BMW i3 vs Toyota Prius vs Volkswagen Golf: here's our winner.
Some say that the future is electric. Others say that hybrids will be the automotive answer, but there are some who feel that the job can be done by using smaller, more fuel-efficient engines. We compare three rivals with different approaches to achieve the same result.
In an era where electric vehicles (EVs) appear to be the future, we, as South Africans, have clearly decided that vehicles with internal combustion engines will still form a part of our automotive lives - at least, for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, we have decided to compare three vehicles that may not compete within the same space. However, each of them is a proven success from a global sales perspective, despite the three cars featuring very different forms of propulsion. Here we compare the all-electric BMW i3 with the Toyota Prius hybrid and the popular petrol-powered Volkswagen Golf.
Related: Is the Toyota Prius good for new drivers? Here’s our verdict.
An unlikely trio
As one of the first all-electric production cars to reach local shores, the i3 will always be remembered as the Bavarian marque's first stab at a real EV, designed from the ground-up to be powered exclusively by electricity. It has proven to be an impressive first attempt, with the i3 providing a respectable amount of driving range, especially as it's been continually updated with improved battery power and control systems. Following its most-recent update, the i3 now features a 120AH battery pack, with or without the range-extender petrol engine.
The i3 also impresses with a good deal of cabin space, predictable handling thanks to a low centre of gravity, and grin-inducing acceleration, making inner-city commuting a doddle - if you can afford to buy one. For our comparison today, we are making use of the base model BMW i3, to give it a fighting chance, price-wise, versus the Toyota Prius and the Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline.
Toyota's Prius was an instant favourite among environmentalists and celebrities alike, and those with an ideal of saving our planet quickly latched onto this odd-looking machine. As a true hybrid, the latest Prius provides genuinely efficient and clean mobility, with respectable performance when needed. It struggles in the local sales charts, though, so despite offering a refined, efficient and spacious package, the polarising nature of its exterior aesthetics and its high price tag may contribute to its lack of local popularity.
When comparing almost any product to Volkswagen's bread and butter hatchback one acquires an ever-mounting level of respect for just how good the Golf has become as an overall package. The seventh-generation Golf is getting on now and will be replaced before the year is over, and yet, the petrol model pitted here against an eclectic pair of rivals still appears competitive in terms of its efficiency, packaging and performance in relation to its price tag. The model chosen for this comparison is the Comfortline with the local Golf range's most efficient powertrain, the three-cylinder turbo petrol mated with a six-speed manual gearbox. All things considered, can an electric car beat an efficient hybrid or petrol-powered car when value for money is factored into the equation?
Related: Top 3 things you need to know about the BMW i3
Facts and figures
Pricing
BMW i3 eDrive: R664 000
Toyota Prius hybrid: R508 000
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: R354 100
Engine
BMW i3 eDrive: 120Ah battery
Toyota Prius hybrid: 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and two electric motors
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine
Power/torque
BMW i3 eDrive: 125 kW/ 250 N.m
Toyota Prius hybrid: 100 kW/ 142 N.m +e
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 82 kW/ 200 N.m
Energy consumption
BMW i3 eDrive: 14.2 kWh/100km
Toyota Prius hybrid: 3.7 L/100km
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 4.8 L/100km
Claimed driving range on full charge/ full tank
BMW i3 eDrive: 260 km
Toyota Prius hybrid: 1 035km
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 1 042km
Kerb weight
BMW i3 eDrive: 1 270kg
Toyota Prius hybrid: 1 415kg
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 1 127kg
Boot volume
BMW i3 eDrive: 260-litres
Toyota Prius hybrid: 457-litres
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 380-litres
C02 emissions
BMW i3 eDrive: 0 g/km
Toyota Prius hybrid: 87 g/km
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 109 g/km
0-100 km/h sprint
BMW i3 eDrive: 7.3 seconds
Toyota Prius hybrid: 11.0 seconds
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 9.9 seconds
Top speed
BMW i3 eDrive: 150km/h
Toyota Prius hybrid: 170km/h
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual:196km/h
Airbags
BMW i3 eDrive: 6 airbags
Toyota Prius hybrid: 7 airbags
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 7 airbags
Warranty
BMW i3 eDrive: 5 year /100 000km Motorplan and 8 year/ 100 000 km battery warranty
Toyota Prius hybrid: 3 year/ 100 000km and 8 year/ 195 000 hybrid battery warranty
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual: 3 year / 120 000km warranty
Final thoughts
These are three very different vehicles, however, the purpose of the comparison was to highlight the various technical differences, performance and consumption benefits and of course the costs associated with all-electric, hybrid and petrol-powered cars that are reasonably attainable.
As we can see, the Prius and the Golf will make for a more well-rounded and more affordable transport solutions versus the BMW, however, the merits of the BMW will indeed come through in how cheap it will be to run considering an electric charge is considerably cheaper than a tank of fuel. The BMW also has the advantage of instantaneous torque delivery and the benefit of compact mobility as a result of being designed without the need to accommodate an engine.
The other consideration is the initial cost to the consumer, where the Golf is almost half the price of the BMW, while the Toyota also presents a considerably lower price tag than the i3. This means that the despite being cheaper to run and being virtually maintenance-free aside from tyres and brake pads, the i3 will need years of running to recuperate the initial cost difference versus a comparable internal combustion-powered car.
Verdict
While the BMW and Toyota offer leaps in advancements, it is the Golf which takes out top spot. The reason is simple. We live in South Africa and right now, our country is not fully prepared to host fully electric vehicles. The Golf also offers better looks than the Toyota as well as an overall better driving experience. The Volkswagen also holds its resale value a lot better than the other two, making it, for now, the better option.
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