BMW i3 (2013 to 2022)

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i3 is innovative, stylish and good to drive – delivering a premium small electric car with plenty of road presence.”
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Model reviewed: 120Ah
Score: 8 / 10
“More range can only be a good thing when it comes to EVs, and the BMW i3 is still relatively affordable for a premium electric car. New owners will benefit from more flexibility, but they’ll also be dogged by the same flaws – namely the poor ride and the lack of standard safety and connectivity tech.”
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Model reviewed: i3s range extender
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s impressive for BMW to give the i3 more performance without cutting the range at the same time, and to sharpen the way it drives. However, the standard car is hardly a slouch and is pretty good to drive, so we struggle to see how the BMW i3s is worth the considerable extra money.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“An early electric pioneer, the BMW i3 remains a distinctive and stylish offering despite new rivals appearing in the EV market. An improved battery pack and increased range meaning the earlier range-extender version is now redundant, and the i3 is now a pure electric vehicle.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i3 remains a superb mode of city transportation, a near-perfect second car and the best of its breed as a driver’s car. But in the face of challenges from newer rivals, the i3 is an enduringly bold and likeable, but no longer outstanding, electric hatchback.”
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Model reviewed: 94Ah
Score: 9 / 10
“Putting the engineering brilliance of Tesla to one side, the BMW i3 is arguably the best electric car currently on the market, and these latest updates find solutions to almost all the obstacles stopping fleets from investing in the technology.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It is still a £25k city car with only four seats and a tiny boot, but the BMW i3 range is far more appealing than any EV we’ve driven.”
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Model reviewed: i3 S range extender
Score: 8 / 10
“If you want the fastest, most fun BMW i3, this is it – but its greatest strengths (an attractive, innovative interior, show-stopping exterior styling and enough space for everyday most driving scenarios around town with the capacity for longer trips possible) are shared with the regular i3.”
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Model reviewed: 94Ah
Score: 8 / 10
“The appeal of the BMW i3 is only strengthened with its new battery pack fitted. It retains the eye-catching design, spacious interior and engaging driving experience we’ve praised previously, but now you can enjoy it for longer between charges.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“While there are certain areas where the i3 might be showing its age, that can’t detract from the brilliance of this BMW. Given it was years ahead of the competition in many respects, it continues to build a strong case for itself in the electric hatchback market.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The BMW i3 is great fun and nippy around town but it’s expensive and those striking looks won’t appeal to everyone.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i3 is a small electric car with a funky interior and a decent range between charges. Sadly, it’s expensive and other small electric cars are more comfortable.”
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Model reviewed: i3s range extender
“The new BMW i3s is the sportiest of mainstream plug-in vehicles and goes and handles very nicely, though it’s far from cheap. The looks are still divisive and the ride quality suffers due to that sportiness.”
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Model reviewed: i3s (pure electric version)
“The BMW i3s’s zippy performance and fine handling impress, but it’s a shame the range doesn’t let you enjoy it for longer.”
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Model reviewed: i3S
“Priced at £37,000, the BMW i3S is unquestionably a premium product considering its modest size, though it’s hard to argue that it is one of the best low-emissions models on the market to date.”
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Model reviewed: i3S
Score: 6 / 10
“At the time of launch, the BMW i3 proved that electric cars could be funky and fast, and played a major role in bringing them to the forefront of people’s attention. The problem it has now though is that it’s barely changed in the last eight years but the industry is moving fairly rapidly.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The BMW i3 was one of the first electric cars to make everyday drivers sit up and take notice, with its cool style, good handling and practical range.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.5 / 10
“BMW’s first electric car, the quirky i3, has been around since 2013. But even now it feels like a car from the future.”
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Model reviewed: i3 range extender
“The BMW i3 handles well with beautifully responsive steering. Wind and road noise are largely absent. The only drawback is the harsh suspension. The car literally clatters over lesser road surfaces, making it uncomfortable at times.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i3 is a genuinely impressive take on the electric city car.”
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Model reviewed: i3 S
Score: 10 / 10
“If you’re looking for an EV in this class that will also offer a rewarding driving experience for the duration of ownership, then the BMW i3s doesn’t really have any competition at this time – and that’s why BMW believes it can charge a premium for the i3s.”
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Model reviewed: 94Ah range extender
Score: 10 / 10
“The BMW i3 looks great, it’s rewarding to drive, and it’s an electric car with a solution to range anxiety.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“If any car could convince you that EVs are a good idea, the BMW i3 is it. It has sufficient charm and appeal to make you want one regardless of the engine under the bonnet, yet delivers all the big EV plus points too.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“What the BMW i3 manages to achieve is impressive, ticking all the boxes you expect from an electric car – acceptable range, zero emissions and an environmental mindset thanks to its recycled material content.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i3 remains one of the most stylish and image-friendly EVs, with driving dynamics that are almost unheard of in the sector.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The BMW i3 can’t be called cheap. It costs considerably more than many of its rivals including the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq Electric and Volkswagen e-Golf. Opt for a second hand one, however, and the i3 makes for a used car bargain.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“BMW stole a march on rivals when it launched the i3, yet despite its age it still looks modern and features one of the most distinctive interiors in the business. It’s also great to drive and, provided you don’t need to carry more than four people then it’s practical enough for a small car. Only in terms of range and charging speed does it trail the competition, but both are good enough not to be a deal-breaker.” (James Disdale)
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Small electric car is aging gracefully, remaining modern in many ways”
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Model reviewed: i3S
“The key words here are responsible, renewable or recycled resources. Add rather expensive to that list and that’s the BMW i3. It’s a statement car — a very cool, feel-good statement car — but it starts at £30k.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“A high watermark for premium electric motoring.”
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Model reviewed: 94Ah
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i3 is one of the most advanced battery vehicles on sale, designed with elan and with all BMW’s handling prowess, if not its ride quality. Still needs more range (and bigger rear seats) and this battery-swap business is plain confusing, but this is as good at it gets if you drive with a battery.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i3 remains the best premium small EV out there. Just be prepared to pay proper money.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“Similarly priced mainstream rivals, such as the Kia e-Niro, offer similar performance and much longer ranges between charges. Practicality is another serious weakness of the BMW i3, all of which means that, objectively, there are better electric cars available for the money.
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