Talking Cars 393: Driving the 2023 BMW i4 M50

Main theme: This week we give our first impressions of the all-new 2023 BMW i4 M50 electric hatchback. This new BMW boldly bucks the trend of the recent eye-catching styling that seems to be all the rage with current EVs. Shockingly, this all-electric model simply looks like a low-slung sport sedan and eschews the more radical styling trends of some of the newer EVs, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Rivian R1T pickup. We also discuss that even though the i4 does without the company’s legendary inline six-cylinder engine, it still drives very much like a traditional BMW, mixing an impressive balance of a ride quality and sporty handling. Finally, we contemplate whether its EPA-estimated 271-mile cruising range is enough to compete with some heavyweights in the EV field, such as Tesla Model 3.

Audience question: Why does the DC fast charging port on every non-Tesla EV have a separate plastic cover apart from the regular charging port cover? It seems like an unnecessary piece, which adds an additional step to the charging process. It is so flimsy that it might break off within a few years of owning the car.