BMW i3 REx 2014 review pictures

<span>Packed with state-of-the-art materials and cutting-edge engineering, the boldly-styled BMW i3 is available in pure electric and range-extending guises.</span>

<span>Without the range extender the BMW i3’s range stands at anywhere between about 80 miles and 125 miles depending on how you drive. With the range-extender those numbers could double.</span>

<span>There are four specifications to choose from – Standard, Loft, Lodge and Suite.</span>

<span>Plugged into a domestic socket, the batteries can be boosted to an 80 per cent charge within seven hours, but BMW’s optional wall-mounted charger slashes this time to three hours.</span>

<span>Climb into the high-set driver’s seat and the first thing you’ll spot is a pair of large TFT screens – one ahead of the driver and one above the centre of the dashboard. These units display everything from speed to sat-nav info,

<span>All BMW i3s come with bright and stylish seat and carpet trims, with many made from sustainable materials.</span>

<span>The low-set dashboard and vast windscreen create a bright and airy feel.</span>

<span>The boot in the i3 has a high floor thanks to the running gear underneath,&nbsp;<span>but it’s nice and flat so you can easily slide things in.</span></span>

There’s 260 litres of space in the i3 with all the seats in place and 1,100 litres with them folded down.&nbsp;

<span>With a punchy 168bhp motor and rear-wheel-drive layout, the i3 is as good to drive as any ‘normal’ BMW.</span>

<span>Tall and narrow proportions give the i3 the look of an MPV rather than a family hatch</span>. It’s very lightweight though, thanks to its carbon fibre and aluminium construction – in fact, it’s about 300kg lighter than a&nbsp;Nis

<span>Surprisingly, it’s on twisting back roads where the i3 feels least composed.&nbsp;<span>The short-travel suspension struggles to contain large body movements, plus there’s lots of body roll.</span></span>

<span>The BMW is at its best when being used as a relaxed and refined cruiser when the suspension copes better on the motorway.</span>

The electric motor’s instant response in the BMW i3&nbsp;lets you zip through gaps in traffic with confidence.

<span>In a bid to reassure buyers, the brand provides an eight-year and 100,000-mile warranty for the lithium-ion battery pack.</span>

<span>The combination of a strong structure, six airbags and standard stability control means the i3 has some decent safety credentials.</span>

<span>Access is easy thanks to the rear-hinged doors and lack of a B-pillar – although you do have to step over the wide sill.</span>