Electric or Eccentric? 2016 BMW i3 Review and Test Drive

It looks like no other vehicle, yet clearly is a BMW. It's constructed like a million-dollar exotic but is far from outright fast. You can travel 81 miles on electricity alone, but its solution to range anxiety is problematic. And our test model listed for, gulp, $54,545. So what's the appeal of this futuristic four-seat hatchback? Well, driving one feels like you've entered a dimension in which space-age and earth-friendly happily co-exist. Thank you, lithium-ion battery pack and Kenaf-fiber cabin trim. And, damn it, Jim, getting an instant-torque jump off the line and tossing the darn thing around in traffic is just plain fun. Come along on this video review of the surprising, beguiling, and sometimes puzzling 2016 BMW i3. We include prices, EPA ratings, recharging times, and more.

Questions we may answer in this review of the BMW i3 2016:
How safe is the 2016 BMW i3?
How popular is the 2016 BMW i3?
How many miles per gallon on a 2016 BMW i3?
Will there be any changes in the 2016 BMW i3?
Will there be a new 2016 BMW i3?
Will the 2016 BMW i3 have interior upgrades?
Will the 2016 BMW i3 have a side camera?
Will the BMW i3 be redesigned in 2016?
Will the 2016 BMW i3 be redesigned?
Will the 2016 BMW i3 change?
Will the 2016 BMW i3 have a CVT transmission?
Will 2016 BMW i3 offer new colors?
Will gas mileage improve on 2016 BMW i3?
Will anything change on the 2016 BMW i3?
Will 2016 BMW i3 have a heated steering wheel?
Will 2016 BMW i3 be updated?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 be revised?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 come out?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 be made?
When does the 2016 BMW i3 come out?
When do the 2016 BMW i3 come out?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 be available?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 hit the car lots?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 hit the market?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 go on sale?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 be in showroom?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 be revealed?
When will the 2016 BMW i3 be available for purchase?
When is the 2016 BMW i3 going to be redesigned?
When is the new 2016 BMW i3 coming?
When is the best time this year to buy a 2016 BMW i3?
When is the 2016 BMW i3 coming out?
When is the 2016 BMW i3 available?
When does the 2016 BMW i3 arrive at dealerships?
When can i buy the 2016 BMW i3?
What is new price for 2016 BMW i3?
What is new on 2016 BMW i3?
What is different about the 2016 BMW i3?
What will 2016 BMW i3 look like?
What will be the colors for the 2016 BMW i3?
What is the gpa for the 2016 BMW i3?
What is the gvw of a 2016 BMW i3 in pounds?
What features will 2016 BMW i3 have?
What does the 2016 BMW i3 look like?
What changes are coming in the 2016 BMW i3?
What changes are in store for the 2016 BMW i3?
What are the new safety features for the 2016 BMW i3?
What are the new additions to the 2016 BMW i3?
What are the new colors for the 2016 BMW i3?
What are the standard features for the 2016 BMW i3?
What do you think of the 2016 BMW i3?
Should I wait to buy the 2016 BMW i3?
Should I wait for the 2016 BMW i3?
Should I buy a 2016 BMW i3?

[MordFustang]

the brake lights do come on by themselves when you lift off the gas pedal, you dont need to tap them to alert the driver behind you.

[addidas]

This EV is an engineering treasure and the used ones are a real Bargain. I just purchased and will pick a 2016 Rex 94 with only 15000 km on Friday . Welcome to the future :-)

[robertsaca]

'Space age' materials such as plastic, aluminium and carbon fibre? lol

The brake lights automatically light when regen is active.

[lasive]

I have watched a lot of i3 reviews and this is among the best. Very good use of pictures, images and camera! Also the review is very informative. You sir have earned yourself a subscriber.

[saturnotaku]

The fuel tank for the range extender actually holds 2.4 gallons, but BMW had to put a restriction into the ECU on US-market cars so it will only "see" 1.9 gallons. You can get it re-programmed to see the full tank capacity as well as add back the "hold state of charge" function that also needed to be removed before the cars could be sold. There are specialty shops that will do this, and it costs around $150 or so.

[adrianwhetton]

Gas is cheap at $3 a gallon, try living in the uk, double that and then some... I’m getting an i3 soon will slash my running costs to virtually nothing

[audioisgood]

They cut away at 6:57 is not an i3. Perhaps it's an i8?

[alexk.]

nice reviewAlthough about the starting... Here in Europe gas IS EXPENSIVE!!!

[gary_beniford]

unlike most I think the i3 looks cool but it's price should be 30-35k in my opinion maybe it will go down when it's sales go up.

[antoniozerkhfaoui]

The front seats incline forward to let the back passengers enter the car with ease

[ArkaelDren]

Sorry, waiting for a Tesla compact. 50k for 100 miles is a joke.

[smonkey]

BMW keeps going downhill. They bet all the resources on their i cars that hit by record low gas price. Their best selling 3 5 series don't get refresh for long time. Their new 7 is a joke compare to the CT6.