2017 BMW I3 Electric

header-image
$42,400 - $48,300
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on November 1, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Powertain makes sure to give a quick acceleration

More expensive than the majority of rivals

The 94 Ah trim now comes with a more powerful battery

The interior and exterior have modern styling

The rear seats are uncomfortable and cramped

The 60Ah is the new entry-level trim

Easy to park and drive due to compact size

Rivals run longer distances

New BMW home charger connect added for home charging

Protonic Blue metallic paint is new to the color pallet

Specs & Features

$42,400

price

170 hp @ 4800 rpm

horsepower

184 lb.-ft.

torque

1-Speed Direct Drive

transmission

electric RWD 1A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

Belonging to the subcompact hatchback segment, the 2017 BMW i3 carries all the qualities of a true electric vehicle. With a starting price of MSRP of $42,400, the BMW i3 offers 2 trims. That said, it competes with indirect rivals such as the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Nissan Leaf, and the Volkswagen e-Golf. There aren#39;t any powertrain options to explore here. The i3 is equipped with a single motor setup and a 22-kWh battery or a 33-kWh battery with a rated power output of 170 horsepower. Through this setup, the i3 gets a range of 81 miles and 114 miles with respect to the battery size and capacity. In a straight line, the i3 clocks a 0-60 of 6.6 seconds. While the powertrain leaves you devoid of choices, the choice is instead offered through the 6 beautiful colors available for the car.

Buying Advice

The selection of the right trim mainly comes down to the electric range. We will recommend the upper trim which is called base or 94 Ah trim that can run 33 miles more than the entry-level 60 Ah trim. It costs an extra $2,050 but you also get a few added features. Furthermore, you should also look into the Parking Assistance Package which costs $1,000.

Trims

    60Ah
    $42,400 onwards
    • Automatic Front air conditioning
    • Navigation system
    • Parking assist
    • Rain Sensing Windshield wipers
    • Sensatec leatherette Seat trim
    • Siriusxm FM/HD/Satellite
    94AH
    $44,450 onwards
    • 19-inch forged aluminum wheels
    • Cloth Seat trim

Compare to similar cars

Price

$42,400- $48,300

Engine

electric

Rating

7.22

Horsepower

170 hp @ 4800 rpm

Torque

184 lb.-ft.

Capacity

4

Read Review

$36,620- $40,905

electric

8.48

200 hp

266 lb.-ft.

5

Read Review

$33,220- $37,570

plug-in-hybrid

7.82

149 hp

294 lb.-ft.

5

Read Review

$39,900

electric

7.27

177 hp

251 lb.-ft.

5

Read Review

$30,680- $36,790

electric

7.19

107 hp

187 lb.-ft.

5

Read Review

2017 BMW I3 Electric vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    7.47 sec--
    6.5 sec15 sec-
    7.1 sec15.6 sec-
    9.7 sec17.3 sec-
    9.93 sec13.9 sec135 mph

    2017 BMW I3 Electric vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      127 mpg111 mpg119 mpg--
      127 mpg110 mpg119 mpg--
      124 mpg101 mpg113 mpg--
      85 mpg82 mpg84 mpg--
      43 mpg42 mpg42 mpg8.9 gal.352/528 mi.

      2017 BMW I3 Electric vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        157 in.70 in.62 in.5.5 in.101 in.
        180.4 in.71.2 in.56.4 in.7 in.106.1 in.
        175 in.69.7 in.61 in.6.3 in.106.3 in.
        171.5 in.60.7 in.62.5 in.7 in.106.2 in.
        164 in.69.5 in.62.8 in.6 in.102.4 in.

        2017 BMW I3 Electric vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          15.1 cu.ft.94.6 cu.ft.36.9 cu.ft.
          21.6 cu.ft.-51.4 cu.ft.
          23.6 cu.ft.92.4 cu.ft.30 cu.ft.
          10.6 cu.ft.106.1 cu.ft.16.3 cu.ft.
          16.9 cu.ft.81.4 cu.ft.7.1 cu.ft.

          2017 BMW I3 Electric vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            SourceCompare
            36.9 cu.ft.15.1 cu.ft.36.9 cu.ft.
            16.3 cu.ft.10.6 cu.ft.16.3 cu.ft.
            15.4 cu.ft.16.9 cu.ft.7.1 cu.ft.
            30 cu.ft.23.6 cu.ft.30 cu.ft.
            51.4 cu.ft.21.6 cu.ft.51.4 cu.ft.

            2017 BMW I3 Electric vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              937 lbs.2866 lbs.
              -3924 lbs.
              1108 lbs.3323 lbs.
              -3519 lbs.
              -3563 lbs.

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