BMW i3 50 xDrive

If you like driving, the 3 Series has always been the benchmark car that all others try to be. Whilst Audi & Mercedes-Benz have got close, no one has managed it yet, so when BMW announced their second i3, this time as classic 4-door saloon, plenty including me were intrigued. Could BMW build an electric 3 that would continue the models tradition ? We stepped out on the South Downs to find out.

Tell me more ?

The i3 is the brands second new car under Neue Klasse & it comes with the same BMW Heart of Joy control unit that’s responsible for the cars drivetrain, charging, braking, steering & energy recuperation as the iX3 . Furthermore the new IQ control units simplify the amount of wiring the car needs, making it up to 20x more powerful.

What does this really mean ?

BMW’s Dynamics Expert Jürgen Metz explained that in reality, it’s all about speed with electric architecture, so the i3 reacts faster to the inputs the driver or cars system selects & on the road this translates into more stability when lane changing for example & increased agility when you push the car harder.

Outside

BMW are off to a great start. Where many of their recent models have gone big on the kidney grille & angular features, the i3 eschews this for a smoother exterior & two slim black panels at the front. The sides have hidden door handles & whilst the rear lights aren’t it’s greatest feature the small rear overhang & the overall proportions of the car see it sit low on the road as a sports saloon should. Indeed, alongside the new petrol 3 Series the i3 looks totally at home.

Inside

As with the iX3 BMW’s Panoramic i-Drive system is fitted, which means that you get a digital instrument display that runs across the bottom of the windscreen, designed BMW says to keep the driver’s eyes on the road. The info displayed is usefully customisable via the steering wheel or touchscreen menus & we can see others following suit as it’s so much better than almost everything else out there.

Elsewhere the layout is almost the same as the iX3 so the drivers door contains the window, mirror & seat adjustment switches, with a wireless charging pad, twin USB, gear lever, electric handbrake hazard warning, volume switch & window de-mister located between the front seats. Quality is excellent with soft touch & high quality black, light grey & chrome plastic finishes on the doors, dash, seat & headliner.

Battery power & driving range

Two batteries. An 87kWh battery with 374bhp that comes with a 436 mile range will be offered on 40 xDrive, or the 113kWh battery, with a more powerful 469bhp & a 563 mile driving range on the 50 xDrive versions.

Specifications

Each spec lifts the car up with different steering wheels, light configurations & alloys. So, all i3s come with a 10.2-inch infotainment screen, DAB, SatNav, heated front seats, a multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, LED lights, rear parking sensors & rain sending wipers. M Sport adds M Sport brakes with blue calipers, sportier bumpers & trims, black artificial suede & leather upholstery & a sports steering wheel. M Sport Pro goes further & includes red brake callers, tinted rear glass, leather sports seats, an illuminated font grille & trim-colour BMW M seatbelts.

Safety

Everything everywhere all at once including BMW’s new Highway Assistant self-driving system. Enabled by pushing a steering wheel button it’s an autonomous system but comes with Level 2 tech, so basically you don’t have to keep your hands on the steering wheel. To change lanes or overtake, simply indicate, look in the wing mirror & once the internal cameras detected these movements, it will change lanes for you, including suggesting when to overtake or move into an empty inside lane. We tried it & it works well & will make many longer journeys more palatable.

Infotainment

It’s the same clear & bright screen with simple icons as on iX3. It’s easier than many to operate & because of the Panoramic display, you don’t need to constantly look at it. Indeed I connected wireless to CarPlay, added our driving route on Waze & listened to my usual podcasts as I traversed the South Downs. Brilliant !

Charging

Not only does range anxiety take a back seat with i3, so do charging times.The 50 we drove will charge at up to 400kW on a DC Charger, whilst the 40 charges at up to 300kW.  So, a 10-80% charge on the 50 will take as little as 21 minutes with a 10 minute top-up on an ultra rapid charger adding 249-263 miles. AC charging is at 11kW with optional 22kW available. Charge at home overnight for top-ups . We recommend the Rolec Evo. https://www.rolecserv.com/ev-products/evo

Practicality

The boot is a saloon shape so it’s not as practical as an SUV. Nonetheless, you get a 420 litre space with a 31 litre frunk up-front where you can store the charging cable. A 40:20:40 folding rear seat configuration that can be lowered using fabric toggles.

Whilst the cabin space is not huge, thanks to the flat rear floor three can sit side by side in the rear, although the middle seat is small & slightly raised. Front head & legroom is good with a glove box, slim but long door pockets, twin cup holders, a wireless charging pad with built in magnet & under armrest space for odds & sods. A low down centre area offers extra space with two front & two rear USB’s.

Performance i3 50 xDrive 

0-62mph. 4.7 seconds

Top speed 124mph

Torque. 645Nm

Driving

Driving Dynamics are at the heart of the new 3 Series both electric & petrol. And whilst company car drivers will look at the i3 & not the 3 itself, they shouldn’t be worried because the electric saloon is a cracker.

A mixed road driving route across the South Downs meant that we were able to test the i3 50 in most situations. On slower winding roads it’s quiet & comfortable & when the speed limit increases you can put your foot down & have some fun. And fun is what you get. Acceleration is decent & the i3’s shortish dimensions & low profile means  you can take advantage of this. Add in the twin motor configuration with one on each axle ,a heavier synchronous motor at the back & a lighter asynchronous one at the front, means the cars balance is spot on.

Technical help 

Ride quality

Furthermore, the multi-link suspension & damping is also first class, manipulating the car over poor road surfaces in such a way as to almost completely hide the bumps & grinds associated with battery heavy EV. After all the i3 50 weighs in at 2,280kg so shouldn’t be this good.

Driving modes & efficiency

You can toggle through Personal, Sport, Efficient or Silent drive modes & whilst Sport proved the most enjoyable adding a bit of weight to the almost perfect steering, Efficient was our de facto option on the day as we sought to see if the i3 could really claim a 500+ mile driving range. And whilst our drive was under 100 miles, over 2 hours we were seeing a 4.1 mile/ kWh return in November so we’d surmise that the 563 mile WLTP figure is in real world driving, going to be nearer 400-425 miles, which is mightily impressive.

Pros

Handles brilliantly. Looks good both inside & out. Driving range is phenomenal.

Cons

Some functions like Drive Modes could be accessed more easily than through the screen.

Verdict

The 3 Series has always been the benchmark for a saloon car & we’re pleased to say that the i3 takes over this mantle for electric drivetrains. BMW’s mastery of all things when it comes to how a 3 Series handles, has manifested itself splendidly for electric driving & the i3 goes straight to the top of the class.

A Bayern Munich 4.75/5