Doug DeMuro Says BMW i4 M50 Feels Faster Than Advertised, but Would He Have It Over an M3?

The i4 is currently available in the U.S. in two specifications. Buyers can choose between the entry-level i4 eDrive40 model or the flagship i4 M50 version, both of which are more than quick enough by general standards.

The eDrive40’s rear-mounted electric motor helps deliver a total of 335 hp, resulting in a 0-60 mph (97 kph) sprint time of 5.5 seconds and a range of up to 301 miles (484 km). Pretty good, right? Well, not if you want to keep up with an M3, it’s not.

That’s where the i4 M50 comes in with its dual motor setup and 536 hp. In a straight line, it can accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, although according to Doug DeMuro, who drove this version of the i4 recently, the M50 feels faster than advertised.

He specifically went as far as to say that it feels just as quick as an M3 and that BMW might have undersold those acceleration numbers so as to not take any of the M3’s “lunch money” when it comes to new customers.

The thing is, we’ve already seen the i4 M50 race the flagship M3 over a quarter mile and it’s obvious that at least for the first few seconds or so, the two are pretty much neck and neck.

In the end, though, DeMuro admitted that while the i4 M50 is exceptional in a straight line and really good in the corners, too, it still didn’t feel quite as agile as its ICE-powered sibling – mostly because of the weight.

As for pricing, you can buy into the BMW i4 range for $55,400, which will land you the eDrive40 model. If you want the M50 though, that’s going to cost you at least $65,900.