Logo
No matching results

Recent Articles

Popular Makes

Body Types

2017 BMW i3 Road Test and Review

Scott Oldham
by Scott Oldham
July 7, 2017
5 min. Reading Time
2017 BMW i3 Driving City Front Quarter ・  Photo by BMW

2017 BMW i3 Driving City Front Quarter ・ Photo by BMW

Although electrified vehicles remain a tiny percentage of the total new car market, automakers around the globe continue to create hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electrics cars at a fast and feverous pace. That investment continues the rapid improvement of the technologies in these vehicles and their appeal to both early adopters and new car buyers looking for a greener option.

BMW may be better known for its diesel technology and of course its performance cars, but the German luxury brand is up to its lederhosen in hybrids and EVs. Its portfolio now includes plug-in hybrid versions of the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X5 and X6 SUVs, its i8 plug-in hybrid six-figure supercar and this little 4-door runabout, the 2017 BMW i3.

A standout in the EV and plug-in hybrid segment, the 2017 BMW i3 competes against the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt and Bolt, Toyota Prius Prime, Mercedes-Benz B250e and the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.

Let's take a closer look at the 2017 BMW i3.

Models and Pricing

Built in Germany, the 2017 BMW i3 is available in just one body style, a five-door hatchback with reverse opening rear doors that allow access to its rear seat.  If you’re interested in a true EV, there are two battery packs to choose from, a 22kWh and a 33 kWh, which offers more range. Prices start at $43,395, including $995 for destination and handling. The larger battery pack adds about $2,000 dollars to the sticker price and increases the charge range from 81 miles to 114.

If you’d rather watch a Vin Diesel movie marathon than suffer from range anxiety BMW offers the i3 with a small two-cylinder gas engine that charges the battery pack and essentially turns the car into a plug-in hybrid. With this powertrain, total range jumps to 180 miles, but you still need to plug it in, and eventually, you’ll have to fill its tiny two-gallon gas tank as well. Prices for the i3 with Range Extender start at $49,295. All models are rear-wheel drive and have an automatic transmission.

On each model, three trim levels are offered. Deka World is standard. Then there’s Mega World, which adds 19-inch wheels and an upholstery upgrade, Giga World adds wood trim and Tera World adds leather.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

How Long Does It Take To Charge?

According to BMW, it takes about 3.5 hours to fully charge an i3 with the smallest battery pack on a 220-volt outlet, and 4.5 hours to charge the larger pack.

Our i3 test vehicle was equipped with the larger 33kWh battery pack and the Mega World trim package. After driving the car for several days around Los Angeles, both on the freeways as well as the city streets, I covered about 90 miles. Although there was some range left, about 15 miles, around 10 pm I decided to plug in at my home in a simple 110-volt wall outlet, just as I would my phone.

The next morning the car was fully charged, and range gauge on the dash said I now had over 100 miles worth of electricity stored up. BMW says it should have taken about eight hours. I unplugged the car, tossed the cord in the vehicle's cargo area and happily drove my daughter a few miles to school.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

How It Drives

Some people don’t believe electric cars are quick and fun to drive, but they are, and the BMW i3, being a BMW and all, is one of the best from behind the wheel.

Its 170-hp powertrain is dead silent except for the soothing whir of its electric motor. It’s powerful off the line and quick enough to merge on the highway without stress. A Tesla will blow its doors off, but the i3 can smoke a Prius. With 0-60 mph acceleration in about 7-seconds this is not a sport sedan, but around town, it’s easy to dust everyone when the light turns green.

With responsive steering and secure road holding, the i3 is agile, but it also cruises well on the highway. Some may find its ride overly firm, although I did not find it to be a problem.

One quirk is the regenerative braking, which slows the car intensely when you let off the throttle. It’s odd at first, but you get used to it, and with time and a little practice, you can drive the car without using the brake pedal at all.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Curb Appeal

There are two design schools when it comes to EVs. The first is to make it look like a conventional gas model. This is the direction Audi has pursued with its A3 Sportback e-tron and even Tesla used for its popular Model S. The other is to go wacky. To design a car that screams “Look at me, I’m not killing Polar Bears! I’m saving them one mile at a time.”

