Everything you need to know about the BMW i3
BMW was one of the first manufacturers to begin selling electric cars in South Africa almost a decade ago. The first offering was the humble i3 with its off the wall styling and hefty price tag. Although thing shave come a long way since then for the Bavarian automaker and the i3 is longer for sale new, you can still find them on the used market and they are still great cars. If you want a piece of EV history then this is everything that you need to know about the BMW i3
In this article:
Who is the BMW i3 a good car for?
What is the BMW i3 like to drive?
Is the BMW i3 a good car?
The BMW i3 arrived on our shores in 2015 with 407 being sold in the first year. The i3 and its range extender version are still well sought after now with German-engineered hardware and software, the i3 is the perfect solution to the fuel price crunch and living in suburbia with everything just out of walking distance but not far enough to justify a drive with a fossil fuel powered car.
Who is the BMW i3 a good car for?
The BMW i3 is a good car for young professionals that live in the city or small families that have a second car that does duty for longer excursions. The i3 would serve perfectly as the school and shop runabout for those small trips around suburbia.
Is the BMW i3 a good first car?
As the used pricing continues to fall, the BMW i3 would make an excellent first car for a city-dwelling individual that isn't planning on doing any major road trips.
Is the BMW i3 a good family car?
Which no B pillar and a flat floor the interior is very spacious and easily holds 4 adults with ease. The luggage space is an afterthought with minimal room for packing anything larger than a gym bag. For city living and running about town the i3 would suit a small family but using it for anything more would become cumbersome.
Is there a Hybrid BMW i3?
The BMW i3 is a fully electric vehicle in standard eDrive format but you can get the range extender package which equips the vehicle with a small petrol engine that charges the battery, essentially making it a reverse hybrid.
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What’s it like to drive?
Reviewer's opinion
Because it carries the 120kg weight of the generator and its plumbing, the i3 REX is technically slower than “plain” i3. Yet it doesn’t feel that way. The REX sprints from zero to 100 km/h in just under 8 seconds, against the i3’s 7.2 seconds. Rolling acceleration feels particularly quick and I couldn’t resist playing with the accelerator when on the go. Both versions of the i3 have their top end limited to 150 km/h. BMW rates maximum output for the electric motor as 125 kW and 250 Nm.
AutoTrader
What does it look like?
Exterior
Interior
What is the BMW i3 like inside?
BMW went full earth mode, kitting out the interior with sustainably sourced materials such as fast-growing bamboo, vegetarian leather, and panels made from compressed plant fibre. Exterior body panels are a mix of recycled aluminium and plastic while the whole package rolls around on environmentally friendly low emission tyres.
Style
The BMW i3 appeared to have jumped straight off of a designer's drawing board, looking very much like an auto show concept that actually made it to production. It's avant-garde and futuristic styling, throwing out standing automotive concepts, it's a clean and carbon-neutral approach to motoring.
Tech features
- 10" Infotainment Screen
- BMW iDrive system
- Harman Kardon Sound System
- Apple Car Play
- App Suite and BMW Connected Drive
Price and specs
Which is the cheapest BMW i3?
The cheapest BMW i3 is the standard eDrive model - prices usually start from R499 000 on the used market.
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How much does it cost?
| Model | Price when new | Price used | |
| BMW i3 eDrive | R637 300 | R499 000 - R610 000 | |
| BMW i3eDrive REX | R717 100 | R525 000 - R820 000 | |
*Pricing correct at time of publishing and subject to change without notice. Pricing pulled from AutoTrader.co.za for models ranging from 2015 - 2020
Competitors
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