Last updated on June 2nd, 2023 at 11:24 am
Best Saloon EV: BMW i4
BMW has always been legendary for its drivers’ cars, and that is continuing into the electric era. Even the venerable i3 remains an excellent-handling car, despite having been on the market for the best part of a decade. But with the i4, BMW has raised the bar on EV driving enjoyment. We would still give the Porsche Taycan the highest marks in this area, but the i4 runs it close, particularly in the “hot” M50 guise. This is an EV truly worthy of the famous BMW “M” badge. With 544hp and all-wheel drive, it can hit 62mph in just 3.9 seconds, running the Tesla Model 3 Performance close in a drag race.
The M50 also manages its 2,290kgs extremely well in corners, providing a dynamic ability that a car this heavy really shouldn’t. However, if your performance needs are more modest, the i4 eDrive40 still offers 340hp and still hits 62mph in just 5.7 seconds. Despite great performance, the i4 eDrive40 boasts 365 miles of WLTP range, giving the Tesla Model 3 Long Range a run for its money. The range reduces to 315 miles for the M50, which is still excellent.
The i4 is also surprisingly practical because it’s actually a hatchback, not the saloon it looks like. So there is easy access to the boot. This is capacious at 470 litres with the rear seats up, and 1,290 litres with them down. You can also tow up to 750kg unbraked, and 1,600kg braked. Of course, being a BMW, the i4 doesn’t come cheap, with starting prices well above £50,000 and well over £60,000 for the M50. But if you’d been wondering what BMW had been up to since the i3 was launched, the company is back with a bang with the i4.
Read our full review of the BMW i4.
Honourable Mention: Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 hasn’t had a major update in the last year, so it couldn’t compete for the main saloon award this time round. It’s still the EV saloon to beat, though. The base model did switch to using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries since the facelift was launched at the end of 2020, increasing the WLTP range to 305 miles, albeit with a slower 0-60mph sprint of 5.8 seconds. The Model 3 has become a ubiquitous sight on UK roads, and with good reason. Tesla still leads the pack for technology, range, performance and charging infrastructure. If you’re considering an EV saloon, the Model 3 should really be on your shortlist.
Read our full review of the Tesla Model 3.
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