Used BMW i3 Cars for Sale

The i3 is BMW's electric hatchback which looks and feels futuristic. With a bold, eye-catching design and a luxurious interior, it’s also really practical with lots of space. It offers an enjoyable drive and is surprisingly fast.

The style of the car 

BMW started with a blank sheet of paper when they designed the i3, so it doesn’t look like any other car in the company’s range. As well as looking futuristic, the i3 is designed to be really practical and spacious, with a five-door, five-seat hatchback body.

How it works

The 2018 version of the i3 boasts a 42kWh lithium-ion battery, which gives a range of 193 miles between charges. The battery powers a 168 bhp electric motor and can be charged at home in six hours from a home charger (there’s a £500 government grant towards its cost) or 19 hours from a three-pin plug socket using a Type-1 cable. From a public charging point, the i3’s battery can be topped-up to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes using a special CCS cable. In earlier versions of the i3, a ‘range extender’ petrol engine was available to charge the battery on the move allowing you to double the range of its 22kWh and 33kWh battery packs. The range of the 22kWh and 33kWh batteries is 81 and 115 miles respectively. In 2018, BMW stopped making the range extender versions of the i3.

How it drives

The i3 is one of the most enjoyable electric cars to drive. It feels fast with instant acceleration meaning it’s great both in town or cruising on the motorway. And with clever ‘regenerative braking’, it’s possible to drive the i3 using just the accelerator pedal. When you lift off the pedal, the engine automatically brakes, making the i3 simple to drive. Rear parking sensors are standard and, as it’s short and easy to see out of, it’s easy to park.

The interior

The highlight of the i3 is its ‘coach’ doors. The rear doors swing out in the opposite direction to the front doors, allowing a large clear opening to get in and out easily. Inside, there’s plenty of head and leg room for five people. The interior is modern and classy, with a large screen on top of the dash and a premium finish. The boot is large enough for a couple of suitcases or a small child's buggy. The i3 is very well equipped with sat nav and leather seats coming as standard.

Running costs and reliability

The i3 has been around since 2013 and depreciation has taken its toll making this a fantastic used buy. It’s now one of the most affordable electric cars to buy and run. A typical overnight charge at home will cost £5. Insurance is low, while road tax is free. Like all electric cars, maintenance and servicing costs are inexpensive as there’s fewer moving parts than a car with an engine. The i3 is also very reliable. In What Car’s latest reliability survey, it scored four stars. It's also safe, with Euro NCAP awarding it four stars.

How it compares to similar cars

The i3 is smaller than a BMW 1 Series, but roomy inside and available as a battery-electric car only. The i3’s main rivals are the Hyundai Ioniq and Nissan Leaf, but the i3 is more premium and stylish than both of these. It’s won two highly-coveted World Car of the Year awards.