BMW i3

BMW i3: which version to buy and why

If you want the BMW i3 with the most battery capacity in this catalogue, take i3 AT 42.2 kWh or i3s AT 42.2 kWh from 1 generation, restyling (2017-09-01–2022-07-31): both list 42.2 kWh versus 33.2 kWh and 22 kWh on earlier cars. If you want the lowest kerb weight per horsepower among restyle battery cars, i3s AT 33.2 kWh is 1265 kg and 184 hp (6.9 kg/hp), 0–100 km/h in 6.9 s, top speed 160 km/h.

If you want the BMW i3 with the most battery capacity in this catalogue, take i3 AT 42.2 kWh or i3s AT 42.2 kWh from 1 generation, restyling (2017-09-01–2022-07-31): both list 42.2 kWh versus 33.2 kWh and 22 kWh on earlier cars. If you want the lowest kerb weight per horsepower among restyle battery cars, i3s AT 33.2 kWh is 1265 kg and 184 hp (6.9 kg/hp), 0–100 km/h in 6.9 s, top speed 160 km/h. If you need a Plug-in Range Extender, i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender (1 generation) and i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender (restyling) both list mixed consumption 0.6 and a 9 l tank; the restyle car adds 11.2 kWh of battery versus the 22 kWh car. There is no price in this dataset, so “extra money” here means extra kilograms, extra kWh, extra 14 hp, and extra 0.4–1.2 s on 0–100 km/h — not a sticker.

The BMW i3 in these records is a Mini 5-doors with two catalogue blocks of 1 generation: pre-restyle 1 generation (2013-07-01–2018-10-31, 5 versions) and 1 generation, restyling (2017-09-01–2022-07-31, 6 versions). Both blocks share Automatic, 1-speed, RWD. Searches for BMW i3 2026, BMW i3 2027, BMW i3 Neue Klasse, BMW i3 sedan, and BMW i3 for sale / price have no matching years, body, or prices in this file.

Generations: what changed when you pick restyling versus 1 generation

1 generation (2013-07-01–2018-10-31) is Mini 5-doors with five versions: i3 AT 22 kWh, i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender, two distinct 0.7 AT Plug-in rows (170 hp both; separate them by 0–100 km/h and weight), and AT. Battery labels stop at 22 kWh. Horsepower is 170 hp / 125 kW on every row. Top speed is 150 km/h on every row. Ground clearance is 140 mm on every row. Rear brakes are Disc on i3 AT 22 kWh and i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender, and Disc ventilated on both 0.7 AT rows and on AT.

1 generation, restyling (2017-09-01–2022-07-31) is the same Mini 5-doors with six versions: i3s AT 42.2 kWh, i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender, i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender, i3 AT 33.2 kWh, i3 AT 42.2 kWh, i3s AT 33.2 kWh. The restyle adds the 33.2 kWh and 42.2 kWh labels (+11.2 kWh and +20.2 kWh versus 22 kWh) and the i3s 184 hp / 135 kW / 270 Nm lines. Top speed becomes 160 km/h on the three i3s versions and stays 150 km/h on the three non-s versions. Ground clearance splits: 139 mm on the 170 hp cars, 131 mm on the 184 hp cars (−8 mm versus the 140 mm of 1 generation, −9 mm versus restyle 170 hp). Rear brakes are Disc ventilated on all six restyle versions.

The two blocks overlap in calendar time (2017-09-01 through 2018-10-31). Choosing a year in that window is not enough: you still choose 22 kWh versus 33.2/42.2 kWh by the version name.

Engine and specs: Electro versus Plug-in Range Extender

Every Electro version uses fuel Electro, displacement not measured, cylinders not measured, layout not measured, boost not measured, engine location not measured. Every Plug-in Range Extender in this file is 647 cm³, 2 cylinders, Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, engine location Rear, compression 10.6, bore × stroke 79 × 66, fuel 95.

Injection is not the same on every 647 cm³ car: i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender lists Direct injection (direct); restyle i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender and i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender list Distributed injection (multi-point); both 0.7 AT rows list injection not measured.

Power per litre on 647 cm³: 170 hp / 0.647 l = 263 hp/l on the 170 hp Plug-in cars; 184 hp / 0.647 l = 284 hp/l on i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender (+21 hp/l for +14 hp). Electro versions have no displacement, so power per litre is not measured.

BMW i3 engine oil, air filter, engine bay, mount, and engine light are not in this dataset. Engine location is Rear only where the Plug-in rows state it; Electro location is not measured.

Performance, mpg, and 0–100: what the extra 14 hp and extra kWh buy

0–100 km/h and top speed are measured on every version. City and highway consumption are not measured on any version. Mixed consumption is 0.6 only on i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender, i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender, and i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender; on every other version mixed is not measured. CO2 is 0 on every Electro version.

Arithmetic that answers “what does i3s buy”: i3s AT 33.2 kWh versus i3 AT 33.2 kWh is +14 hp, +20 Nm, −0.4 s to 100 km/h (6.9 versus 7.3), +10 km/h top speed (160 versus 150), −5 kg (1265 versus 1270). i3s AT 42.2 kWh versus i3 AT 42.2 kWh is the same +14 hp / +20 Nm / −0.4 s / +10 km/h, but −55 kg (1290 versus 1345). i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender versus i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender is +14 hp, −0.4 s (7.7 versus 8.1), +10 km/h, +20 kg (1385 versus 1365), CO2 14 versus 13.

