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The new BMW i3 has landed, and it moves exactly as a 3 Series ought to. This is the saloon that replaces the old i4, built on the Neue Klasse thinking that gave the iX3 such a strong start. Its headline number is a claimed 566 miles between plugs. No other electric car on sale in Britain can beat that.
That figure belongs to the 50 xDrive, which carries a 112kWh battery and twin motors worth 462bhp and 645Nm. It clears 0- 62 mph in 4.7 seconds before topping out at 124mph. Buyers who want less can take the 40 xDrive, with an 82.8kWh pack, 386bhp and a quoted 436 miles. Real-world running returned 4.7 miles per kWh on the motorway, which points to well beyond 500 miles. Mixed town and country work dropped that to 3.7 miles per kWh, or roughly 414 miles. Credit goes to the Heart of Joy control system, which ties the powertrain, brakes, lights, infotainment and driver aids into a single brain. Charging peaks at 400kW, with 10 to 80 per cent covered in 21 minutes. Rapid, although BYD now sets a higher bar.
The chassis is where BMW has done its best work. Throttle, brakes and steering are all calibrated to echo the petrol 3 Series, and from behind the wheel the illusion holds. The rack has honest weight and real precision, whether you are threading through traffic or leaning on it down a B road. Body roll stays in check. The catch is mass. At 2,205kg, the i3 hauls 345kg more than its combustion sibling, and speed bumps, potholes and long undulations all remind you of it. The passive setup copes well enough. The optional M adaptive dampers should smooth the worst of it.
Inside, the driving position lines up neatly with the 3 Series, helped by a slimmer seat base. Panoramic iDrive runs the show, with a 17.9-inch central touchscreen that rewards patience during setup. Material quality is strong. Space is less convincing. Rear legroom is tight, and foot room under the front seats is meaner still. The boot swallows 420 litres, 30 down on the 3 Series, which is modest for a saloon of this footprint. The load opening is at least a touch wider.
None of that blunts the overall impression. The i3 covers vast distances, holds its charge better than anything else in the class and still feeds proper feel through the wheel. A Touring estate should answer the packaging complaints next year. An M60 and a full electric M3 wait in the wings. For now, BMW has built an electric saloon that drives the way the badge demands, and that counts for a great deal.
