BMW i3 - is this the world's most desirable affordable electric car?
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- Опубликовано: 14 фев 2014
- There may be disquiet about its gentle rate of climb, but the electric car has, at last, taken off. The BMW i3 is leading the charge. Could it really be better in the real world than the Tesla Model S?
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BMW, along with Tesla, is doing what looked impossible a few years ago. Electric cars are finally becoming desirable. Maybe it took the power of a couple of premium brands to help them on the way. Or maybe it's the radical looks and carbonfibre structure of the BMW i3? Either way, EVs are here to stay. And if the BMW i3 is anything to go by, they're here to be enjoyed, rather than endured.
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I just made the switch from a Nissan Leaf to the BMW iRex last weekend. WOW. It's one heck of a ride. I've never owned a BMW, but now that I do, I can't help but feel like I've been missing the party all these years! Kudos BMW!
How reliable it was?
Am I the only one that kinda likes the way this thing looks?
No you are not alone. I do wish they would have put some storage in the dead/unused spot on the front floor between the driver and passenger. It is wasted space. guess I'll have to put a basket there or something lol
That thing looks like a Picasso painting of a VW bug.
000Haze yes...
Not at all, I think it’s the best looking Ev on the market.
Lol it's like a midget i8 I just ordered mine the other day
Seeing the i3 hooning around and doing it well enough is excellent. Lovely. quirky, modern take on "car".
Everybody says that it's ugly, I love it's looks though. 👌
You can't judge his taste, everyone is different, idiot.
Stop talking to yourself. You sound like a civic owner
My wife and I have one BMW i3 each and we can proudly say we are happy with our purchases. Regarding some of the posts here comparing i3 to Tesla Model S, I am a huge Elon Musk fan. I love Tesla and everything they stand for. However, our i3s cost about half the price of a Tesla Model S. I hope to one day own a Tesla but with that being said, I'm grateful my family gets to drive 2 very advanced Electric Vehicles. I moved up from a Prius and am happy with the switch. Range is not an issue to us because our commute does not exceed 80 miles in a single day. Should we need to go farther BMW will let us borrow a petrol loaner to go on longer trips.
I test drove one of these today and he is 100% right on everything. It really drives and feels like a BMW. From 0-40-ish, it's pulls really well..... my '02 M5 felt slow when I got back in it.
Good review! I just bought a 2014 i3 rex for $19k. Love the car!! Had it 4 days so far. Your video says borders on genius and i agree. Just took a 160 mile trip and stopped once for gas -spent $3.76 so total cost of gas in rex mode was $6-$7 dollars. Try that in any $19k other car. Was a long hill on way home. It charged the battery so rex shut off and electric mode kicked in --no car is perfect but this car is futuristic in look and design for sure. 2014 leases are now coming mature so there are alot of i3's forsale now. Good time to get one-- make sure to get rex version so you have no range anxiety. I was gonna cheap out and get a nissan leaf for $7-9k but glad i didnt cause they dont have rex option. Paid cash for car so only cost now is some electricity and $85 for insurance per month. This car suits 95% of my daily driving. My wife was skeptical about driving it and then she drove it and loves the quality feel bmw offers in this small car with the giant open feel inside. Funny--small car with big feel inside--funny but true.
LOL@the body roll through the corners... XD
JimTeh1988 they have to make up for the low profile tires. Some coilovers would make this car a borderline sports car
Not cheap but definitely the future but to be honest I'd spend my £28k on a second hand GTR and use my bike on the days when I want to save the planet.
Is the GT-R exempt from paying Vehicle Excise (Road Tax)?
Is the GT-R exempt from paying the London Congestion Charge?
Does the GT-R do 118mpg?
Does the GT-R cost as liitle as £150 a year to recharge?
Pointless comparison, don't you think?
no a GTR is not exempt from those things, but a bicycle is. Don't take my comment too seriously. I understand the implications of the technology the BMW is showcasing in this car and I really like what they're doing. Just showing an alternative solution. chillout. :-)
Don't know where you can obtain a second hand GT-R for 28 thousand quid, here in the States, a used newish GT-R still fetches around 60 thousand dollars! Best of luck.
cars cost more to buy used in the UK than the US but depreciate much quicker giving the car lover an amazing array of used high performance machinery for a fraction of their original cost. Check out my channel and let me know what you think. I specialise in reviews of used performance cars. You might find the odd review you like.
