Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

BMW i3 (2013-2022) review

The BMW i3 is innovative, stylish and good to drive - delivering a premium small electric car with plenty of road presence

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

  • Beautifully designed interior
  • Efficiency
  • Easy to drive
  • Strict four-seater
  • Potentially expensive maintenance
  • Firm ride
Find your BMW i3
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Hassle-free way to a brand new car
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

Perhaps no car has signalled the changing of the automotive times in the past decade quite like the BMW i3. Its relatively long lifespan of nine years from its introduction in 2013 to its discontinuation in 2022 has been afforded by its ability to remain fresh in both design and technology. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Available as both a pure-electric model and as a range-extender hybrid throughout most of its life, the i3 offered up a fairly competitive 190 miles of range in its final EV form. While that’s less than you get from a Vauxhall Corsa-e, Peugeot e-208 and even the Renault Zoe, the i3’s build quality, design touches and driving characteristics kept it in the running right up until its production end. 

About the BMW i3 

While many hatchback-sized, pure-electric cars share their platforms with internal-combustion engined variants, the BMW i3 used a bespoke architecture. This helped give the newly-formed electrified BMW i subdivision some credentials back in 2013, which were further built upon by the plug-in hybrid i8 a year later. 

The i3’s platform not only signified BMW’s dedication to the pure-electric market, but it also enabled the i3 to receive updated powertrains through its lifespan. Starting out with a 22.6kWh battery pack (19kWh usable), it offered a rather measly 81 miles of range. A range-extender version sat alongside the i3 from launch, featuring a two-cylinder motorcycle engine from BMW Motorrad; it essentially served as a generator for the battery, pushing range up to 150 miles. 

In 2017, BMW dropped the range-extender version and replaced the pure-electric model’s battery with a larger 33kWh unit, allowing for a 114-mile range. At the Frankfurt Motor Show of the same year, we saw the facelifted BMW i3 launch with new bumpers front and rear, standard-fit LED headlights and fresh wheel arch trims. Range was improved to 187 miles and a sporty i3s version joined the lineup with a more powerful motor, lowered suspension and a wider track. The inside of the i3 remained virtually unchanged with the latest iDrive system incorporated into the 10.25-inch screen on the dash. 

A larger 42.2kWh battery pack was installed in 2019 which bumped up the range to a maximum of 190 miles. 

In 2022, BMW announced it would be ending production of the i3. The last i3 rolled off the factory line in Leipzig, Germany in June 2022 - a couple of weeks after global i3 sales notched over 250,000 units. 

To mark the occasion, BMW commissioned 18 units of the i3 to celebrate the end of production (in a similar fashion to the final 18 limited edition i8s in 2020), with each example painted in BMW’s Galvanic Gold Metallic.

For an alternative review of the BMW i3, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on i3

Best cars for £10,000 or less
Best cars for £10,000 - header
Best cars & vans
14 Mar 2024

Best cars for £10,000 or less

£10,000 is a strong budget in the used car market, here are some of the best cars for the money
Best used electric cars 2024
Best used electric cars - header image
Best cars & vans
24 Jan 2024

Best used electric cars 2024

Looking to join the electric car revolution but have a smaller budget? Here are our best used electric cars to buy
Top 10 most reliable small cars to buy 2024
Most reliable small cars - header
Best cars & vans
17 Jan 2024

Top 10 most reliable small cars to buy 2024

We reveal the most reliable small cars you can buy according to the 2023 Driver Power survey…
Skip advert
Advertisement
Nissan Leaf vs BMW i3: used electric cars go head-to-head
BMW i3 and Nissan Leaf - front static
Car group tests
28 Oct 2023

Nissan Leaf vs BMW i3: used electric cars go head-to-head

Used electric cars have never been more affordable, so is it time to make the switch?
BMW i3 production ends after nine years
Final BMW i3 leaving the production line
News
1 Jul 2022

BMW i3 production ends after nine years

BMW’s long-lasting i3 will be replaced by the upcoming iX1 SUV
BMW i3 price slashed in response to new plug-in car grant
BMW i3
News
30 Mar 2021

BMW i3 price slashed in response to new plug-in car grant

BMW has cut the i3’s base price to £33,805, following the government’s decision to restrict the plug-in car grant to car’s worth less than £35,000
BMW i3 Urban Suite concept turns EV into luxury lounge
BMW i3 Urban Suite Concept - front 3/4 static
News
2 Jan 2020

