BMW i3s 120Ah 2020 review

The BMW i3s is an EV with 260km/160mi of range from a 42kWh battery with a 38kWh usable capacity. The problem? It costs as much as a Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus here in Australia. Is the little BMW i3 still a relevant EV for 2020? In this episode of Chasing Cars, Tom drives the i3s around Sydney to find out.

What do you think of the updated BMW i3 120Ah? Is a Model 3 or Kona Electric a better bet? What about the Nissan Leaf? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments.

Covers the exterior, interior, range and price of the BMW i3s 2020 / 2019 i3 hatch.

[Donismaelgomez]

Good second car? If you use it on daily basis, it becomes your first car. The other combustion car will be your second one. We need to switch our minds

[diogonunes]

Getting mine tomorrow in grey cant wait!

[michaelkim]

The BMW i3 is an even better value as a used or CPO car! This is simply one of the best cars that BMW has ever made. The engineering and thought that went into it are really amazing, and you don't see this type of giant leap of innovation from major automakers nowadays. My wife and I are currently on our second and third i3's, so we are big fans!

[jbbevan]

I had a 2015 i3 for three years (on lease). It was a total pleasure and of the 30 cars or so that I've owned, it holds a very special place in my affections. If it had a 200 mile range, I'd still have it (I would have bought out the lease). I LOVED the car. I even visited the factory in Leipzig and can tell you that when I told the tour guide I had an i3 she changed her entire countenance. They are SO proud of the i3 that was full of innovation in 2015. She told us all about it while holding a carbon fiber door with one finger during her entire i3 presentation. Again, if the range had been 200 miles...I'd still have it. I is a totally under appreciated GREAT car. (and it was my only car....and I live 25 to 50 miles away from "civilization" in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah...if I lived in the city, I'd probably still have it, too).

[Rico-lymz]

I own a i3s for a 1.5 year now. I use it as my first car and I drive 110km a day with it. I absolutely love it. I prefer the i3s over the normal i3 cause of the larger wheels and its wider & lower.

[Jnny]

One of the best EV's I've driven, 150 mile range is good and the seats are outstanding. Fantastic performance around town and just a great car to drive.

[simonreeves]

I'm a Pom who went EV in September 2019 with the i3 after much debate. I'm very pleased so far. I was concerned about range, but in reality It has not been an issue, I plug-in roughly twice a week over night, and the battery pack is full in the morning. Here in the U.K. we have had the first frosts, and the preconditioning feature is great. I've given the car my departure time for work and each week day morning I get into a warm, frost free car and start my journey. With gasoline/petrol costs in the U.K. being highly taxed, this car is very cheap to fuel on overnight off-peak electricity. In Europe the i3 is cheaper than the Tesla Model 3, I also prefer a hatchback over a sedan for practicality - you can get a washing machine in the back of an i3; upright!

[vanderaj]

I've driven my 2015 Rex from San Jose to where I now live in Colorado Springs. It's also a really comfy touring car - we did about 1000 km first two days, and 600 km the last day, no problems whatsoever. This is - by far - the fastest car I've ever owned. The list of cars that can beat it is very small, basically Tesla's, but their paint is hilariously shoddy and panel fit would make Tonka blush. The i3 is also one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned. I've not had a single thing go wrong with it. You note in your review that BMW used standard manufacturing - but this is far from the truth - the entire subframe and body is totally different - it's basically a carbon fibre body on an aluminum battery sled. Consider the 2013 era i3 is what the rest of the BMW lineup will get in 2021 and 2022 as they replace their current models with hybrids / electric versions, like the forthcoming i4 (which looks like their current 4 series). The i3 is like a slice of the future - except for the iDrive. I don't like iDrive. I know that the i3 is not going to be replaced when its run ends, so I will be buying a new last model i3 when it's time. I've rarely bought the same car twice, and I will definitely be buying another when it's time.

[stephenknight-my]

I’ve got an i3S which as a petrol head I think is great for all my local stuff. But I also have a W12 Bentley for long runs. Best of both worlds!

[nitramluap]

I think BMW should offer different battery packs as options to help keep prices down for people who don't need a lot of range, with the ability to update/increase the battery at a later date - perhaps almost by 'leasing' the battery. It's an easy swap to remove & replace it. It's very cleverly designed. Germany had a battery swap replacement for the 60 -> 94 'Ah' versions, but BMW Australia seems quite disinterested. In fact, I think the biggest obstruction to this car succeeding in Australia is BMW Australia's shitty attitude to EVs generally.

[kqschwarz]

I love the i3 and have pined over one for years. I drive 70 miles per day minimum, and the range of the current version is sadly still insufficient. I known the range is supposed to be like 160 miles now, but if you figure that one’s not supposed to routinely charge to more than 90%, now the range is 144 miles. I live in a cold climate, and sub freezing temps which will reduce range by 40 to 50%. So now the daily range is 72 to 87 miles. Forgetting that it is also bad to continuously run below 10% state of charge, planning a daily commute where I have only 2 mile excess range is too tenuous. As a result I purchased a Tesla M3P last March. I love it, but I still pine for the quirky i3.

[RaundsRainbow]

Got a second hand one with REX which is now 3 years old and it is so good for my needs will keep it well into the future. Why? Because the battery range is as good as when new, it costs a quarter the upkeep and fuel cost of my previous diesel SUV and with the REX I frequently do round trips in excess of 200 miles with no problem (without stopping for a charge!).

[HHnikitaHH]

Awesome channel! One of the best reviewers on YouTube! Keep it up

[energy]

Seriously thinking of getting a 2020 one now in 2024. Yay or nay?

[justiceg]

I bought a 2017 REX recently and it was almost as expensive as a new MG4 but I don't want to ever need to use public charging. It was this or another ICE but they don't really suit my regular short trips and the range extender is fine for the occasional 400km trip I need to do. I won't need a 2nd car to go with it, if I need a ute or van I'll hire one rather than pay $900 / year rego and hardly use it.

[mattfm]

Top review, Tom. We have one of these and you hit on all the main points. It’s a great city car, perfect for short trips and really easy to park. As all the panels are plastic, scratches buff out and you don’t get any of those annoying dings when other people in tight car spots bang their doors into you. We have two kids and the back seats are fine for them, but the suicide doors are a pain. It’s our second car, but our favourite one to drive....smooth, quiet and fun. Ps I use that elastic strap in the middle to hold wine bottles, so you were spot on there!

[raymaas]

The reason I bought the i3 instead of the Bolt, Tesla, Nissan, or any of the others, is the REx. I’ve never had range anxiety.

[jost]

Carbon fibre and aluminium is also expensive and prevents the car from rusting. We will see this car around for many years! Liquid cooled battery ensures excellent battery lifetime.

[nitramluap]

8:10 - The European versions of the i3 actually have had lane assist (self steering) on motorways for over 3 years, but BMW Australia either chose not to bring that in here, or they couldn't get it approved locally.

[derosk]

in several places in Europe you can upgrade the Bmw i3 battery but in my opinion the best is impexneth from the Netherlands and they have original 120ah Bmw batteries, not foldable and the price is around 6000 eur