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Why do most electric vehicles always try to look 'futuristic', why can't it just look like a current style car?
Tesla S
Arthur Leonov Like I said, 'most'.
The reason is the "Prius effect" notice that when the Prius was first introduced it looked like a regular albeit econocar. When it was quickly redesigned, notice who were the high profile customers posing around their "here I am being green" car, hollywood stars the same one that flocked in droves to the Tesla. Regular, current does not sell but stylish, chique does.
Silverdeamon92 Prius is hardly stylish, seen better looking brick walls...
Silverdeamon92 Prius is not electric car, it's a hybrid. i3 is electric.
Very good review Steve. People say some pretty stupid things about this car, without having driven one. If one expects a Ferrari, they will be disappointed. This car doesn't claim to be that, and is far ahead of the curve in terms of where vehicles are going, like it or not. In addition, styling is always subjective. I think BMW deserve a lot of respect for this one, even if it doesn't suit your lifestyle.
I get the rear doors, I had an Mazda RX8 with the same kind of thing, It makes getting in and out of the back seat so easy, all four door cars should be this way,
You don't like the quiet? turn on the radio.
It's 0-62 in 7.2 with just the electric motor version but if you add the petrol engine as well another 3 grand it does 0-62 in 8 seconds, which is a tenth of second slower than a 500 Abarth 135 bhp
More people need to get electric cars! We need to get out of petrol and gasoline as quickly as possible. Fossil fuels will not last forever and we a re damaging the earth and the price will come if we don't change!
Well...electric cars will not be the future or better: they can´t be. What the heck do you think a battery is made of? If million of people would start to drive electric cars, you cannot produce the quantity of batteries for a long period of time.
The other point is: The range is awful right now. I have to drive long distances to get to my work and i would have to recharge the car after maybe 2 days (and no, I cannot use a bus or train).
The distance that I can reach during the cold time of the year will be even more worse.
Electric cars are (at this time) made for people that drive short distances AND (!) have enough money to afford them - compared to an ordinary car.
In my oppinion electric cars a just viable for a short period of time. Another technologies are needed to get out of petrol and gosoline.
First of all: I know the Tesla S. 2nd: I just talked about the range.
But as I already said: range and/OR price are not worth (for me) to think about an electric car.
But the main problem in my oppinion is not the range and price.
The ressources you need to make batteries are limited and will the price for batteries will grow more and more if million of people would decide to drive an electric car.
So it´s not right to say: electric cars are the future, because you know that you cannot build them unlimited ;-) electric or hybrid cars will just fill the space between patrol and X. But that´s just my oppinion.
I reckon hydrogen cars will be the future of transport :)
Sep Pel Let's bust some of those myths. First, I'll quote your original statement, and then I'll reply to it.
1) Well...electric cars will not be the future or better: they can´t be.
- You're assuming electric car tech is stagnant and won't ever change. Silly assumption.
2) The range is awful right now
- Key word here being 'right now'. Funnily enough the range is good enough for 99% of trips - especially in the UK. The Tesla has over 260 miles of range which is plenty for most. Once this kind of capacity is affordable, it'll be even better! You can use the range extender on those long trips and fill it up like any regular tank.
3) recharge the car after maybe 2 days
- How is this a problem? Charge it overnight.
4) The distance that I can reach during the cold time of the year will be even more worse.
- This has been tested. In a harsh Nowegian winter, Bjørn Nyland's Model S reaches 80% of its original range. That means he can still do over 220 miles in his Tesla P85:)
5) Another technologies are needed to get out of petrol and gosoline.
- Why 'another' technology? Electric cars are may not be new but the technology is still in its early days. You are assuming the technology is incapable of developing and therefore alternatives are the only choice, yet when combustion cars were new, they sucked, too!
6) The resources you need to make batteries are limited / What the heck do you think a battery is made of
- Again, you're assuming that nobody is going to develop new batteries in the next 10 years. You're also not considering that EV batteries can be recycled and/or re-purposed after their car life is done. Tesla's batteries are over 60% recyclable, for instance, or can be given other uses like backup power for a house for many days.
I get it, electric cars aren't suitable to you or your long-range needs (at present) but this doesn't mean they aren't suitable to other people, so try to avoid presenting your opinions in a way that makes them sound like facts.
