Used 2020 BMW i3 Base for sale 

BMW i3 is offered in four different trims. The standard and S variants use the same batteries and motor setup but the powertrain is cranked up a bit in the S version to extract more power. There’s an option of having a range extender on both the trims. A 650cc two-cylinder gasoline engine is used as a generator which hikes the range beyond 200 miles, according to the rating. It’s easy to fill it up just like a regular gasoline-powered car so it is practical too.

What do we recommend?

The standard i3 coupled with the technology and assistance package seems to hit the sweet spot. The package includes some must-haves like driver-assist features and an upgraded infotainment system.

The BMW i3 comes in two states of tune. The battery and motor package in the standard i3 makes a decent 170 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. For some added oomph, i3 S is also available which bumps up the power to 184 HP. The torque is instant and right there from the word get-go. For daily city runs, i3 packs a decent punch and is a lot of fun to drive when pottering at a relaxed pace. The cherry on the cake would be the fact that all this performance is muted and the cabin remains totally devoid of any kind of noise or disturbance.

Out on the highway too, the performance is healthy and the i3 can maintain triple-digit speeds with ease. The BMW i3 S adds more pep to the daily drive. It gets 14 more horses and it makes quite a difference in the way the i3 picks up and reacts to the slightest of throttle inputs. With all this usable performance, its a breeze to drive this electric hatchback from Munich.

What’s the transmission like?

Electric motors have oodles and oodles of torque right from zero rpm so a proper transmission is never really required. BMW makes use of a single-speed transmission which in laymen terms also means, no gearbox. As a result, the drive is super smooth and the performance is seamless and uninterrupted.

Chevrolet Bolt EV is equipped with the biggest battery pack and thus is the most powerful car of the lot. On top of that, Chevrolet has managed to undercut the BMW i3 in terms of pricing which should be the strongest selling point for the chevy.

How fast it the BMW i3 off the line?

The BMW i3, being am electric car, might just be the quickest accelerating car at a traffic signal. The electric motor rockets the car ahead with the utmost immediacy. The 0-30 mph sprint is the highlight of the BMW i3. It totally obliterates other family cars in its segment and the sudden burst of mad acceleration is quite rewarding and addictive too. Upwards of 30 mph, the performance is strong but the graph tapers down south. So for city runs, i3 seems to fit the bill.

Chevrolet Bolt storms ahead of the competition and maintains the lead by quite some margin as it has the biggest battery pack and highest rated power and torque figures. BMW in its standard variant could really catch up the Chevy but the S variant might give a strong competition to the Chevy.

What’s the handling like of the BMW i3?

The BMW i3 was always designed as an electric car from ground-up which gave BMW designers an opportunity to design the battery pack and incorporate it in the chassis neatly. The BMW i3 has a carbon fibre re-enforced chassis for added strength and to keep the weight in check. The batteries are cleverly placed within the floor which keeps the centre of gravity as low to the ground as possible. This translates to cleaner and more stable handling, especially around the bends. Its tall boy design limits its handling capabilities and coupled with some skinny tyres, it doesn’t come across as a corner carver. That being said, around a sharp bend it feels grounded.

The ride is mostly sublime and goes well with its premium demeanour. Smaller wheel size would be a welcome addition to the package. The 20-inch wheels on the i3 do crash a lot over big bumps and small sidewalls don’t help either.

What about the braking performance?

The braking procedure on the BMW i3 is quite interesting. The conventional brakes are heavily aided with the regeneration braking function. There is no option to alter the ferocity of regen brakes on the i3. It works like engine braking but on stilts. The regen braking performance is such that the car can come to rest without even the slightest dab on the brake pedal.

The conventional brakes, however, feel natural and the pedal feel is adequate too when considering regen braking. Under heavy braking, the BMW i3 remains stable and maintains its composure due to its weight distribution.

The brakes on the BMW i3 have to deal with the least amount of heft and as a result, the braking feels quite effortless and confidence-inspiring compared to its competition.

The 42 kWh battery in the BMW i3 gives a range of almost 153 miles which is quite decent considering the segment. There’s an option of keeping the range anxiety at bay by speccing a range extender which would help the i3 to cover more than 200 miles on a single charge. The range extender adds weight and as a result, the electric-only range of the REX model plummets by almost 5%.

Around the city and the highway, Hyundai Ioniq proves to be a more efficient EV and would require less frequent charging trips. The design of the Hyundai Ioniq seems to be the ace in the whole here in this comparison.

The BMW i3 is a true BMW from the inside in terms of the quality of materials used and the fit and finish of the panels. As its an electric car and a part of the “i” series from BMW, the interior design is quite futuristic and fresh and different from regular BMW sedans and SUVs. BMW has used light colours on the inside to keep things easy on the eyes. Light interiors also make the cabin feel airy too.

At the front, as there’s no engine to bolt-on, the hood area is incorporated in the cabin pushing the dashboard as further as possible and as a result, there is a generous amount of room in the front.

On the dashboard sits a 6.5-inch screen on the base model which can be upgraded to a 10-inch unit powered by BMW’s latest software. To break the monotony upfront, there’s a healthy use of wooden panels. At the back, it’s not such a happy story. Space in the rear is quite limited and taller passengers would find it difficult to spend time.

Nissan engineers have done a commendable job in designing the new Leaf. It has the most amount of room upfront and can carry 5 passengers with ease. BMW’s short footprint is quite evident on the inside and especially at the rear.

What are the infotainment features on offer?

