Now on sale at BMW dealers across the United States of America, the 2017 BMW i3 looks exactly like the 2016 BMW i3, but there is a catch. Quite a big one, to be frank. That catch is the extra capacity of the battery and a price bump of $1,200 compared to the 2016 model year.
Including the $995 destination charge, the all-electric city car starts at $44,595. The 2017 BMW i3 REx, the variant with the motorcycle engine-derived range extender, goes for $48,445. In other words, customers will have to pay about $100 per kilowatt hour of additional battery capacity. But is it worth it?
Whereas the 2016 BMW i3 with the 22 kWh pack could travel 81 miles per charge according to the EPA, the 2017 BMW i3 with the 33 kWh pack manages 114 miles. I am not a big fan of the pricing strategy of the BMW i division, but then again, you get 50 percent more battery capacity. That’s a good deal in my book.
The i3 also features more standard equipment than the current model, as follows: 19-inch wheels, universal garage door opener, Comfort Access, Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information, Deka World – Interior Design Loft, and no-cost DC Fast ChargeNow available for two years. Customers of the improved BMW i3 and BMW i3 REx also get a day of BMW Performance Center Driving Experience free of charge.
As for optional extras, you can spec your i3 with Dark Oak wood trim or Protonic Blue paint (pictured).
Even though the i3 is a nice place to spend time in, I can’t help but think that the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt has this thing licked as far as price ($37,500 before the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs) and range (more than 200 miles per charge) are concerned. However, the i3 is a premium EV, while the Chevy Bolt is playing catch-up with the Tesla Model 3. First deliveries of the U.S.-specification 2017 BMW i3 are slated for July.
Whereas the 2016 BMW i3 with the 22 kWh pack could travel 81 miles per charge according to the EPA, the 2017 BMW i3 with the 33 kWh pack manages 114 miles. I am not a big fan of the pricing strategy of the BMW i division, but then again, you get 50 percent more battery capacity. That’s a good deal in my book.
The i3 also features more standard equipment than the current model, as follows: 19-inch wheels, universal garage door opener, Comfort Access, Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information, Deka World – Interior Design Loft, and no-cost DC Fast ChargeNow available for two years. Customers of the improved BMW i3 and BMW i3 REx also get a day of BMW Performance Center Driving Experience free of charge.
As for optional extras, you can spec your i3 with Dark Oak wood trim or Protonic Blue paint (pictured).
Even though the i3 is a nice place to spend time in, I can’t help but think that the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt has this thing licked as far as price ($37,500 before the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs) and range (more than 200 miles per charge) are concerned. However, the i3 is a premium EV, while the Chevy Bolt is playing catch-up with the Tesla Model 3. First deliveries of the U.S.-specification 2017 BMW i3 are slated for July.