BMW i3 2013–2017 car dimensions: 3999 mm long, 1775 mm wide and 1578 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,195 kg. Boot space with the seats up is 260 litres.
The cabin seats four with a raised position, flat floor and coach doors for easy access. Sustainable materials feature across Atelier to Suite lines. Standard kit includes Professional navigation on a large non-touch display controlled by iDrive, air conditioning and rear parking sensors. Cruise control is standard. Optional Driving Assistant Plus adds camera-based cruise with stop-go, collision warning with city braking and traffic jam assist for lane keeping. Parking package adds front sensors, reversing camera and park assist. Apple CarPlay arrived as an option on later cars. Android Auto was not offered.
Boot space measures 260 litres with seats up, expanding to 1100 litres with the rear seats folded. The high load floor and hatch design suit everyday urban loads.
Payload is listed at 425 kg on pure-electric models. No towing capacities appear in the specifications, so the car is not set up for towing or heavy work use.
The cabin feels open and airy thanks to large glass areas, a flat floor with no transmission tunnel, and slim lightweight seats with thin backrests that free rear legroom. Materials mix recycled fabrics, optional wool cloth that helps regulate temperature, leather, and wood trims across Atelier, Loft, Lodge and Suite lines. It is quiet from the electric drive. Front seats heat in stages on many cars. climate is single-zone automatic with optional heat pump. An optional electric glass roof with wind deflector adds light and airiness.
Pure electric with optional range-extender petrol engine and small tank.
Everyday electric range around 80-100 miles in Comfort. higher in Eco modes or with larger later battery.
Euro NCAP 4 stars (2013): 86% adult, 81% child, 57% pedestrian, 55% safety assist.
Standard front, side and curtain airbags, ESP/DSC, automatic emergency call.
Service mainly time-based CBS vehicle checks and brake fluid. REx needs periodic oil.
The car runs as a pure electric with energy use quoted near 12.9 kWh/100 km in the EU cycle. Everyday range sits at 80-100 miles in Comfort mode and stretches with Eco Pro or Eco Pro+ settings. An optional two-cylinder range extender keeps the battery topped and extends total distance. Pre-conditioning via app or timer helps cabin and battery temperature without draining range on the move. Optional heat pump cuts heating energy use in cold weather.
Servicing follows Condition Based Service that is mainly time-driven rather than mileage, reflecting typical lower annual use. Core items are the vehicle check and brake fluid. Range-extender versions add engine oil and filter changes on a yearly basis. The high-voltage battery carries an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty covering capacity above 70 percent. Coolant circuits for the drive and heater need level checks.
Euro NCAP awarded four stars in 2013 with strong adult and child scores but lower pedestrian and assist marks. The CFRP passenger cell stays stable. standard kit includes front, side and curtain airbags plus stability control and intelligent emergency call. Optional Driving Assistant packages add collision warning with braking, lane departure and adaptive cruise. IIHS later models score Good in most crashworthiness tests.
Living with the car means watching brake wear from recuperation and tyre life on the narrow wheels. Keep the battery conditioned and software updated. Access is easy via rear-hinged doors with no B-pillar. Boot space is modest with seats up but expands well when folded.
Length 3999 mm, Width 1775 mm, Height 1578 mm, Wheelbase 2570 mm (i3 2013–2017)
Sources: manufacturer data, BMW Media Information / press kit technical specifications The BMW i3, Euro NCAP/ANCAP, autoevolution/ADAC.