BMW i3 review

Interior

Dashboard & tech

Stepping inside the i3 feels like you’ve been transported into the future. The design is open, airy, and beautifully minimalist. BMW used a range of interesting and sustainable materials, like recycled plastics and open-pore eucalyptus wood, which gives the cabin a unique and very modern vibe.

Floating in the centre of the dashboard is a crisp display screen for the excellent iDrive infotainment system. It’s controlled by a rotary dial between the front seats, which is much easier and safer to use on the move than a touchscreen. In front of the driver is another screen showing speed and range. The whole layout is clean, logical, and feels incredibly well put together.

Comfort

The i3 is a very comfortable car for driving around town. The front seats are supportive, and the high driving position gives you a great view out over traffic. The large windows and clever design make the cabin feel surprisingly spacious and light, especially in the front.

It’s worth noting that the ride can feel a little firm, partly due to the large but very narrow tyres it uses to maximise efficiency. You’ll notice bumps and potholes, but it’s rarely harsh. It’s a comfortable space to be, but refinement isn't its strongest point on the motorway, where you will notice a bit of road and wind noise.

Quality

This is an area where the i3 really excels. Despite its unconventional design, it feels every inch a premium BMW. The build quality is superb, and the choice of materials is fantastic. Everything you touch feels solid and well-engineered, from the steering wheel to the unique gear selector mounted on the steering column.

The mix of high-tech screens and natural, sustainable materials creates a cabin that feels both luxurious and responsible. It’s a very special and satisfying place to spend time, and the quality helps to justify its premium price tag.

Practicality & boot space

Interior space

Up front, the i3 feels remarkably spacious for a small car, with plenty of head and legroom. The back is a different story. It’s strictly a two-seater in the rear, and while adults can fit, it’s best saved for shorter journeys.

The biggest talking point is the doors. To get into the back, you first have to open the front doors, as the rear doors are rear-hinged (sometimes called 'suicide' doors). This looks cool and gives a wide opening, but it can be very awkward in a tight car park space, as you need a lot of room to open both doors.

Boot space

Practicality is the i3’s Achilles' heel. Because the electric motor is located under the boot floor, luggage space is quite limited. The boot is small, and while it’s fine for a weekly shop or a couple of small bags, you’ll struggle with a pushchair or bulky items.

There is a small storage area under the bonnet at the front, but it’s really only big enough to store the charging cables. If you need a practical, family-hauling EV, you might need to look elsewhere. But for a city-based couple or individual, it’s perfectly adequate.

Driving

Driving experience

The i3 is a huge amount of fun to drive, especially around town. Like all electric cars, the acceleration is instant, making it feel incredibly nippy and responsive away from traffic lights. Its lightweight carbon-fibre construction and rear-wheel-drive layout give it a really agile, go-kart-like feel.

One thing that takes some getting used to is the strong regenerative braking. As soon as you lift your foot off the accelerator, the car starts to slow down quite significantly as it recovers energy to recharge the battery. It allows for 'one-pedal driving' where you rarely need to touch the brake pedal in traffic. It feels strange at first, but you quickly adapt to it.

Performance

The standard i3 comes with a 168bhp electric motor, which is more than enough to make this lightweight car feel very quick. It can accelerate from 0-60mph in just over seven seconds. Later models also introduced a sportier i3s version, which has a bit more power (182bhp) and lowered sports suspension for even sharper handling.

For those with range anxiety, BMW also offered a 'Range Extender' (REx) version. This features a tiny two-cylinder petrol engine from a scooter that acts as a generator to charge the battery when it runs low. It doesn’t drive the wheels directly but gives you the peace of mind of being able to top up your range at a petrol station.

Running costs

Range & charging

Over its life, the i3 was offered with a few different battery sizes. Early cars had a real-world range of about 80 miles. Later models from 2017 onwards got a bigger battery, increasing the range to around 120-150 miles. The very last models have a range of up to 190 miles. The Range Extender model adds about 80-90 miles of petrol-powered range on top of the battery.

Charging at home with a 7kW wallbox takes between 3 and 6 hours, depending on the battery size. A public rapid charger can top the battery up to 80% in around 40 minutes.

Value for money

The i3 was an expensive car when new, but it makes for an absolute bargain on the used market. Because it has been around for a while, early examples have depreciated heavily, meaning you can get a premium, futuristic-looking electric car for the price of a conventional supermini. Running costs are incredibly low, with home charging being much cheaper than petrol, and there's no road tax to pay.

Reliability & Warranty

The i3 has a good reliability record. Electric powertrains have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel engines, so there’s less to go wrong. From new, BMW provides an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the battery, which provides excellent peace of mind when buying a used model.

Safety

Safety features

The i3 is a safe car, though it's worth noting its official Euro NCAP score was four stars rather than the full five. This was mainly because some advanced safety aids weren't fitted as standard.

However, its strong and lightweight carbon-fibre passenger cell provides excellent protection in a crash. All models come with multiple airbags and stability control. Many used examples will have been specified with optional extras like a reversing camera and cruise control, which are worth looking out for.

Trims & Engines

Trim levels

BMW didn’t use its traditional trim level structure for the i3. Instead, all cars came with a generous level of standard equipment, and buyers could choose from different 'Interior Worlds' that changed the look and feel of the cabin.

Standard equipment on all models includes satellite navigation, climate control, rear parking sensors, cruise control, and automatic lights and wipers.

Interior Worlds included 'Loft', 'Lodge', and 'Suite', each offering different combinations of cloth, wool, and leather upholstery, as well as different wood trims. It means there’s a lot of variety in the cabins of used i3s.

Powertrains

The choice is between a pure electric car or one with a petrol backup.

i3 (Pure Electric): A 168bhp electric motor powering the rear wheels. Available with different battery sizes depending on the age of the car, offering a range from around 80 to 190 miles.

i3 with Range Extender (REx): The same electric motor and battery, but with the addition of a small 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine that acts as a generator to extend the car's total range.

i3s: A sportier version with a more powerful 182bhp motor and sports suspension. Also available in pure electric or Range Extender forms.