BMW i4 M50 vs. BMW M3 Competition: which is better?
The iconic BMW M3 Competition goes up against its electric sibling, the i4 M50, in this important showdown.
Struggling to pick between a BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50? There’s no denying that these cars pack some serious punch, but what else should you consider?
In this head-to-head, we pitch these cars against one another in terms of style, practicality, reliability and, of course, that all-important performance.
Continue reading to find out whether your next fast BMW should be petrol-powered or whether it’s time for you to switch over to electric.
Does the BMW i4 M50 or BMW M3 Competition offer more style?
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Being an electric version of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, the i4 is a stylish blend of saloon practicality and coupé style, and it benefits from a practical hatchback-style boot opening.
Despite being an electric model, it still has plenty of BMW brand identity, including the oversized kidney grille that extends from the end of the bonnet all the way down to the bumper.
Performance M50 models are as close as you’ll get to a dedicated M car, and the full-on M4 is petrol-only, but the i4 M50 still looks the part.
It has flared wheelarches and aggressive bumper designs, plus those all-important BMW M mirrors and eye-catching alloys.
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From the side, you’ll notice its recessed door handles, which are both stylish and purposeful – they’re meant to help improve the car’s aerodynamics.
The back is finished with carbon fibre details and a performance rear splitter and a subtle spoiler on the boot lid.
Given that the Tesla Model 3 Performance is a fairly direct competitor for this car, we think the BMW i4 M50 stands out more.
Still, compared to the BMW M3 Competition, we think the i4 M50 looks a little bit tame as the M3’s bodykit is much more aggressive and noticeable.
Regular versions of the 3 Series have a much smaller grille, so the M3 Competition’s bumper-to-bonnet grille is a big giveaway.
The rear is also noticeably different from the i4’s because it has an even more aggressive splitter that surrounds no fewer than four large exhaust pipes.
Overall, the M3 is a classic formula that offers immense performance in a practical and familiar saloon format.
BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50: performance and drive
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Though it’s a rear-wheel-drive car, you can get four-wheel-drive versions of the M3 Competition as well.
Enthusiasts will say that rear-wheel drive is more engaging and can be more fun on a track, but all-wheel drive promises greater grip in slippery conditions and is generally more confidence-inspiring.
It’s also better at putting the power down, helping to take the 0-62mph time down from 3.9 seconds (rear-wheel drive) to 3.5 seconds (four-wheel drive).
Both models make 510hp from a 3.0-litre engine and use an excellent automatic gearbox that’s very quick to shift gears.
Standard versions of the i4 are rear-wheel-drive, but the M50 uses two motors – one on each axle – to make it four-wheel-drive.
Because the battery is housed between the wheels, a lot of the car’s weight is low, which helps keep it stable and predictable through corners.
The added weight of the battery means it’s nearly 2.3 tonnes, or around 450kg heavier than the BMW M3 Competition, but BMW’s engineers still managed to get it to achieve a 3.9-second 0-62mph time.
That’s because it’s more powerful (544hp) and it has more torque (795Nm compared with 650Nm for the M3). The instant acceleration from the electric motors also helps it to feel very fast in real life.
BMW i4 M50 range: how far will it go?
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The i4 M50 has the same 84kWh battery as the i4 eDrive40, a more normal version of the electric car, but because of its performance nature, it has a slightly shorter range.
BMW reckons you’ll get 257-318 miles of range from the M50, compared with 346-365 miles from the eDrive40. Still, you should have no trouble doing a long-distance motorway trip in one of these.
For reference, Tesla reckons you should be able to get around 350 miles of range from the Model 3 Performance’s 82kWh pack, so they’re about equal.
BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50: interior
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Unlike many other electric cars, the i4’s interior is fairly conventional-looking, which makes it a great option for new converts.
A pair of large displays sit side-by-side – one for all the speed information, and the other to control the car’s settings and mirror your smartphone with Apple CarPlay.
Although the infotainment display is a touchscreen, there’s still the usual array of physical controls down on the centre console.
The i4 even gets a fairly normal-looking gear stick, rather than a steering column-mounted selector like in Tesla cars.
The M3 Competition has a very similar interior, including the futuristic dual-display setup, but earlier models had two separate screens in a slightly different (but no less impressive) configuration.
Both have specially designed supportive sports seats, but the M3 Competition’s bucket seats are on a whole new level and are clearly designed with track driving in mind. The i4 M50’s seats are likely to be more comfortable on longer trips.
BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50: which has more boot space?
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Chances are you’ll want to be able to carry your family around in one of these models because they both have rear doors and seats, and offer room for four or five.
Surprisingly, you won’t have to make any compromises compared with more normal variants of these cars.
The M3 Competition has the same 480-litre boot as you’d find in regular 3 Series models, and the same is true of the xDrive model.
Similarly, the i4 M50’s 470-litre boot matches that of the regular i4, as well as the petrol- and diesel-powered 4 Series Gran Coupé.
If carrying a boot-load is important to you, the i4 will be more practical because it has a wide-opening hatchback-style boot. The M3’s saloon-style opening is much narrower.
For even more practicality, there’s the BMW M3 Touring – it’s an estate version of the performance car that has a slightly larger 500-litre boot, but it’s accessed through a much wider boot opening and is generally easier to fully load than the saloon.
Compare BMW i4 M50 and BMW M3 Competition: which is more reliable?
Because these cars are performance variants, they’re slightly less popular than the 3 Series and the 4 Series, so there’s less data for us to analyse in terms of reliability.
Still, BMW has decades of experience building M models, and puts just as much thought into these as its mainstream cars.
Moreover, the regular 3 Series, 4 Series and i4 have all received better-than-average feedback from customers, and the brand generally outperforms rivals like Mercedes.
BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50 dimensions
Measuring 4,794mm long, 2,068mm wide (including mirrors) and 1,437mm tall, the M3 Competition is slightly bigger than the 3 Series, but it’s a fairly typical size for a saloon.
The i4 M50 is a very similar size, measuring 4,783mm long, 2,073mm wide and 1,448mm tall.
BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50: which should you buy?
If you’ve got your mind set on one of these desirable, high-quality performance models, then you’ll need to consider whether you want an old-school petrol model or a futuristic electric one.
The reality is that there’s not a lot that separates them in terms of performance, and if you think you can live with an electric model, then you’ll find yourself with much more agreeable running costs.
The BMW i4 M50 is likely to be the better car for everyday driving, but for a truly iconic performance model, consider the BMW M3 Competition.