Battery step versus acceleration: i3 AT 42.2 kWh and i3 AT 33.2 kWh share 7.3 s and 150 km/h. The +9 kWh (42.2 − 33.2) does not buy a faster 0–100 in this table; it buys +75 kg kerb (1345 versus 1270) and −75 kg payload (365 versus 440). Versus i3 AT 22 kWh at 7.2 s / 1195 kg, i3 AT 33.2 kWh is 0.1 s slower and 75 kg heavier; i3 AT 42.2 kWh is 0.1 s slower and 150 kg heavier. The restyle battery jump is not a sprint upgrade.

Range Extender versus Electro at the same generation: i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender is 0.7 s slower than i3 AT 22 kWh (7.9 versus 7.2) and 120 kg heavier (1315 versus 1195). Restyle i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender is 0.8 s slower than i3 AT 33.2 kWh (8.1 versus 7.3) and 95 kg heavier (1365 versus 1270). That is the measured cost of the 647 cm³ Plug-in path: mixed 0.6 and a 9 l tank where listed, against slower 0–100 and more mass.

The two 0.7 AT names in 1 generation are not duplicates of performance: 8.1 s / 1365 kg / 1760 kg gross / CO2 12 versus 7.9 s / 1340 kg / 1755 kg / CO2 13. Same 170 hp, same 647 cm³, 0.2 s and 25 kg apart. 0.7 AT (7.9 s) matches i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender on 0–100 but is 25 kg heavier (1340 versus 1315) and has mixed and tank not measured.

Horsepower does not change with year inside 1 generation: 2013–2018 Electro and Plug-in rows are 170 hp. Restyle 2017–2022 adds 184 hp only on names that include i3s. There is no 2024 / 2025 / 2026 / 2027 horsepower row here.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Kerb and clearance are measured on every version. Gross is not measured on i3 AT 22 kWh. Tank is 9 l on the three Range Extender names that include “Range Extender” plus restyle i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender; tank is not measured on i3 AT 22 kWh, both 0.7 AT, AT, and all Electro restyle cars without Range Extender in the name.

Lightest kerb in the whole file: i3 AT 22 kWh at 1195 kg. Lightest restyle Electro: i3s AT 33.2 kWh at 1265 kg. Heaviest: i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender at 1385 kg. Best kg/hp among measured pairs: i3s AT 33.2 kWh at 6.9 kg/hp. Worst among measured: both 8.0 kg/hp cars — 0.7 AT (1365 kg) and i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender.

i3 AT 42.2 kWh versus i3 AT 33.2 kWh: same 1710 kg gross, so the 75 kg extra kerb cuts payload from 440 kg to 365 kg (−75 kg). i3s AT 42.2 kWh keeps 440 kg payload because gross rises to 1730 kg with kerb 1290 kg.

Wheels: i3s restyle cars use 175/55 R20 and 195/50 R20. i3 AT 42.2 kWh uses 155/70 R19 and 175/65 R19 (same pair as i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender). Restyle non-s Range Extender uses 155/70 R19 and 175/60 R19, matching both 0.7 AT rows. Wheels not measured: i3 AT 22 kWh, AT, i3 AT 33.2 kWh. Inch conversions beyond the R19/R20 labels in the data are not measured.

Front suspension Independent, spring and rear Independent, spring on every version. Front brakes Ventilated disc on every version.

Which version to choose

Daily Electro, restyle battery, no i3s: i3 AT 42.2 kWh if the 42.2 kWh label is the point (9 kWh above 33.2, 20.2 kWh above 22); accept 7.3 s, 150 km/h, 1345 kg, 365 kg payload, 139 mm, 155/70 R19 and 175/65 R19. i3 AT 33.2 kWh if you want the same 170 hp / 7.3 s / 150 km/h with 75 kg less kerb and 440 kg payload; wheels not measured.

Daily Electro, fastest restyle sprint: i3s AT 33.2 kWh — 184 hp, 270 Nm, 6.9 s, 160 km/h, 1265 kg, 6.9 kg/hp, 435 kg payload, 131 mm, 20-inch pair. Same 0–100 and top speed as i3s AT 42.2 kWh, which is 25 kg heavier (1290 kg) and keeps 440 kg payload with the 42.2 kWh label.

Need Range Extender (Plug-in, 95, 647 cm³, 9 l where measured): restyle i3 0.7 AT AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender if you want 33.2 kWh plus mixed 0.6; 170 hp, 8.1 s, 150 km/h, 1365 kg, 139 mm, injection Distributed injection (multi-point), eco class not measured. i3s 0.7 AT 33.2 kWh Range Extender if you want that pack with 184 hp, 7.7 s, 160 km/h, Euro 6, at 1385 kg and 131 mm — heaviest i3 in the file, CO2 14 versus 13. Pre-restyle i3 0.7 AT 22 kWh Range Extender if you accept 22 kWh for 7.9 s, 1315 kg, 140 mm, Direct injection (direct), Euro 6, 155/70 R19 and 175/65 R19.

1 generation Electro only: i3 AT 22 kWh is the lightest (1195 kg) and the quickest 170 hp Electro to 100 km/h in 1 generation (7.2 s), but gross, wheels, and tank are not measured. AT is 125 kg heavier (1320 kg), 0.1 s slower (7.3 s), gross 1670 kg (payload 350 kg, smallest measured payload in the file), wheels not measured.

Do not pick by the short name 0.7 AT alone: two 1 generation rows share that exact name. Use 8.1 s / 1365 kg / CO2 12 versus 7.9 s / 1340 kg / CO2 13. Mixed and tank are not measured on either.

Problems / reliability: this dataset has no failure rates, no oil intervals, no filter service, no engine-light codes. What it does measure for a used choice is mass, clearance, brake label, and whether mixed/tank/wheels/gross are filled in. If a parameter is not measured, it is not measured — not “does not exist.”