With the new 94 Ah model, the BMW i3 is now even more capable to cover longer trips, thanks to the higher-density battery. The refreshed i3 was a well-received change by the BMW customers and we were among those who appreciate the longer strides. Just this week we took a 2017 model out for a spin and shared our impressions. Of course, some people still can’t over the styling, but the is and has been more about function over form.
The people over at What Car took the latest iteration of the i3 out for a quick drive and they tend to agree that it is quite a lovely little city car. The 170 HP engine with its 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque has no problem dealing with the car’s low weight and the instant torque makes it a quick sprinter off the line. Just like all electric vehicles, as you reach top velocity, the acceleration slows down but then again, the i3 wasn’t built to win drag races.
Instead it was put together to show how a manufacturer with plenty of pedigree can approach this new-age eco-friendly trend that is taking over the world. And BMW definitely did its homework, creating the i3 to be as green as possible. The CFRP used throughout its body is made using renewable energy, the car is assembled in Leipzig following the same recipe while materials inside were carefully picked to have as little an impact on the environment as possible.
What the review below focuses on though is living with this car on a daily basis. Inside you’ll find that there’s ample room and an overall sense of space up front while in the back things are a bit narrower. The boot is a bit small as well and you might – as Rebecca points out – a bit of trouble fitting golf clubs in there. The car also rides a bit stiffer than your usual run of the mill boring hybrid and it has RWD as BMW wanted it to provide some enjoyment for the driver. Then again, this is a first attempt from BMW to provide a fully-electric car to the world and rest assured, the next models will surely fix all those pesky issues.