Will Davis Wow, well said. Do you think electric cars are the future or do you think something else is like Hydrogen cars? I personally believe hydrogen cars will be more efficient, but I don't know. I'm not saying that is a fact :)
Autocar The i3 doesn't have scissor doors.. It's got suicide doors, like on a Rolls. Just sayin' :P
In a rolls you can open the back doors without opening the front doors though
Yeah, but he was just mixing the name up with the doors on a Lamborghini etc. :)
The doors are wonderful when you need to pee on the side of the road. Hiding you from both sides. They are lousy when you need to get out with a car or wall close to you.
Amazing game changer car ! Look at that cheap pricetag ! And only 3 years after cars like the Leaf! Although with...just...the same battery capacity.
With 4 seats and almost an entire trunk. Oh, and it's pretty, too, specially its pizza-wheels.
Yepp, I think i'm getting one, it's a BMW, it must be good.
Nice review and cornering there!
Like, subscribed and favorite video list. Thank you very much for review an electric car. Thank you Autocar. Thank you BMW. THank you Tesla Motors for make people think twice about what electric acceleration means.
A ten year old video and the car makes it look like they made it last month. Way ahead of its time.
On top of that 60000 CAD is the cost, that man is truly premium!
I dont understand all the hate. The car is a game changer. Just in case you fatties hadn't realised, its 1195kg with 170bhp, that isn't bad. As automotive development goes, its a masterpiece of engineering. Now, wheres my e46 M3 gone?
Because of all the false claims they put on the car. "First premium electric car". not at all. We already have one out and that blows this car away. IMO the Tesla Model S is the most desirable electric car. If you like the design on this car you need to get your eyes checked. Its got good technology, but not at all is it a game changer. Your just seeing the power electric cars can give out for the first time... honestly i look at this as BMW's sad attempt to copy Tesla.
I hate it because BMW is being so pretentious about a truly ugly hybrid that's no better than any other hybrid! It's not a "game changer" just because they make the engine optional instead of standard equipment like on the Volt.
dlwatib i guess because its a BMW were just support to like it. i see where your going and thats the same direction I'm headed. i don't want anyone to get injured or die but i really hope this car has a lot of problems. it will prove Tesla is the king of electric cars. the looks are already working to my advantage
How did you guys get a 2018 car in 2014? The seats with the blue accent and sunroof weren’t introduced until this year. I’m so confused.
Solar panels plus i3 my best decision..good for the pocket, (no gasoline, $7500 tax credit, minimal state registration fees, and lower insurance costs) and great for the environment!!!! Once I got behind the wheel of my i3 EV..fast, quiet, and great handling,,I would not go back.
how much Did you pay for your BMWi3 I am only 12 yo but I want one I can pay cash for one and save it in tell I am older .....
Excited for you guys to review the i8!!!
Hi friends! Look on my channel of the Russian car crash. I would be grateful. Thank you.
Jpkrao An american Iphone? is it made from the blood of dead babies in Iraq or by terrorists in Libya or drugged up Afghani's or Nazi's in Ukraine during ANOTHER! american coup. I would buy a Russian car over an american IPhone any day. Does america even make cars?
70 miles range? $41,350? Are they fucking kidding me?
We are so conditioned in our minds !!!
This car looks really really great 👍
Just try it and you’ll love it 😍
Great video.
Thanks!
Would like to see what happens when you put the front tires in the back and the wider rears in the front. Fun times?
I think these are mainly to be used in the city and stop-and-go traffic. Makes sense given then compact dimensions.
I have an 2017 i3 with Range Extender in the US. Great Car
168 bhp 185Torque. Lightweight: 1995kgs. 0-60 8 secs. Regen braking.Small boot. Motorbike engine.Bit tight in the back. Good in the front. Under steer. Handles well.80 miles electric range, plus same on petrol engine.Road rumble.GBP25,000-GBP28,000.
"How often do you do 160 miles?" Answer: quite often that plus more and I'm sure that's true for a majority of the target market of which this car is aimed. Bring and EV with a range of 300+ miles (with use of ancillaries) and a more livable recharge time of, say, around 10 minutes or less then you'll have a winner on your hands.
