Much of BMW’s brand and marketing is built on the way its cars drive and ride, and so far the i4 has lived up to this billing.

There’s an innate rightness about how it feels, from the size and chunkiness of the steering wheel, to the weight and directness of the steering itself, the smoothness of the power deliver and the amount available, and to how it rides – firm enough to be sporty, but always compliant and comfortable.

It’s a great companion for long-distance journeys, and this is supported by its ample range from its 70kWh battery.

Like any BEV, its efficiency is directly influenced by the weather. Since it joined our long-term test fleet in December, I’ve seen the efficiency range from 3.0 miles per kWh in the coldest temperatures, up to 4.1 miles per kWh when it was mild.

This equates to real-world ranges from 210 miles to 280 miles. The official WLTP range is 299 miles and, although I don’t expect to reach this, I think I’ll get pretty close when the consistently warmer weather finally arrives.

Our i4 is fitted with the optional comfort plus pack (£2,050), and this includes heated steering wheel, keyless entry, electric front seats and driver memory, and front lumbar seats, enhancing the experience for the driver further.

One of the quirks about the way the i4 drives and something I’ve had to get used to is its regenerative braking system.

As with most BEVs, you can select B drive mode, which sets a high level of regenerative braking, while the default option is automatic.

In most instances, this means that when you take your foot off the accelerator the car coasts, but it will increase the level of brake applied in certain circumstances.

This may be when you are approaching a lower speed limit or roundabout, as well as if the car judges you are following a vehicle too closely.

In the main, I like the system, but it has sometimes caught me by surprise when two of these situations have combined – approaching a roundabout while following a vehicle – leading to much sharper braking than expected.

However, the other active safety systems the i4 (which has a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating) has, such as lane assist, are not intrusive, allowing you to enjoy the driving experience while you’re behind the wheel.

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BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport joins our fleet

Those Fleet News readers with good memories may recall we ran a BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport on a long-term test a year or two ago and were really impressed with it.

In fact, at the end its loan period, we concluded that it was the “best electric car currently on sale” for offering a no compromise experience for a driver moving from an internal combustion engine car to an EV for the first time.

However, its P11d price of £59,325 may have proved to be too high for some company car choice lists and drivers, so to broaden the model’s appeal BMW last year introduced the eDrive35 variant.

So what are the differences? Instead of the 340PS and a WLTP range of up to 355 miles from the eDrive40’s 84kWh battery, the eDrive35 has 286PS, a 0-62mph time of 6.0 seconds and a WLTP range of up to 299 miles from its 70kWh battery.

It also has a significantly lower P11d price, with the eDrive35 range starting from £50,755, around £8,000 less than its bigger brother. This will obviously be reflected in both leasing rates and driver benefit-in-kind tax bills.

Our M Sport test model’s P11d price is bumped up to £60,645 through having a range of optional extras fitted.

These include Dravit Grey metallic paint (£1,750), Tacora Red Venasca leather (£1,300), individual piano black interior trim (£550), and an electric glass sunroof (£1,155).

A Technology Pack (£1,995) adds a Harman Kardon surround sound audio system, storage for wireless charging and an enhanced digital driver instrument binnacle with a head-up display.

Our test model is also equipped with the Comfort Plus Pack (£2,050) which includes a heated steering wheel, electric front seats with driver memory, and front lumbar support.

The are in addition to the standard equipment, which includes front heated seat, automatic air conditioning, cruise control, parking assistant and BMW Online Services.

From an exterior and interior point of view, the eDrive35 will have no surprises for anyone familiar with the eDrive40: it shares the same styling cues and quality build and materials.

First impressions of our test model are really positive. The cabin is a special place to be, while the car’s road manners are impressive, especially when you take into account the i4 is not a purpose-built EV, but essentially an ICE model with an electric powertrain installed.

I’m looking forward to the coming months over which I’ll find out how strong a company car proposition an eDrive35 is.