BMW has taken both routes. The electrified version of its 3 Series, for instance, looks like every other 3 Series.

Then there’s the i3. It’s wacky.

The i3 is short, stubby, tall and skinny, with odd blue trim and a greenhouse that looks as if an Apple engineer designed it after a few belts. And a dare. The i3 certainly turns heads, but not for same reasons people turn to watch a Ferrari drive by.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Interior Hits and Misses

I was disappointed our i3 test vehicle wasn’t equipped with the Giga World trim package because its sustainable open pore Light Eucalyptus wood trim is beautiful and has the appearance of fine furniture quality. BMW says it evolves with use, deepening in color over time. The silver trim in our test vehicle was a letdown.

Still, this is an expensive car, and a BMW, so you would expect its entire interior to have an overall feeling of quality. And it does. Like its exterior, the i3’s interior design isn’t exactly conventional, but it is attractive and well-built, and you can’t help but be impressed by the precise panel fitment. Oddities include a 2-spoke steering wheel, a knob-like shifter on the steering column and a dashboard the size of runway 24L/6R at LAX.

Visibility is excellent to the rear and sides, but the i3’s massive A-pillars can block pedestrians in the crosswalk. The heated front seats are firm but comfortable, although the upholstery is coarse -- kind of reminded me of my Aunt Jackie’s itchy Christmas sweater.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Cargo and Cupholders

Trunk space is large for the class. The 2017 BMW i3 with the small battery pack and the range extender model offer 9.1 cubic feet of trunk space behind the rear seats and 38.8 cubic feet with the standard 50/50 split fold-down rear seat folded flat. The larger battery in our test vehicle takes up some of that space. That model has 36.9 cubic feet of total space. Another nice touch is the power port in the cargo area, which I used to power an air pump.

There’s also a small cargo area under the front hood (a great place to store the charging cord), and ton of interior storage, including a deep center console bin and huge door pockets that have slots for water bottles.

Strangely, there is only one front-seat cupholder, which isn’t huge, and two rear seat cupholders.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Family Friendly?

Small hatchbacks don’t usually make great family cars and the i3 is no exception. The back seats are tight for anyone over five-foot-ten, and it only seats two. The i3 is a four-seater and its reverse opening rear doors, which cannot be opened until the front door is open, are awkward to use. They can be an issue in tight parking spaces.

Younger families will appreciate the BMW’s easy to reach LATCH connectors in the rear seats.

Standard features include Bluetooth, navigation, heated front seats, an automatic climate control system and a 4-year unlimited mileage roadside assistance program. Another cool feature is the i3 smartphone app that allows you to sync the car with your phone or Apple watch and monitor its state of charge.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

The EV and Plug-In Landscape

Make no mistake: Automakers are in an arms race when it comes to EVs and plug-in hybrids, and the competition is getting fierce.

Chevrolet is all in. The recent redesign of its Volt plug-in hybrid, which can be driven over 50 miles before its gas engine needs to do a lick of work, and its new all-electric Bolt, which has a range of 235 miles, are segment leaders in efficiency and a value. Both cost much less than the i3.

If you have to have a luxury badge, the new Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is worth checking out. The plug-in hybrid costs about the same as the i3, but has more power, more acceleration, and more total range.

The Nissan LEAF EV has about the same range as the i3 EV, but it’s less expensive and it seats five, as does the Toyota Prius Prime, which is a plug-in version of the best-selling hybrid of all time.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a sporty EV, the BMW i3 is a very compelling overall choice despite intense and intensifying competition.

The 2017 BMW i3 is comfortable, it performs well, and few EVs are this fun to drive. Its interior is also beautifully appointed and extremely comfortable. It may not be as sexy as its supercar brother, the BMW i8, but the i3 is unique and stylish in its own way. And mentioning its Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic body structure will wow your fellow passengers on the Greenpeace boat.

If you can, step up to the range extender. Over time you’ll appreciate the additional 70 miles of range. It’ll come in handy. And spend the $1,800 for the Eucalyptus wood. It’s good for the soul.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW


`

Interested in Getting a New Car?

Used Cars Near You

No Data Available

Powered by Usedcars.com
©2024 AutoWeb, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. © 1986-2024.