BMW i’s first M car – the i4 M50 – impresses us with its range and performance on the roads of Australia

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

If you’ve ever doubted the ability of electric vehicles to cover really long distances, then our experience of BMW’s new i4 M50 will put those worries to rest once and for all.

BMW claims that its first M-badged i car offers not just high performance, but also impressive range, up to 510 kilometres worth in fact. And to put that to the test, they invited us to Melbourne, Australia to go on a scenic road trip, covering almost 350 kilometres, a journey which the car can comfortably claim to do on a single charge.

We made it there and back and enjoyed the picturesque scenery in perfect 14 degrees sweater weather along the way. More importantly, the journey proved that today’s EVs have the ability to cover the kind of distance that will meet the needs of most drivers, alleviating range anxiety once and for all.

Day One

Our first day’s journey started at BMW Australia, near downtown Melbourne and ended at RACV Torquay Resort, covering a distance of 158km. With the i4 M50 fully charged for the trip, it should take us to our destination easily without a fuss.

The first stop was Arthurs Seat lookout which is along the Mornington Peninsula, about 85 km southeast of Melbourne, Australia. It is a major tourist destination, with stately homes, and due to its natural bushland, sweeping views and man-made attractions. The hill rises to 314m above sea level.

We then floored the EVs as our tummies grumbled to Montalto, an award-winning restaurant and winery, which served refined modern Australian cuisines, on a deck overlooking sculptures and vines. I would’ve loved to stay longer to take in the views but we had a ferry to catch. And I meant ‘we’, as in the i4 M50 and I. Next stop: 31 kilometres Northwest to Sorrento Ferry Terminal.

The ferry from Sorrento took us to Queenscliff, where we pushed on another 43 kilometres up north to RACV Torquay Resort. During the 45 minute drive or so, I realised two things. One, Singapore needs more beaches. Two, the BMW i4 M50 is fast. And I’m talking about 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds fast, which is as quick as the M3 Competition, but without the dramatic noise.

The M50 drives pretty solidly too, despite its firmer M adaptive suspension over the regular eDrive40. It soaked up speed bumps and potholes with ease, and its easy steering and steady handling allowed me to avoid the occasional roadkill effortlessly.

The sporty bucket seats provided me with a very comfy drive towards our rest stop for the night, and my ears were very much well taken care of too. The M50’s 464-watt Harman Kardon sound system now boasts seven additional speakers, taking its total up to sixteen. What I noticed is that the sub-bass tones can be heard and felt within the cabin when Men At Work’s single ‘Down Under’, was left on repeat, giving me a real sense of fulfilment while I was at the wheel.

The M50 also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay as standard which helped make switching songs a breeze with a wireless smartphone charger located at the centre console keeping me juiced up throughout.

I also had time to drive the i4 eDrive40, which is less powerful than the M50 (340hp vs 544hp). The less powerful car felt lighter on its feet thanks to its lower weight and the fact that it is rear-wheel-drive instead of four-wheel-drive in the M50. But for monster performance the M50 is unbeatable.

Day Two

We started day two from our overnight hotel, and headed towards Melbourne Airport, covering a distance of 195km. BMW charged the cars overnight, but we actually had 241km worth of range left over from the day before, so theoretically we could have made it back without having to charge.

Regardless, I had only one thing on my mind – to make it to the airport without suffering any range anxiety. Not that I had anything to worry about, as the eDrive40 boasts a range of 590 kilometres, while the M50 could cover up to 510 kilometres, according to BMW’s official WLTP figures. CarBuyer’s Chief Editor Derryn did test the eDrive40’s range and managed to cover 600km on a single charge in Singapore.

Our second day’s journey was somewhat more rushed than the first day and consisted mostly of smooth highway driving. In the rush, I forgot to take note of the actual consumption figures, but BMW claims that the i4 M50 has an official energy consumption figure of 19.8kWh/100km.

Given that the i4 M50 could easily have covered the 350km or so distance during our two-day Melbourne road trip without the need to recharge, it demonstrates the advances that EVs have made in recent years. Our experience with BMW EVs has shown that they are well capable of living up to their claimed range, and for the average Singaporean driver, EV range anxiety is surely now a thing of the past.

The bonus is that BMW’s EVs take on a very familiar form, and so would require little additional adaptation other than the need for recharging its batteries. Even if you don’t need the power of the M50, the regular i4 eDrive40 is still a very impressive choice, with Derryn proclaiming it as “the best driving EV in its price range”. But if you ask me, the i4 M50 gives you the best of both worlds in terms of power and efficiency.

BMW i4 M50

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