MotorWeek | Road Test: 2015 BMW i3

We plug into BMW’s future with the funky and fun i3!

[godfatherNYC]

This is basically the perfect L.A. car. They're popping up a LOT here (and so are i8's.) My wife really wants an i3. I'm thinking that would be cool, and an X1 or X3 for me! Now all I need is more $$$ lol

[donandnanelmore]

I have had my i3 for 14 months now and really enjoy it. J Yu is correct, partially, about the gas tank. As I understand it, both the European and American versions have the 2.5 gallon tank, but in the U.S, . regulations limit it to 1.9 gallons so, rather than have 2 gas tanks on the assembly line, the computer is programmed to shut off the fuel pump after it pumps 1.9 gallons of gas. That leaves .6 gallon of gas to go bad because you can't burn it (really bad in California due to our really bad gas). Again in Europe, they have the ability to run the gas engine at will and can burn the stale gas, but the regulators in the U.S. must think that is too much control for U.S. drivers so it only allowed to come on when the batteries are mostly depleted. I think the handling is very good. Around town the car is very quick at the speeds you need it. The test was done on the base model so the comments about no backup camera, satellite radio, etc. don't apply on the Giga and Tetra models.

Negatives:

1. Probably due to the slab sides and skinny tires, the car is very twitchy in strong winds. You need to pay attention.

2. My 2014 model is NOT included in the 2 year free use of the Fast Chargers that make extended trips more practical (although the dealership pitched the use of the Fast Chargers as a selling point). 2015 models and newer are included. To use the Fast Chargers, I have to call BMW's ChargePoint phone number who then calls the owner of the particular Fast Charger to authorize the charge--which I have to pay for. That means a 30 minute 80% charge takes 45 minutes due to the conference call.

3. This is serious! I love the adaptive cruise control when it functions as intended, however, it has dangerous glitches. It senses the speed of a vehicle ahead and automatically slows the i3 and maintains a safe distance if the car ahead is going slower than the set speed of the i3--most of the time. Sometimes, it randomly shuts off the cruise control for no apparent reason. Sometimes, it displays a blue warning on the center display telling the driver to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead (which is the job of the adaptive cruise control); sometimes, when this happens it will not allow the cruise control to be reengaged for some period of time. At times, it senses an impending collision and slams on the brakes (at times when I am the only car on the road)! BMW says they've never heard of such problems and offer no help. My dealer says they will do what they can to fix it including replacing the whole cruise control system if necessary. I hope they fix it before I get rear ended on the freeway!!!

[bakerniner]

Makes you appreciate the genius in the original Volt design.

[raymondwong]

I have clocked my coworker's 2014 i3 REX 0-60 in about 7.1 seconds. I think the 7.9 seconds time here is because you mentioned that you guys could take the REX all the way to your test track so I think the range extender is already on by the time you test your 0-60. With the range extender on, the software limits power output to give the i3 the most range possible before it reaches the next charging station. Therefore, I think your 7.9 seconds 0-60mph with the range extender on is no is a bit slower, but still not bad at all.

Just want to point out that 7.1 seconds with the REX off is the normal time. About 6.6 seconds without the REX. Happy driving everyone.

[MordFustang]

compared to its rivals (volt, leaf) the bmw i3 is immensely fun to drive with its rear wheel drive, near 50:50 weight balance and 300kg weight advantage. Coupled with the fact that the rangeextender allows for range to increase a lot, this would definitely be a perfect second car.

[Coupydog]

I am surprised to see BMW didn't use every piece of technology they could, such as LED turn signals to save power, deep tinted glass to save on A/C operation, etc. Lots of vehicle already have both.  In these electric cars, each little thing that consumes power can add up to shorter driving range.

[Dave]

Please, do a show comparing the i3 to the Nissan Leaf.

[itsmthb]

You guys are wrong at 2:45. The gas tank is only 1.9 gallons for USA.

[belladonna]

Why is the exclusion of a backup camera a "real bummer"? This car is a mere 6 inches longer in length than a 2015 two-door mini cooper coupe... If you need a backup camera for such a tiny car, you shouldn't be driving. Just saying.

[JosephNJ]

All of these electric cars have one huge flaw: 21st century cars running on 20th century batteries. Same is true of all our electronic rechargeable devices. Let's face it, battery technological advances have been virtually flat for decades. Seems so simple, yet as of today, so out of reach.

[SpaceInvader]

It was a bit hard listening to this review with the distracting background music.

[daison]

great and fair review as usual, but $43k to $47k?
Then when it has "electrical" problems, as all German cars do, the price keeps going up.
This car is trash.

[liquidsilver]

OMG this is the new definition of BMW ugly:( Come on BMW you can certainly design better looking cars ...ev or not you can do much better

[munkeenevahrong]

This is one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen. From every angle.

[exxusdrugstore]

If this is what future cars will look like, I don't want to live in that future.