“The best tiny, high-end EV available is the BMW i3. Or until production is permanently stopped.”
The i3 is still the top small premium EV available. Nothing has emerged to unseat it after eight years, which speaks something about both the strength of the original idea and the generally lackluster competitors. Being in and around the i3 is an amazing experience. Although the ride is knobbly, it’s an eager, responsive car to drive since the design still looks new and fascinating, the cabin is light and airy, and nicely constructed from tactile materials, and the driver controls are sensible (VW stole the gear controller idea for the ID.3 and ID.4).
Additionally, it isn’t a lot of money in the overall scheme of things. With a starting price of PS33,820, the Nissan Leaf is comparable to the Honda e, Peugeot e-208, and Mini Electric while costing a little more than a Fiat 500e or a Mini Electric. Eight years after introduction, the i3 still beats all of them.
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The amount?
The starting price of the i4 M50 is $66,895, but a $7,500 federal tax credit reduces it to $59,395 — just $400 more than the price of a 382 horsepower M440i Gran Coupe. (The starting price for a rear-drive i4 eDrive 40 is $56,395, or $48,895 after the credit.) The i4 M50 checked in at $82,820, stuffed full of options including the eye-catching Curved Display for $1,000, assistance packages for parking and semi-autonomous hands-free driving for $2,400 combined, and a $2,500 High Performance package with 20-inch M alloys.
The cost after credit was $75,320. Interestingly, an M4 Competition starts at around $76,000 and may cost up to $100,000 with extras, despite having 33 fewer horsepower than the i4 M50. Even putting away a tempting price, the i4 promises zero tailpipe emissions, energy at a quarter of the cost of fuel, and less expensive maintenance. Whatever way you cut it, the i4 is a standout. With a brand-new i7 sedan and traditional 7-Series going on sale at the same time before Christmas, BMW will double down on its flexible architecture approach. Fans who are fortunate enough to reside in a vehicle commercial can display their 7-Series flagship in ICE or electric form. Which one will receive the green bow on top is obviously clear.
beginning with $56,895
- Highs M50 is faster than an M3 and has a more practical hatchback body type with superior ride-handling balance.
- Please tone down the artificial music and the low-spirited steering on the eDrive35 and M50 variants.
- Verdict We have faith that the all-electric future will be fascinating because an exceptional EV powertrain and one of the brand’s better chassis are housed inside the i4’s conventional BMW body.
EV Performance, Power, and Motor
The i3 has a one-speed direct-drive transmission and pulls strongly, smoothly, and linearly. The ride itself is fairly quick. In our tests, a 2017 i3 took 6.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Both the standard model and the more athletic i3s accelerate quickly and provide a snappy sensation when driving around town. The i3’s ride is commensurate with its upscale reputation and peaceful interior. Up until the optional range-extending model starts its gas engine, there is no buzzing, unpleasant vibrations, or sound, so the experience is one of solitude. The i3’s suspension easily navigates through bumps, cracks, and expansion strips in the pavement, but to an extent that it feels too detached from the road. The i3’s small dimensions and relatively low weight make weaving through traffic enjoyable, even though the light and numb steering is less than ideal.
It seems as though the Model 3 has finally encountered a rival.
The eagerly awaited BMW i4 has arrived, and so far, it seems to live up to the expectations. According to this recent assessment by Carbuyer, the i4 is a thoroughly remarkable electric vehicle and is arguably the first true Tesla Model 3 competitor.
The i4 is one of the best-driving electric cars, according to the host of the channel, Nicola Hume. She evaluated the eDrive 40, which trades off performance for range. Still, it is fairly quick; the time from 0 to 60 mph is only 5.7 seconds. It has excellent balance and precision steering. She observed that compared to a Model 3, it drives and handles significantly better in her opinion.
The eDrive40’s real-world range is excellent; under typical circumstances, you can expect to travel more than 300 miles on a single charge. The ride quality is good. Although the entertainment system can occasionally be unnecessarily confusing, the interior quality is excellent. The seat is comfortable, and the driving position is ideal. Legroom is adequate in the back, however headroom can be constrained due to the i4’s sloping roof. Despite the absence of a frunk, the trunk has plenty of room. The version Carbuyer recommends is the lowest Sport trim eDrive40 because it still comes with a ton of amenities as standard.
Nicola concluded by saying that the i4 was an excellent electric vehicle with excellent handling and ride comfort. The range is outstanding, and the interior is best in class. There is no trunk, the infotainment system is a little challenging to understand, and the rear passenger capacity should be improved. Despite this, she still considers the i4 to be one of the greatest electric vehicles now available and to be an improvement over the long-reigning Model 3.
BMW i3
It is a four-seat hatchback with rear-hinged back doors that is rear-wheel-drive.
The available two-cylinder engine serves as a generator to increase the range past the original 72 miles to roughly 150 miles.
Charge periods using the 7.4 kW onboard charger are 4.5 hours on a 240-volt circuit.
It takes some getting used to the noticeable slowdown while rising off the gas pedal. In 2017, a larger battery (up from 60 amp-hour to 94 amp-hour) and a slightly larger fuel tank (up to 2.4 gallons) were added to versions with range extender engines.
Both the battery and the range increased in 2019 and are now up to 153 miles.
Is the BMW i3 a reliable vehicle?
If you’re searching for an electric car that’s convenient to drive around town and has a sleek, upscale cabin, the BMW i3 is definitely worth taking into consideration. However, you’ll spend more for the i3’s excellent appearance and quality than you will for its more affordable substitutes, similar to how an iPad compares to a white-label Android tablet.
