BMW i3: Why It's Still Our Favourite EV in 2023

In this video Martin collects a 2016 BMW i3 with the middle 94Ah battery pack.

While one could say it is quite average on paper with just a couple of optional extras, it is a great reminder why we fell in love with the i3 and how far ahead of the time it was, as it still feels like a modern electric vehicle, even in 2023.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Modern Interior
04:01 Charging at IONITY Stafford
05:38 Future of BMW Lineup
06:42 Fantastic Drivetrain Tuning
10:33 Charging at IONITY Milton Keynes
11:37 Journey Data
12:32 Conclusion

[warwicktie]

The i3 is perhaps the best machine I've ever bought, of any kind. If I had to replace it, I'd look for another one!

[peterparker]

As an i3 driver, I'm personally disappointed with BMW for not continuing the groundbreaking engineering and materials used in the i3 with their current line up.

[rickbarr]

I totally agree. My first i3 was a 2017 BEV which I bought in 2020. This past summer it was totaled in a crash. I considered getting a pre-owned Tesla as a replacement, but upon reflection there is no car more perfect for my current lifestyle than the i3. The size is just right for city driving and the cabin is a very comfortable place to be. Martin is spot on with how well the design has remained fresh all these years later. I was fortunate to find a pre-owned 2021 BEV in August and I intend to drive it for 4 to 5 years.

[michaelkim]

I totally agree!! My wife and I have owned or leased THREE i3s: 2 REX and 1 BEV. They really are great cars as long as you can live with the range, and my preference would be for the BEV model since the range extender adds complexity. Such a shame that BMW was one of the first with such an innovative premium small EV car, but then failed to continue its investment with meaningful updates. We did see some incremental improvements in battery density, and the addition of the i3s model with available sunroof (!!), but no second generation of what I believe is one of the best BMWs ever! I loved the looks on Camaro/Mustang drivers when I would totally smoke them from a stoplight! And with the low center of gravity it wasn't a bad handler either despite the skinny tires. Our only issues with the car were failure of a 12V battery and stubborn stains on the Giga trim seats, other than that it was a great experience!

[idparkinson]

I’m keeping my 2020 i3 as long as I possibly can as there is nothing on the market that can replace it. It’s a great drive, looks fantastic, is cheap to run, and most importantly at the moment does not rely in touch screen or touch controls to operate it.

[alandavies]

I love my i3 - it’s the perfect size for what I need it for and that’s a lot of motorway and heavy deliveries all over Germany. Its super reliable and frugal with power - and it still looks great in 2024. there is no alternative that I have found from any manufacturer that exceeds the i3 in its super niche role. Very sad bmw haven’t continued this amazing lineup

[andru]

I always enjoy your videos and I've learned a lot from them. I leased an i3s three years ago and have absolutely loved it (most enjoyable car I've ever had). Just got to the end of the lease and bought the car as really didn't want to change to anything else

[bucabrandon]

Yup. Test drove one way back in November 2013 at the Los Angeles Auto Show and loved it. In 2020 I picked up a 94ah REx and just switched out to a 120ah s BEV. Can't believe how much I've enjoyed these little cars and really appreciate the content you guys are putting out about them.

[miguelholguin]

I’ve had mine for three years. It is 7 years old and I hope it lasts forever!

[loonymoon]

I have a 2022 i3S and grabbed one as a last chance before they went out of production. I love them so much. There’s no other BMW I’d consider as they’re all too big for my needs. Here the i3 is great small car with spacious cabin- bespoke EV and NOT an SUV, very few cars tick those boxes . I would consider a mini again in the future ( had a 3 dr one before) but there will be plenty of aspects of the i3 that I really miss. So when the PCP comes to the end next year I fully intend to pay the balloon and keep the car.

[cristianseres]

I've driven an i3 for about 7.5 years now. I haven't found out a model I would like to swap it. It offers lots of space, does not rust and has a very small turning circle.

[John-FourteenSix]

My 2021 i3S
Upside:
Fun to drive.
Very Responsive. Quick (from the lights!)
Quietness
Comfort
Unique Appearance. Love the 20” Wheels too.
Seats are comfortable (Important to me)
Zero Tax
Proper designed from the ground up EV. No half measures, they did it correctly and it drives like a BMW because it is a BMW!
Purchase price was competitive.

Downside:
Range, but is this a downside? 99% charged at home. It’s probably more like charger anxiety on a long journey, but that turned out OK.
1st Service (in the 2nd year) Cost at BMW Main agent £300+ Not ridiculous, but I’ll be looking for a good independent after 3 years.

Conclusion:
I won’t be returning to an ICE car anytime soon.
Swap it for… Personally there’s nothing good enough yet. Tesla model 2 in 2024? My car ‘gland’ stopped twitching when I bought mine.
I’ve looked everything in my personal price range £25K.
BMW I3s is quick, affordable and fun.