BMW i3 Urban Suite concept turns EV into luxury lounge

Fleet of chauffeur driven ‘boutique’ i3s to hit Vegas streets for this year’s Consumer Electronics Show
Kia e-Niro, BMW i3 and Hyundai Kona Electric review
Car group tests
18 May 2019

Kia e-Niro, BMW i3 and Hyundai Kona Electric review

We find out if the new Kia e-Niro or revamped BMW i3 can beat our current EV champion, the Hyundai Kona Electric
Current BMW i3 to get revamp rather than all-new model
BMW i3s in-depth review - front
News
6 Mar 2019

Current BMW i3 to get revamp rather than all-new model

The BMW i3 is entering its seventh year of production, but the electric car will continue to be produced with further updates planned
Skip advert
Advertisement
Used BMW i3 review
Used BMW i3 - front
Used car tests
26 Feb 2019

Used BMW i3 review

A full used buyer’s guide on the BMW i3 covering the i3 Mk1 (2013-date)
New BMW i3 120Ah 2019 review
BMW i3 120Ah - front tracking
Road tests
20 Dec 2018

New BMW i3 120Ah 2019 review

A bigger battery means more range for the updated BMW i3, but can it keep pace with more modern rivals?
Skip advert
Advertisement
BMW i3 updated with more range and new trim options
New updated BMW i3
News
28 Sep 2018

BMW i3 updated with more range and new trim options

BMW i3's new 42.2kWh battery pack unlocks up to 193 miles under new WLTP rules
BMW i3 - best low emissions green cars
BMW i3s in-depth review - side
Car group tests
27 Jul 2018

BMW i3 - best low emissions green cars

You can have zero emissions with the all-electric i3, or there's a petrol range extender, too
Nissan Leaf vs BMW i3 vs VW e-Golf vs Renault ZOE
Nissan Leaf vs BMW i3 vs VW e-Golf vs Renault ZOE - header
Car group tests
8 Apr 2018

Nissan Leaf vs BMW i3 vs VW e-Golf vs Renault ZOE

A lot has changed in the EV world since the first Nissan Leaf arrived. We try the Mk2 against the BMW i3, Volkswagen e-Golf and Renault ZOE
Most economical hybrid cars
Car group tests
23 Feb 2018

Most economical hybrid cars

Electrification is sweeping like wildfire across the automotive industry, but which hybrid offers the best economy
Skip advert
Advertisement
New BMW i3s 2018 review
BMW i3s - front
Road tests
8 Feb 2018

New BMW i3s 2018 review

Is the sporty new BMW i3s worth £3k extra? We try the range-extender version to find out…
Hotter BMW i3s revealed alongside facelifted i3 EV
BMW i3s - Frankfurt front
News
12 Sep 2017

Hotter BMW i3s revealed alongside facelifted i3 EV

Revised BMW i3 gets improved range, new looks and a hot i3s model capable of 0-62mph in under seven seconds
BMW i3 - best tax-free cars
BMW i3
Best cars & vans
3 Apr 2017

BMW i3 - best tax-free cars

BMW i3 vs Audi A3 e-tron
BMW i3 vs Audi A3 e-tron - header
Car group tests
21 Dec 2016

BMW i3 vs Audi A3 e-tron

These premium electric cars have both been updated to provide more real-world usability - which is the better buy?
Long-term test review: BMW i3 Range Extender
Long-term test review: BMW i3 REx John front cornering
Long-term tests
23 Nov 2016

Long-term test review: BMW i3 Range Extender

We find out what it's really like to live with an electric car with our new, web exclusive, i3 long-termer
BMW i3 94Ah Range Extender 2016 review
BMW i3 REx 94AH - new front tracking
Road tests
7 Oct 2016

BMW i3 94Ah Range Extender 2016 review

The updated BMW i3 is better than ever and this Range Extender makes range anxiety a thing of the past
Skip advert
Advertisement
BMW i3 94Ah 2016 review
BMW i3 94Ah - front cornering
Road tests
20 Jul 2016

BMW i3 94Ah 2016 review

The BMW i3 jumps in price, but upgraded batteries have almost doubled the range and it remains as good to drive as ever
Green Car of the Year 2016: Toyota Prius
New Car Awards 2016: Green Award - Toyota Prius
Awards
5 Jul 2016

Green Car of the Year 2016: Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is the 2016 Auto Express Green Car of the Year, with the BMW i3 and Kia Niro commended