BMW i4, Track Test

At first glance, this appears to be a case of déjà vu. Last year, the car that topped our mega test was a BMW (the M340i) – a four-door 3 Series that cost just shy of ₹70 lakhs (ex-showroom) and produced three-hundred-plus horsepower.

One year later, the car that you see here – the very ‘Best of 2022’ – is also a BMW. It’s also based on the 3 Series, costs just under ₹70 lakhs (ex-showroom) and produces the equivalent of three-hundred-plus horsepower.

The difference: this one is fuelled by electricity! The great thing is that it retains the essence of BMW – that fun factor. This is an EV that, in true BMW fashion, will hang its tail out all day long if you so choose. The difference is that, in everyday use, it’ll also be whisper quiet while appearing to be propelled by an invisible force.

Moreover, that nose – which at first seemed to be an abomination – is growing on me and the massive curved HD screen that makes up the instrument cluster and iDrive display is a game-changer in the cabin. This is an EV that costs the same as its ICE counterpart, and claims a 590-kilometre range, which means that range anxiety shouldn’t be an issue.

So, not only is it a cutting-edge EV that’s imminently usable, but it’s also one that allows you to have fun while flying the green flag. If you watch the ‘Best of 2022’ four-wheel contenders’ video on our YouTube channel, you’ll see me grinning from ear to ear while holding the i4 in a full opposite lock slide – it’s that kind of EV.

The claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time is 5.7 seconds, but it feels so much faster because of the instant torque from zero RPM. The power feels immense, and, unlike all other EVs, the chassis is incredibly playful. The front end is light & responsive and the i4 does exactly what you tell it to – as opposed to most modern cars, especially EVs, that feel as though you have to go through multiple gatekeepers to have any fun at all. And even then, they feel overly sanitised and, frankly, a bit like appliances on wheels.

The i4 couldn’t be more different. It oozes character, modernity, and athleticism – just as you would expect from a BMW. The only problem is that the i4 is currently sold out. So, if you want one, you better put your nearest BMW dealer on your Christmas card list and write to Santa telling him how much you’d love to save the glaciers at the North Pole by ditching fossil fuels in favour of this electrified BMW.

Best of 2022 << BACK

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