BMW i3 review (2013-2022)

If you’re considering buying a small electric car, the BMW i3 is a good choice. It’s easy to drive in town and its looks have agred brilliantly – more than a decade after it was first introduced, it still looks completely different from anything else on the road. Using a carbon fibre reinforced plastic structure covered in two-tone panels, which add to the futuristic feel, its as upmarket as anyother BMW. It’s a strict four-seater, though, and the boot is small.

The i3 has a powerful electric motor which feels very fast in town. The range it can travel between charges varies depending on the model year, with post-2018 models travelling an impressive 153 miles between charges according to official figures. The early pre-2016 cars have a range of 81 miles, and cars which came out in 2016 and 2017 have 115 mile range.

The REx (Range Extender) hybrid version of the i3 has a small petrol engine as well as its electric motor, which keeps the batteries topped up if they begin to run flat. Production of this version ended in 2018, but it’s worth considering if you’re worried about how far you can get on a single charge.

The i3 has a minimalist dashboard, large windows and a choice of light colour schemes, which create a bright and airy atmosphere. There’s a large centrally mounted screen for the infotainment and sat nav, while the speedometer and range gauge are housed in a smaller screen ahead of the driver. Everything looks good and is easy to use.

It’s not the most spacious car, but it doesn’t feel cramped. The interior is designed for a maximum of four adults. Those in the back won’t have huge amounts of legroom, and while there are small openings similar to back doors they can only be opened when the front ones are too, so the i3 feels a bit like a three-door car. The boot is small at 260 litres, but it’s a good shape for lifting shopping into. The boot can fit a couple of suitcases, but isn’t the most practical for fitting other items, such as a baby buggy. You can also fold down the rear seats to increase capacity to 1,100 litres.

Lots of features came as standard, including cruise control, sat nav and much more. Popular options include leather trim and heated seats, so keep an eye out for those on used cars.

If you’ve never driven an electric car before, then the BMW i3’s performance will come as a pleasant surprise. It offers instant power from the moment you hit the accelerator. The i3 moves as quickly as a high-performance hatchback. What makes it more remarkable is how little noise it makes. It also has no gears so the acceleration happens smoothly.

The faster you go the more energy you use, so the range could be less than 100 miles on 2016 and 2017 cars. Even the realistic distance between charges of the improved post-2018 versions is around 150 miles. Regenerative braking, which slows the car by absorbing its energy into the batteries, helps to maximise range on longer trips.

The i3 is best around town where its high driving position, great visibility of the road and narrow dimensions make it easy to drive. It feels composed on the open roads, with its quick steering and strong grip delivering excellent agility.

It's hard to compare the i3 to other cars of its type, because... well, there aren't any. Other small electric cars that you might want to check out include the Honda E, which is much newer and also has standout looks. But it's likely to be considerably more espensive, and has a lower electric range than many i3s.

The BMW i3 is getting on in years now, so early cars in particular are available for relatively little. Newer ones will be comparable to the likes of the Honda E, but may be slightly pricier than the Peugeot e-208 and Renault Zoe, reflecting the BMW's premium badge.

Running costs should be very low. A full charge will take more than 12 hours from a domestic three-pin plug. A wall box fast charger reduces this to around four hours, while cars fitted with the optional DC charging unit can be topped up at a high speed public charger in less than an hour.

Insurance costs are affordable, despite the i3’s complex construction. Servicing costs are likely to be low compared to a petrol or diesel car, as there are fewer moving parts to service.

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