The ‘Carwow’ team kicked off 2022 with a drag race between two entry-level EVs from Tesla and BMW – the Model 3 and the i4. Both the cars were in their sportiest trims and were out to battle each other on the drag strip. The i4 M50 makes more power, but it is also significantly heavier. Which car do you think will get the win here?
The i4 M50 vs Model 3 Performance
The Tesla Model 3 Performance is also powered by a dual-motor setup, but isn’t as powerful as its rival.
The BMW i4 weighs 4,883 pounds, a lot heavier than the 4,072-pound Tesla Model 3 Performance.
The Tesla Is Good At Low Speeds, And The BMW At Higher Speeds
The BMW i4 was quick off the line, leaving the Tesla behind. The 800 pounds of extra weight didn’t bog the BMW down and it managed to keep a lead till the very end to win the race. The driver later cited that there was an issue with the launch control on the Tesla, hence the poor performance.
So, to make sure this was the case, they raced once again. This time, the Model 3 Performance was off to a much better start. It stayed a notch ahead of the BMW i4, but the latter managed to get past it just before the finish line to snatch another victory. The BMW completed the race in 11.9 seconds, just one-tenth of a second quicker than the Tesla.
The car took part in a rolling race from 30 mph. The BMW had a good kickdown, but the Tesla’s was even better. It shot off the line and stayed ahead for the first quarter-mile of the distance. Once the German crossed 120 mph, it went past Tesla like it was standing still. So, in short, the race was comprised of two halves, the first one going to the Tesla and the second one going to the BMW.
They tried the same thing again, but from 50 mph. Since the BMW was doing better at higher speeds, it was expected that the Tesla wouldn’t fly off the line. The i4 was neck and neck with the Model 3 Performance this time at the quarter-mile mark and comfortably went past it post that, crossing it once it touched 110 mph.
The final round was the brake test from 100 mph. The Tesla Model 3 Performance got the win here after losing all four races.
Final Thoughts
We don’t need to make a case for the brilliant i4 M50 here, but the Tesla Model 3 Performance will also be a pretty good contender if all you’re looking for is short spurts of adrenaline rush at city speeds. That said, if you had to pick one of these cars, which one would it be? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section. Also, don't forget to check out our comparison of these two cars.