[samueltolentino]

I have had my 2019 i3s for 4.5 years. It is one of the most modified ones in the world. Every option from BMW. AC Schnitzer package. Wheel Spacers, aftermarket steering wheel, custom oak center console. I am on my 3rd suspension setup. Lowered on adjustable BC Racing Coil Overs. Carbon Fiber side skirts and rear diffuser. I replaced my V10 R8 as a daily driver with this car. Been trying to figure out what my next car could be, but I just can't find anything else I enjoy driving more. Granted it has major flaws but it just does some things sooo well. The sunroof is fantastic and with the large windows open it is like driving in a little jeep in the summer. So many cars nowadays have awful aerodynamic buffet with the windows open.

Finally test drove a Taycan Crossturismo 4 yesterday to see if it could be a contender as a replacement. Drove it twice actually because I thought i was being too harsh the first time. Did not enjoy driving it more than the i3s, and certainly NOT for $100k more.

[maxtorque]

Another point: as a result of it's body architecture the i3 seems to wear it's miles very very well indeed. My first small battery i3 was just over 6 years old when i traded it in for a i3s, and it looked pretty much like new. The soft plastic panels hung on the carbon / alluminium frame seem to resist stone chips incredibly well, the interior was unmarked, and with a good wash and polish it could have simply been put on an non age related plate and would have looked like a new car in the showroom, especially as, imo, the styling looks modern even today ;-)

[lewismcnicholas]

I still love the i3 and would love to have another one one day - the only thing that worries me is the maintenance/parts costs as they get older - appreciate this is probably the case with any bmw!

[mikereeder]

Is anything better than an i3? Yes; 2 x i3’s! We have one each so no arguments about who gets to drive it!

[andrewfitzmaurice]

We have a 2018 i3, which we’ve owned from new. Heat pump, HK stereo, wheels like the one in this review and lounge interior.

My wife absolutely loves it (she was thinking of a Zoe and I suggested the i3), it’s her favourite ever car and she’s never owned a car for so long. She had a Golf before and would have changed it after a week if it wasn’t for the 3 year lease.

As for me, I love the design, especially the barn doors and the interior. The one pedal driving is an amazing feature/driving experience.

As for the rest of it, I’m less keen. I should caveat that by saying my current car is a Volvo XC70, as was my previous car and before that I had a Discovery 4.

From my car choices, you can see that sportiness isn’t a priority for me, so I find the ride harsh and the steering very twitchy and nervous compared with the vagueness that I’m accustomed.

I also find the seats extremely uncomfortable, making the range a blessing and I don’t think I’ve ever owned a car with such a truly awful stereo, I dread to think how bad the standard one would have been (gramophone with a dog sitting next to it).

We never purchased the car with the intention of making journeys that wouldn’t allow us to charge at home and have only miscalculated once requiring a public charge and that was a few weeks ago.

We do both agree that we would never make a journey that would require stops on route due to the time it adds to the trip.

Living in Cornwall and having parents in London, the ability to drive without stopping (if chosen) is invaluable and the return journey can be made on a single tank of diesel.

So in summary, my wife is a massive fan and for the reasons we chose it I feel it’s ideal, but for a long journey I would never entertain using it to the point I would hire a car, or take the train if we had to go to London and we couldn’t use our other car.

Edit: I do feel the i3 has the potential to be a classic car in the future, especially having been designed as an EV from the start and it’s really unique design and build.

As for the comment in the review about what other BMWs would be a consideration, for me, none of them regardless of their propulsion as (IMHO) recent BMW design is awful.

[amundalfredsen]

I drove my 2014 i3 120000km and loved it! It was damaged in a small crash, and because of the parts prices, sadly it got wrecked. We also have a 2nd gen Leaf, but i still miss the i3 and prefer it over the Leaf in every aspect.

[Yanmak]

Great quality content, as always. Very assertive and unbiased.

Me and my wife are indecisive between a 94Ah with REx and a 120Ah w/o REx. It will be our first EV and won't be our only car. We have an Aston Martin V8 and a Land Rover Discovery diesel 7 seater that can do 1000km on a tank, and we love it and use it for big adventures. The i3 should serve the purpose of doing short journeys 2-3 times a week of a maximum of 50km, sparing the health of our Land Rover that does not even reach its operating temps on trips to the shops and such daily rides... So, 94Ah with REx or 120Ah without, for a first-time EV owner? Also, we are pretty much decided on the i3 because we value cars that are purposeful and have character :)

Thanks to anyone in advance for the advice.

[CandycaneBeyond]

I started doing Door Dash in my i3, very efficient. Less miles now that it's colder but no problem, I just top off the tank and away I go!