Yeah, we're not quite at the point where those who regularly go for long city-to-city drives will be happy. I think the point is that many people won't need to worry about running out of power even if they have a relatively long commute, and that's a good thing.
With a range still under that of electric only Tesla, that seems like a mistake. A good 'real world' range is closer to 300 miles. This makes a vehicle which is usable not only for day to day life, but that you can actually go to visit friends/family/etc... who may not live super close. Seattle to Portland is fairly normal trip for me, and there is no way the i3 would be the ideal choice for that. Volt though, no problem :\
even your cellphone doesnt charge 10munites
96% of cars cover less than 30 miles per day. These are the owners who this car is aimed at. The 2nd generation of the i3 has a range of 116 miles, the 3rd generation (current model) around 160 miles.
nice review
what's with the high pitch noise near the beginning and end ? is this some subliminal?
Just read an article last week saying BMW dealerships here in the U.S are having a hard time selling these.
They havnt started selling them in the US yet
codymhurst well they have to train the employees about electric cars and their having a hard time just understanding that a car can be plugged in a wall. its not easy going from powerful gas cars to fugly econoboxes.
The driver is used to test drive only gas engine cars that he complains about the good things about this car. It goes on and on.
He is not ready for an electric car at all and shouldn't be the one testing it.
It is a great car ! I just loved it !
The reviewer noted that the 0-60 acceleration was "a shade more than 8 seconds" compared to BMW's claim of 7.2 seconds. Actually unbeknownst to him he validated BMW's official claim which is 7.2 seconds for the "electric only" version and 8 seconds for the 300 pound heavier range extender version, which he was, in fact, driving.
A lot of bunk in this review.
The range extender is NOT intended to be used all the time. It's pretty much supposed to be used only if you run out of battery to prevent you from getting stranded. With practice, you won't run out of battery in everyday daily city driving with an electric only version. The range extender version is for punters.
Plus, the regular version is a lot lighter and more fun. It's actually a lot of fun. Especially at lower speeds around town which is what the i3 was made for. Acceleration from 0-30mph is really quite brisk.
The i3 was never intended to be a long range autobahn cruiser.
When the gas extender kicks in, how many miles per gallon does it get?
I like the look of it it does remind of the VW Up at the back
***** I have a Volt. I've driven the i3 at CES. When my Volt lease is over later this year, I will get the i3... as funny looking as it is, it's a much better driving experience than the Volt and the quality is about 200x better. I try to ignore the hard plastic and the horrible center stack featured in the Volt, but I can't. The Bluetooth and iPod integration are beyond irritatingly bad. Unless Chevy fixes the harsh ride (not sporty, because it handles like ass), the bad interior bits and the atrociously designed center stack, I'll be switching to BMW.
I like the Volt. It's a technical achievement. It's a brilliant bit of engineering. After you get over all that, you find that many parts of the execution were really bad. But after driving the i3, I realize there's a better option in the same price range that has never existed prior. Like this Autocar reporter, I was pleasantly surprised by the i3.
If Tesla's model S is as good as it is from a company that has very little experience in making cars. Then I can't wait for European marks to offer their 200+ mile range EV's to the market. Its going to be a good show =)
+Dennis Richards They could have done that long before Tesla and they have not done it yet. They see electric cars as a negative for their bottom line rather than a positive and that may take a long time to change.
+0ooTheMAXXoo0 GM is making a 200 mile EV (the Bolt)
.
+0ooTheMAXXoo0 They spent over $3B on the R&D of the i3. They used the results of this to further develop the i8 and 7 Series. This is not a one-off effort. BMW appears committed to EV's.
I'll stick with my Volt....thanks
Dam right.
I agree
Right dam.
the downside in this case is ...that it is not a electric car...
rkl08551
No no. I think you can get one that also uses gas, or one thats electric only
Sounds like Steve has had his brain recharged after the P1 test turned it to jelly :) Covered most aspects of this car really well I thought, I'd still be a bit scared of the handling in an emergency. It does seem like we are moving toward electric town cars actually being viable.
This car has the worlds strangest tires 175/55 20.
That's only the rear. The front tires are 155. Bridgestone is (to my research) the only one who makes a tire in either size.
How do these things fair on an iced up winter morning. How do the heaters effect the range?
in this a dont know but in tesla model s is less than 3 or 4 percent, but tesla know what is doing...
