BMW i3 Leasing

The UK's Favourite Fully Electric Vehicle

After four years on the road, the BMW i3 remains a trailblazer amongst traffic with its Blade-Runner looks and forward-thinking design details. BMW’s all-electric i3 has recently received something of an update, but whilst some interesting improvements have been made the car remains faithful to its’ roots.

Design

From the outside, the i3 is an indicator of its own essence - this fully electric mini has the look of science fiction embedded in its small yet chunky body. Some of the details to have been updated in recent models include a new silver roof line detail, tweaks to the bumpers in the front and rear, and some other small adjustments to the bodywork. Inside, the car is the picture of calm - the cabin is bright and spacious, with recycled materials and optional eucalyptus wood detailing across the dash appealing to the eco-conscious driver. The dash is clean and sparsely populated, with information displayed on a neatly floating screen and controls laid out beneath. BMW has included an impressive amount of technology into this compact shell, as well as space for a up to four people.

Specification

Keeping things relatively simple, the i3 is offered in one main baseline i3 model and, more recently, the sportier i3s, which delivers greater power at a reduced range.

• i3: the car delivers plenty to please its occupants, including sat-nav, heated front seats, LED headlights, climate control and a DAB radio. Also included are rear parking sensors, automatic lights and rain-sensing wipers, plus 19” alloy wheels.
• I3s: on top of all the standard kit included with the base i3 model, the sports-adapted iS3 comes with inflated 20” alloy wheels, a dedicated Sport driving mode, a black grille, high-gloss black paint on the A-pillar and roof, and more aggressive styling across the front bumper. The car is also fitted with sports suspension.

Handling & Performance

The two options available when choosing an i3 - the base model and the i3s - are both snappy and responsive on the road. Starting from zero, the i3 quickly makes it up to speed reaching 62mph in less than seven seconds. The standard i3 has a food 168bhp, getting to 62mph in 7.3 seconds, whilst the quicker i3s boasts an extra 13 bhp to achieve that 6.9 second 0-62 time. At the lights, regular petrol and diesel cars are left stranded far behind due to the electric i3’s speedy pull-away. Between charges, the standard model can drive up to 181 miles, whilst its speedier double manages a commendable 175 miles. The motor is quiet, and braking can be anticipated by simply removing the foot from the accelerator. On the road, the i3 handles responsively and steers with a satisfying weight.

• Standard engine: 33kWh
• Range: 181 miles
• 0-62mph: 7.2 seconds