BMW makes one of the best infotainment systems in the car market right now and the i3 comes armoured with it. The screen is easy to read and the display is crisp. There are shortcut buttons just below the screen thereby increasing the practicality even further. The system is easy to use and is free from any kind of lag.

Infotainment features:

• Harman Kardon system
• Apple CarPlay
• Bluetooth
• USB
• AUX
• Integrated Roof Diversity Antenna
• HD Radio
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio -inc: 1 year All Access subscription

How big is the Cargo Space?

The boot space behind the third-second row of seats is nothing but average. The electric motor and generator take up some of the space and thus the boot space is a bit compromised.

That being said, the general shape of the boot is square-ish so loading in and out of the boot is a breeze. For better usability, the rear seats fold down and have 50:50 split function. They go all the way down and lye flat.

Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq can take up the most amount of cargo thanks to their big boots and cubby spaces all around the cabin. The BMW i3 disappoints in terms of storage space and can be a deal-breaker for some.

Interior features:

• Heated Front Seats
• 6-Way Driver Seat
• 6-Way Passenger Seat
• 50-50 Folding Bench Front Facing Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
• Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Valet Function
• Remote Keyless Entry w/Integrated Key Transmitter
• Remote Releases -Inc: Power Cargo Access
• Day-Night Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
• Integrated Navigation System
• Power Door Locks w/Autolock Feature
• Fixed Front Head Restraints and Manual Adjustable Rear Head Restraints

The BMW i3 design is a total departure from conventional BMW design language. It looks boxy and has a traditional tall boy design. With that said, some of the design cues are heavily inspired by the ever so beautiful i8. LED headlamps and taillamps are reminiscent of i8, which is a good thing. The quirky design theme continues to the sides as well. The rear doors are hinged at the back and open on the opposite direction. To aid accessibility, the pillar has not been incorporated.

These quirks come with their own limitations. To access rear doors, the front doors have to open wide first. The way these doors function can be a headache in a tight public car park. Rear windows are set towards smaller size and are fixed. To make it feel less cramped in the rear, the window line dramatically kinks downwards. The roof is set high and gets a floating appearance to make things look interesting.

The BMW i3 rides on super skinny 20-inch wheels and look cartoonish from every angle. The BMW i3 falls short with the outright space in the cabin and that’s down to it having the shortest wheelbase in the segment. The BMW i3 does have an upper hand with a dynamically sorted chassis and is the lightest among its competitors.

Some notable exterior features:

• Wheels: 20" x 5.5" Front & 20" x 6.0" Rear -inc: BMW i light alloy double-spoke bicolor
• Black Rear Bumper w/Body-Colored Rub Strip/Fascia Accent
• Body-coloured Front Bumper w/Black Rub Strip/Fascia Accent and Metal-Look Bumper Insert
• Body-coloured Door Handles
• Coloured Bodyside Insert and Black Fender Flares
• Fixed Rear Window w/Fixed Interval Wiper and Defroster
• Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Composite Panels
• Lip Spoiler
• Perimeter/Approach Lights
• Fully Automatic Projector Beam Led Low/High Beam Auto-Leveling Daytime Running Lights

The BMW i3 gets driver assistance package and adaptive cruise control which works seamlessly in bumper to bumper traffic. That being said, a host of safety features are optional and lane keep assist is absent from the checklist too. Safety ratings for this year’s model are not available but back in 2018, the BMW i3 took part in several tests conducted by NHTSA and it passed with flying colours.

Safety features on offer:

• Anti-theft alarm system
• Acoustic safety-belt warning
• BMW Assist eCall includes Emergency Request (SOS button) and Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification
• BMW Remote Services includes Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Unlock, and BMW Connected App Compatibility
• Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Impact sensor that activates Battery Safety Terminal disconnect of the starter generator
• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• Front safety belts with automatic pre-tensioners
• Front-passenger-seat-occupation recognition with Passenger's Airbag Off indicator
• Coded Driveaway Protection
• Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts for installation of child-restraint seat
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation

BMW i3 vs Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai Ioniq trumps the Beemer in terms of outright practicality. Its got a bigger boot and the rear seats are more accessible and comfortable to spend time in. BMW ups one on the quality and richness of the cabin. But that sense of luxury comes at a premium. The Hyundai Ioniq would be a better buy as its cheaper, more practical and maintaining it won’t be heavy on the pocket either.

BMW i3 vs Chevrolet Bolt EV

 The Chevrolet Bolt seems to be the jack of all trades in this head to head. It’s the most powerful compact electric hatch here and can go the farthest on a single charge. While doing so, it will keep you safe at all times. The BMW, on the other hand, is a much better and well put together package. It feels more premium and has a much more communicative chassis. The ride certainly feels plusher than the Chevy. With that said, the price gap is wide enough to make the BMW feel a bit overpriced.

BMW i3 vs Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is the ultimate OG when it comes to EVs penetrating the automotive market. Over the years, Nissan has perfected the formula and for 2020 model the end product seems like a decent replacement for a day to day ICE powered hatchback. It’s big on the inside and is a mile muncher. The Nissan Leaf is a no non-sense compact EV hatchback.

The BMW i3 is the premium offering in the compact luxury EV hatchback segment. It might seem a bit overpriced on paper but the in terms of quality, it’s top-notch and is right up there with premium car market segment leaders. It makes use of intelligent recyclable and eco-friendly materials which makes this car more desirable to some of the prospective buyers. A range extender is a welcome edition too.