BMW I3
The BMW i3 marked the German luxury brand’s first attempt at a commercially available electric vehicle. It was also an eccentric vehicle with oddball upright styling and a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and aluminum platform. The EV powertrain consisted of a rear-mounted electric motor, but with ever-larger batteries over the years. Despite its subcompact size, the i3 could accommodate five passengers. Its interior was forward-looking, with sustainable materials and screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system.
Explore the evolution of the BMW i3
Get our expert take on used BMW i3 models, or view year-by-year changes.
First generation BMW I3
BMW went all in on efficiency with the i3. A carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and aluminum structure kept the weight down, skinny tires offered low rolling resistance, and an electric powertrain provided the power.
BMW launched the i3 with a 22-kWh battery and a rear-mounted motor that powered the rear wheels. It had only 81 miles of EPA-estimated range, but a Range Extender variant added a two-cylinder gas engine to act as a generator and increase the range to 150 miles. For 2017, BMW added a 33-kWh battery, upping the EV range to 114 miles and the Range Extender's figure to 180 miles. The small battery was dropped for 2018, and then, for 2019, the battery for all versions grew to 42 kWh and EV range increased to 153 miles. The Range Extender version now offered 200 miles of range.
The interior featured sustainable materials, a 5.7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 6.5-inch or 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Despite a short 101.2-inch wheelbase, the i3 could still accommodate five passengers.
Model highlights
BMW’s first EV, with a lightweight architecture
Launched with 22-kWh battery and 81 miles of range
33-kWh battery added for 2017
i3s variant with slightly more power and a 6.8-second 0-60 time added for 2018
42-kWh battery became standard starting in 2019, increasing range to 153 miles
Range Extender version had 200 miles of range as of 2019
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2014 - 2021
2021 BMW I3
2020 BMW I3
Highlights
Edition RoadStyle offered with unique exterior and interior styling details
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2019 BMW I3
Highlights
Larger 42-kWh battery pack for 153 miles of range (200 miles for Range Extender version)
Front and rear parking sensors and ConnectedDrive services newly standard
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2018 BMW I3
Highlights
New i3s model with more power and sharper handling
Small battery version, called 60 Ah, dropped
Restyled front and rear bumpers; black instead of body-color windshield pillars
Full LED headlights newly standard
Updated iDrive infotainment system
Dual-voltage (120-volt/240-volt) charging cord newly available
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2017 BMW I3
Highlights
Newly available larger battery for 114 miles of range for EV version
Range Extender got bigger battery as standard, for a 30-mile range increase
Versions with larger battery came standard with new lower-cost Deka World cloth interior
Mega World faux leather and cloth upholstery became available
New sunroof option
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2016 BMW I3
2015 BMW I3
Highlights
Heated front seats, satellite radio, and an onboard DC fast-charging unit became standard
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Reliability
RepairPal gave the BMW I3 an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks BMW I3 1st out of 1 among Luxury Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a BMW I3 is $586, compared to an average of $586 for Luxury Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, BMW I3 owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.4 times per year, compared to an average of 0.4 times for Luxury Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 9% for the BMW I3, compared to an average of 9% for Luxury Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Kirk Bell has been an automotive journalist since 2001, doing stints at Motor Authority, MSN Autos, and Consumer Guide. He's currently a freelance journalist with an interest in luxury and performance cars.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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