I'm a huge fan of Tesla, but i3 is not too bad. It is a good option for those who wants a electric car and cannot wait for another couple of years for Model E. Elon Musk always encourages others to make EVs. It is great to see BMW trying to compete with Tesla.
Road rumble shouldn't be an issue, I'm sure you'd have the radio on!
Great car looking forward to owning one
Will it drift?!
After seeing this car, I will, from this day forward think of pig's nostrils when I see the iconic BMW front grille.
don't know why people are comparing this to teslas, this is just a hatch back, where as the tesla is supposed to be luxury/sports, so compare it to an i8 instead and the i8 wins hands down. they should have called this car the i1 as it is their small, city car and then people wont get so confused
I want an, Mi3? rear engine, light weight, rwd, short wheelbase, sounds like fun to me.
This seems to be a good affordable luxury electric car. Wonder when this BMW -i3 will be available in US markets.
why the electric cars must be so weird?? just make them normal
Jeez, right!?!
Nikos Chatziavramidis they look more futuristic that way
+Nikos Chatziavramidis efficiency.
E-golf looks exactly as a standard golf
Until they are more pricey owners want to show off and everyone to know they went electric
5:31 - it sure is chuck-able!
Although i am a big truck guy roll coal etc.. i really love the design on electric cars so i personally think if some company like Chevrolet can make a a truck that it a hybrid like a prius that would get me to buy it
Diesel is the most efficient civilian engine. If you have a lot of start and stops, there is a system that places a hydraulic pump/motor on the PTO output of the transmission. When braking, it stores that energy into accumulators. When ready to go again, that stored energy is returned to the pump, making it a motor. Saves 1/2 fuel in city.
Ford did this on the Tonka. It did better than the hybrid technology. Some politics got involved and now it no longer exists. People are not allowed to become smart.
VIA motors is already ahead of everyone. But they're strictly fleet vehicles, typically expensive and their capacity is booked out by large fleet buyers.
Only the pure EV is supposed to do 7.2 seconds. The REX version has a 0-60 of 7.9 so that's probably why they clocked low 8s. You also can't charge it in 3 hours from a home AC outlet, you need to install a 32A wallbox to do that. £100 from British Gas or £300 from BMW. No mention of 30 minute DC fast charging either, which should start rolling out during 2014.
probably the only thing I hate about this car is that if you buy one people will assume you are show off and maybe even snob, I blame weird styling for that
. Plus bear in mind that EV depreciate faster than any type of car
True, they depreciate faster. But I seem to value them a little more. On my second EV and about to trade for an i3 for #3.
My Dream Car
I tested one of these in the snow the other day: not being able to turn off the traction control makes it basically useless! Even in DTC mode there is very little slip allowed, removing all momentum if you are trying to get up a hill. Do BMW not trust this chassis to be driven without electronic intervention? One can only conclude that it would be dangerous without ESC - and that is worrying!
Actually, 160 miles is useless. I live in rural Australia and it is quite common to cover in excess of three or four hundred kilometers in a day. For example, we often travel to Armidale (NSW) to shop and that is 160 klms in each direction. I imagine that similar distances would apply to motoring in Canada or the U.S. I can see the appeal of EVs for those living on a small land mass like the U.K. or in large cities, but until electric cars can achieve range equal to petrol vehicles they remain off the options list for many of us.
Yeah but this car isnt made for people living in the middle of the desert in Australia, dont you realise that? Even the Tesla woulndt be so much better there. Go for a Hybrid.
Why is it that people think that posting comments on the internet is a licence for rude and insulting behaviour? Actually, Alex, a quick Google search of Armidale NSW Australia would have shown that I don't live anywhere near a desert and that as Australia has a landmass equal to mainland US and with major population centres often thousands of klms apart, the need for a vehicle which can cover five or six hundred klms in one day is common to many Australians, so my comments on the current state of EVs are not 'anti-EV', just statements of fact.
Im not being rude, Im just saying that the I3 isnt made for everyone. Its made to be a city/get to work car. No EV is made for very long journeys every day.
As said before get a Hybrid or petrol car
This was the first version, the second version is now out and gives up to 140 miles on pure electric!
...except they are about two years behind the Vauxhall Ampera, which has four times the range!
