capacity of 81.5 kWh, whereas the eDrive35 has a 70.2 kWh battery with a 66 kWh net capacity.

Being an EV, there is no BMW i4 mpg rating, only MPGe ratings. The 2023 ratings have not yet been published but these are unlikely to be different to the 2022 model. That means the eDrive40 returns 109/108/109 MPGe city/highway/combined and has a 301-mile range on 18-inch wheels. With 19s, those numbers drop to 100/98/99 MPGe and the range decreases to 282 miles. The M50 can do 94/98/96 MPGe and has a range of 270 miles with 19-inch wheels. With the stylish 20-inch wheels, the range drops dramatically to 227 miles and efficiency works out to 79/80/80 MPGe.

EPA ratings for the newest addition to the range, the eDrive35, haven't been published yet, but BMW claims it can cover 260 miles on a full charge. In this area, the Tesla Model 3 is comfortably ahead of the BMW as the Model 3 Long Range can cover over 350 miles on a full charge. The Tesla is also more efficient which is no surprise given that it's lighter.

With high-speed DC fast charging at up to 200 kW, the i4's battery can add 97 miles of range in around 10 minutes in the case of the eDrive40, or up to 97 miles for the M50. With Level 2 charging and AC power, the battery can be fully recharged from empty in less than eight hours. The eDrive35 can only handle charging speeds of up to 180 kW, and BMW says DC fast charging for this model can get the battery from 10-80% in 32 minutes.