BMW i3 Review - Auto Express

Опубликовано 28 октября 2013, 14:30

BMW i3 review: bit.ly/16gv70B

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The BMW i3 is unlike any other BMW we've driven before - it's all electric, has a body built from carbon fibre and is the smallest vehicle in the current 'i' line-up.

The unique carbon fibre body never ceases to amaze us. It stops the car from flexing too much in the bends and it's resulted in a really low overall weight - the BMW i3 weighs in at just 1195kg, making it 300kgs lighter than the Nissan LEAF. There's no need for a B-pillar as the body is so rigid, meaning accessibility is great.

The steering is nice and direct with just a hint of feedback - generally, it's a lot of fun. Albeit the roads on Amsterdam aren't the best dynamic test, but it's worth mentioning that even with all the torque from the electric motor and some skinny low grip tyres, it's not easy to do big slides.

But the torque does come in handy - 0-63mph takes just 7.2 seconds, which is Renaultsport Clio territory. We drove the top-spec i3 with the Suite interior trim which is a perfect, futuristic design for this type of car.

A special sat-nav comes as standard - this can direct you to a recharging point within the remaining range. Speaking of, the BMW i3 is supposed to be capable of covering 125 miles on a single charge (but that's in super-efficient ECOPRO+ mode).

In the world of electric cars, the BMW i3 is definitely a class contender. It's not one of the cheapest options out there - the one we drove cost £25,860 - but it's highly desirable; a true BMW.