BMW i3 Review

No longer available new

Electrifying.com score

8/10

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BMW's first electric car, the quirky i3, has been around since 2013. You can no longer buy one new, but even now it feels like a car from the future.

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  • Battery size: 42kWh
  • Miles per kWh: 4.12
  • E-Rating™: B

    Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.​

  • Max charge rate: 50 kW
  • Range: 173-182 miles
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  • Battery size: 42kWh
  • Miles per kWh: 4.12
  • E-Rating™: B

    Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.​

  • Max charge rate: 50 kW
  • Range: 173-182 miles
  • BMW i3 driving front
  • BWW i3 interior
  • BMW i3 parked rear left
  • BMW i3 screen
  • Electrifying.com E-Rating B

Ginny Says

“Still a massive favourite with me. I love its cool doors which make kids of all ages happy. And don't get me started on the beautiful interior packed with recycled materials or quirky styling - the i3 is everything a forward-looking car should be. It's a beauty that's ageing well and if you go for the i3S it's also surprisingly good to drive.”

Nicki Says

“The i3 was ahead of the curve in so many ways. Recycled interior panels, futuristic styling inside and out, thoughtful drivetrain and packaging - and it still stands out today. Originally there was a range-extended version, but nowadays it’s pure electric only. Still one of my favourite BEVs.”

The i3 is a quick car, and the i3S is even faster. It’s great in town but feels old on the open road.

  • 0-60mph:6.9 – 7.3 seconds
  • Top speed:93-99 mph

Performance 

If you do most of your driving in town, the i3 is just brilliant. In fact, we’d struggle to name another car which is better for getting across cities. It’s quiet of course, but even the lower-powered i3 is hilariously fast up to around 40mph and it takes some self-restraint to not race other drivers in expensive or souped-up petrol or diesel cars.

The i3S is even quicker, with an extra 13bhp. It’s 0-60 time is 6.9 seconds, which is the same as a supercar from the 1980s, but it’s the low speed acceleration which is most impressive as the electric motor produces all of its power as soon as you press the accelerator pedal.

In either car the surge of power does tail off as you go faster, but there is still plenty left in reserve to make overtaking on a country road or accelerating onto a motorway pretty effortless. 

Drive

One of the most likeable features of the i3 is a turning circle which can rival that of a London taxi, making parking and manoeuvring in tight streets exceptionally easy. If you are used to a big SUV, it will be a revelation.

Outside of the city limits, the i3 isn’t quite as much fun. The tall and narrow tyres don’t have the grip we’ve become used to from modern cars and they also don’t absorb bumps very well – especially on the optional larger wheels. They may look bling, but the low-profile tyres have less ‘squishiness’ to soak up imperfections in the road surface. It means the i3 can feel a bit nervous on faster roads, skipping about and getting knocked off the line easily.  

The situation is marginally better in the i3S, which has a sportier suspension set up and wider tyres – although that does hurt the range a little.

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