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

How we review cars
Pros
  • Beautifully designed interior
  • Efficiency
  • Easy to drive
Cons
  • Strict four-seater
  • Potentially expensive maintenance
  • Firm ride
Find your BMW i3
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

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.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,739 off RRP*Used from £8,800
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,675 off RRP*
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £1,509 off RRP*Used from £13,295
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,137 off RRP*Used from £15,496
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans
Future of Nissan in the UK - header with Phil McNamara

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans

Nissan is about to go from building the Qashqai hybrid to three fresh EVs in the UK over the next three years – all powered by a new gigafactory
Features
19 Apr 2025
Best SUVs to buy 2025
Best SUVs - header image

Best SUVs to buy 2025

There are plenty of great SUVs to choose from, so we’ve picked out the very best
Best cars & vans
17 Apr 2025
New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring
Baby Nissan Juke exclusive image - rear

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring

Nissan to fast-track development of new battery-powered city car to take on forthcoming Volkswagen ID.1, and our exclusive images preview how it could…
News
18 Apr 2025