Great car, although the floating smaller screen should be larger and the second screen bigger would not hurt either. The FLOATING IDEA is EXCELLENT for a first release! CA will receive a minimum of $10,000 incentive to buy (NOT BAD)
One thing that Tesla has over any other electric car manufacturer, is that it's styled to look like a car. The major auto manufacturers seem to have a penchant to make electric vehicles look goofy. It's as if they are punishing the consumers who prefer to drive an electric. Until they make an electric car indistinguishable from the rest of the line, and improve their range to match that of petrol autos, I really have interest in being an early adopter.
Something not mentioned here is how generally asshole-ish BMW was about charging tech as well. They could have adopted the same system as Tesla and worked towards a universal standard, but instead they decided to deploy their own system.
The ride is just like a BMW. Did you not notice the badge?? Its a little car for nipping the kids to school and going to work in. How does this compare with the Tesla S??
I hope they're setting the new world trend with this :)
Fantastic. If they could drop the price, it would fly out of the showrooms.
Mmmmm.......Engine warning light. Good job Autocar.
If only they could've made it a bit better looking, if they had got the looks right everybody would want one.
Nope. This car could look better than a naked sex goddess for all I care and I still wouldn't want one. Why? Because the Tesla is so much better for the price.
Fugly thing, so is this a hybrid or does the petroleum engine only for charging the batteries?
The latter. It's wheels are exclusively electric motor driven.
want one
If you want the rear doors to open without opening the front doors you would have to put a pillar and that defeats the whole purpose of a huge opening
The i3 is a short wheelbase, and consequently would have smaller openings if it used conventional doors. With carriage doors you get the larger opening, with a small compromise in day to day usability (not quite as easy to use as regular doors.)
Aren't those suicide doors and not scissor doors?
No. You can't open back door if front are closed.
TheHell666yeah Thanks, didn't know about this small detail.
I could get to liking a vehicle like this
Of all electric cars out there, this is my #2 choice or I should say, it's my #1 non-Tesla choice.
With a 20km commute this could be the perfect car for me.
I love it! And it's not a family car so who cares who cares how the back doors open and how big the boot is. When you fold the back seats down its huge! I love it next car I think!
I have an orange one. Too many compromises to really love it. I do like it though. He's wrong, the steering wheel is excellent. It is very noisy at speed. Great in town, nothing compares in fact.
Can't open the back door unless front is open?!? What if I sitting at the back and the front passengers left? I have to crawl, reach, open front door and then open back door? Not too clever.
Bit remiss of you to not know that the range extender model is slower than the pure EV.
Tought he was Chris Harris in the intro XD
Looks like the GPS thinks he's out in some field
so engine management icon is on at all times ? ;)
i3's are also a pretty good little processor ;)
You may put charging point on the body of the car more than one and anywhere !
We should use hybrid battery packs using batteries and super capacitors we would get a lot more range and more charge I think
*faster charge
Opel Ampera?
The only electric car I have driven so far is a Telsa S. I would change to an electric car in a heartbeat if i could afford it. Electric cars are so easy to drive because of the very smooth quiet drive train. Once a real breakthrough in energy storage is made things will move fast because cheap and compact energy storage technology is the only thing holding back electric cars.
Enough of telling us that electric cars are silent!
I don't like it either, but it could be good that rear doors don't open independently, because once in a blue moon it does happen that a back seat passenger doesn't properly close the rear door... and driver might forget to check, because he never really uses them.
Another solution to that is already implemented in most cars anyway. An instrument light and/or beep to alert the driver that a door is not properly closed.
I would just like to say that I invented the style of this car back in 1984 with a set of legos.
Why that odd awful lower rear window line?? WhY????
Why not buy a base 3-series instead?
I wouldn't define i3 as "affordable" ... more than 30k £ for 80-100 km of range... WTF!!!!!
It's sub 29k for 140-160 MILES of range. But yeah, it's not the most affordable vehicle on the planet...
That's affordable. You get what you pay for.
I paid 25K for a motorcycle. 47K for my volt.
A cheap 10-15K car is that, cheap/ Won't last, and wouldn't want to be in an accident in one of them.
I want that car
The Volt is about $12k less, slightly slower, better styled, has a 350 mile range between gas and EV modes, and has stellar safety and reliability records. The i3 is a Leaf on steroids with goofy looking 22" wheels.
I love this reviewer. The British are so cool