BMW’s excellent iDrive system with a high-resolution 10-inch infotainment screen and sat nav comes standard in the i3, but the company’s wood dashboard trimmings and partial leather seats aren’t; they’re only offered as part of the Loft, Lodge, and Suite interior trim packages, which are optional.
The i3’s cabin still looks luxurious without one of these enhanced packs, and there is plenty room for you to get comfy – even if you are taller than six feet.
Unfortunately, there isn’t quite as much room in the back, but kids can still spread out comfortably. The i3’s unique rear-hinged back doors make it simple to lift in a large kid seat, and the back seats at least feel surprisingly airy thanks to the vehicle’s oddly shaped rear windows.
Unfortunately, it only has four seats, and the boot isn’t that roomy. The Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe are hence more useful electric vehicles.
A small electric motor and a portable battery pack are included as standard equipment with the BMW i3. Although BMW claims that this combination provides you a range of 188 miles between charges, you may anticipate that it will actually travel closer to 160 miles under normal circumstances.
Despite being an odd option in a market that is already specialized, the premium BMW i3 is actually rather livable if you get beyond its futuristic design.
Another option is the “s” model, which has higher power but a little less range (officially 175 miles between charges). BMW estimates that the i3s will go a similar 160 miles to the normal model in real-world conditions.
Don’t assume the i3 is a sluggish eco-car that is just good for trekking to the store; in fact, the standard model’s 170 horsepower electric motor provides virtually instant bursts of acceleration that allow it sprint from 0-62 mph in 7.3 seconds. With an 184 horsepower electric motor, the i3s is even faster, reducing the sprint time to 6.9 seconds.
Regardless of the model you choose, the BMW is quite simple to drive. It is simple to see out of thanks to its huge windows, and parking is a joy thanks to its small turning circle.
It’s unfortunate that it’s not quite as cozy as the Zoe and Leaf. At highway speeds, you’ll hear quite a bit of wind and tyre noise due to the car’s firm suspension and huge alloy wheels that draw attention to road imperfections.
Both in terms of safety and performance, it falls short of the Zoe. Compared to the Renault, which received a five-star certification from Euro NCAP in 2013, it received a four-star rating in 2013. Automatic emergency city braking is also an option.
But if you’re willing to make this concession, the BMW is a chic small family vehicle that’s well worth considering if you mostly drive in urban areas and have access to charging stations.
Visit our BMW i3 deals page to see the offers that are currently being made.
The BMW i4 is an electric version of a traditional vehicle.
From a distance, the i4 EV resembles the company’s gas-powered 4 Series Gran Coupe, a swoopy, fashionable mode of transportation. At the time of the car’s unveiling, the current generation BMW 4 Series’ appearance received criticism from both the press and the general public, although familiarity has lessened the impact. However, there are a few minor variations between the gasoline and electric versions: The EV has a new floor to accommodate its EV underpinnings, a blanked-off grille, altered suspension, no tailpipes, new seats, and a new suspension system. There is also a “i4” badge.
The interior of a luxury vehicle like a BMW is exactly what you’d expect: sleek controls, crystal-clear screens, plush materials, the whole nine yards. However, the electric version of the 4 Series receives a new, enormous touch screen that its gas-powered brother does not, apparently to keep up with competitors. At least with the i4, BMW hasn’t gone too far to make an electric version of a conventional model seem or feel outrageous and turn off customers searching for something similar but different.
The “M” bit in the name “i4 M50” is significant. It indicates that the vehicle was tuned with assistance from BMW’s “M” division, which is responsible for the company’s core lineup’s quick, accomplished, enthusiast-focused models. (There are models with less power.)
However, this isn’t a “real” M vehicle; otherwise, it would likely be known as the “Mi4” Instead, it’s a “M Performance” vehicle, a bridge between the full-line of “M” vehicles and the standard model portfolio.
The M50 has two motors that provide a combined 544 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque and are each powered by an 83.9 kWh battery. According to BMW, it will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and reach a high speed cap of 140 mph.
The vehicle has an EPA range of 245 miles and, with the proper charger, can charge its battery from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes. The BMW M team also made adjustments to the suspension to make sure it can withstand being driven hard, as a “M” car typically is.
Additionally, there is an M-only “Sport Boost” option that, when activated, maximizes the vehicle’s performance. Less expensive i4s omit the second motor and the firmer springs; they are slower but have a longer range as a result.
Are BMW electric vehicles trustworthy?
Because they have fewer moving parts and less complexity than a car with an internal combustion engine, Fisher said, electric vehicles ought to be more dependable.
However, Fisher noted, “the firms introducing electric vehicles don’t have a century’s worth of expertise like they do with gasoline-powered vehicles, so that’s why we’re not necessarily seeing that.
He predicted that they would soon catch up, but warned that “growing pains” would be experienced in the meanwhile.
According to Fisher, the Chevy Bolt’s dominance in the dependability rankings is not unexpected. He claimed that General Motors has more experience than most other automakers and has created an electric vehicle more than 20 years ago.
It’s likely that electric vehicles will perform better than vehicles with 10-speed automatic transmissions, turbochargers, and all those other issues, according to Fisher.
Consumer Reports discovered that regardless of how reliable the vehicles were, owners virtually universally expressed great satisfaction with them. In the magazine’s most recent report, all models—aside from the Nissan Leaf and BMW I3—received ratings ranging from better than average to the highest for owner satisfaction.