Comparison: BMW i3 vs. Tesla Model 3
Christian Wardlaw has 25 years of experience serving in automotive editorial leadership roles with Autobytel, Edmunds, J.D. Power, and Tribune Publishing. A married father of four, Chris is based in the Los Angeles suburbs and believes fuel cell electric vehicles will power the future.
Christian Wardlawcan be reached at	christianwardlaw@gmail.com
With the hullabaloo over the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes-Benz EQC, and Porsche Taycan, it's easy to forget that BMW has been selling an electric car since 2014.
Unlike anything BMW had offered before, except for perhaps the weird little Isetta from the 1950s, the quirky i3 blends industrial chic design with lots of practicality in a package that's perfect for image-conscious urban and suburban dwellers. However, despite power, performance, and range improvements over the years, several newcomers now outgun the BMW i3, especially the Tesla Model 3.
Last year, the Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling compact luxury car in America. The BMW i3 never came anywhere close to that status. And that tells you everything you need to know.
However, that doesn't mean the BMW i3 is without redeeming qualities. In this BMW i3 vs. Tesla Model 3 comparison article, we'll explain why you might want the BMW anyway.
The BMW i3 and Tesla Model 3 overlap in terms of price, but not in terms of performance. (Photo: BMW and Tesla)
The best things about the BMW i3
The BMW i3 gives you something the Tesla Model 3 can't: a range-extending 2-cylinder gasoline engine. And for people who worry about finding open charging stations when traveling long distances, this option makes all the difference in the world.
It costs $3,850, and it provides less than 50 extra miles of driving range, but this gas-fueled onboard generator means you'll always make it home. And it also means you'll still be able to use your BMW i3, even during power outages.
Another ace up the BMW's air curtains is its hatchback configuration. Though trunk space is about the same as the Model 3 (15.1 cubic feet in the BMW vs. 15 cubes in the Tesla), if you fold the i3's seats down you've got 36.9 cubic feet of space and a loading portal that accommodates bulky items.
The BMW i3 is also eligible for the full $7,500 federal income tax credit. At the end of 2019, the Tesla Model 3's $1,875 credit expires. Therefore, the BMW is effectively thousands less than the Tesla.
Other appealing BMW i3 characteristics include its free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, its extensive use of recycled and sustainable materials in its construction, and assembly in a BMW factory that is carbon-neutral. Oh, and it comes with Apple CarPlay and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
BMW says that 80 percent of the surface materials in the i3 (top) are made of recycled or sustainable materials. The Tesla Model 3 (bottom) takes minimalism to the extreme. (Photo: BMW and Tesla)
The best things about the Tesla Model 3
The least expensive Tesla Model 3 is nearly $5,000 less than the cheapest BMW i3 (before applying for tax credits). At the same time, it offers almost 100 more miles of driving range, accelerates to 60 mph almost two full seconds faster, and recharges at a quicker rate if not in less time (depending on the type of charger).
In short, the Model 3 is the better electric car.
Plus, it has a sleek, stylish, and tailored look, and while the minimalistic interior isn't going to appeal to everyone, you can't argue with a 15-inch control panel supporting over-the-air updates so that the software stays up to date. Tesla also provides 12-way power-adjustable front seats, wireless smartphone charging for two devices at the same time, and standard driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies.
Finally, if you're really into the whole semi-autonomous car movement, you can outfit the Model 3 with Autopilot. Just remember that a driver remains a requirement, so no napping, even if the Tesla gets a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Model 3 is also prepped for a variety of self-parking and summoning features, though recent news reports suggest that Summon isn't as effective as owners expect.
Thanks to its hatchback design, the BMW i3 hauls bulky cargo easier, its trunk expanding from 15.1 cu.-ft. to 36.9 cu.-ft. The Model 3's conventional trunk measures 15 cu.-ft. (Photo: BMW and Tesla)
BMW i3 vs. Tesla Model 3. Which is better?
In this contest, Tesla builds the better electric car. However, there is a place for the BMW i3, especially if you suffer from range anxiety, or you need to carry bulky cargo from time to time, or you just like its funky modernistic design.
Not everybody needs 250 miles or more of driving range. And not everybody wants to drive the same electric car that more than 145,000 people bought in 2018. As an alternative to the status quo, the BMW i3 could prove compelling.
BMW i3, comparison, EVs, Featured, Tesla Model 3