Most drivers may confuse the BMW we had on loan for our 2022 BMW i4 range test as a gas-powered 4-Series Gran Coupe, but only the eagle-eyed automotive enthusiasts would know this is the automaker’s newest EV. The new i4 is available from BMW with either a rear-motor, rear-wheel drive layout on the i4 eDrive40, or a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive platform on the i4 M50. As far as acceleration, the M50 delivers a claimed 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, but at 5.5 seconds to 60, the eDrive40 doesn’t dawdle either.
So, they’re quick, but let’s see how far they drive on a charge. The EPA claims the BMW i4 eDrive40’s range tops out at 301 miles, with an 18-inch wheel disclaimer, and the BMW i4 M50 only goes 270 miles with 19-inch wheels. If you equip your i4 M50 with the 20-inch setup, your estimated range plummets to 227 miles. Is that number accurate? Our DailyMotor test protocol is a true highway test of the BMW i4 mileage while the EPA incorporates around 35% of city driving in their highway number. This allows regenerative braking to slightly replenish the battery and just ruins the entire point of a true highway test of the BMW i4 range.
During our test, we found the new BMW i4 range for the M50 trim with 20-inch wheels(breathe) to come to just under 240 miles. For additional nerding out, we calculated this electric BMW to do 2.84 miles per kWh. Multiply that by the 83.9 kWh battery capacity and you get the expected range of 238 miles. Voila! In the end, we found the BMW i4 M50 to have eleven more miles of range than the EPA’s test. If there’s anything we’ve learned from this test, it looks like BMW i4 driver’s should switch between commuter and road trip wheels if they want to add 43 miles to their new BMW’s range.
Watch Our BMW i4 M50 Mileage Test:
How We Test the BMW i4 Real-World Range:
This Daily Motor real-world highway test of the BMW i4 range consists of almost 100 miles of consistent highway driving. We first charge the car as close to 100% as we can, then drive about 25 miles on public highway in one direction and then back in the opposite direction, attempting not to draft or drive aggressively. We set the cruise control at GPS-indicated 72 MPH in an attempt to achieve a moving average speed of 70 MPH over the entire test. Upon return to the charger, we recharge at the same plug as the initial charge. Miles per kWh of the BMW i4 mileage is determined by dividing total miles traveled by kWh charged at the end. In cases where our observed figure differs greatly from the vehicle’s indicated figure and/or EPA’s estimate, we may recommend a number in between or plan to retest the vehicle. We factor in only a 90% charge efficiency to help offset any loss during charging.
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