BMW’s Cheaper i3 Has A Smaller Battery, But Its Range Is Still Impressive

The new BMW i3 40 xDrive still comes with dual-motor all-wheel drive, but its battery has been downsized.

Photo by: BMW

By: Iulian Dnistran

Sep 30, at 2:29am ET

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BMW has introduced a more affordable i3 version in Europe, which is expected to land in the U.S. too.
The new i3 40 xDrive has less power and a smaller battery pack than the i3 50 xDrive.
It still comes with dual-motor all-wheel drive, and the range estimate is solid.

Hot on the heels of the new BMW 3 Series reveal, the German automaker has introduced a lower-priced version of the i3 electric sedan, according to BMW Blog. The new BMW i3 40 xDrive is now available in Europe, but it’s expected to make its way to the United States next year, after deliveries of the top-spec version start in the first quarter.

The entry-level EV packs an 82.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack that can be charged at up to 300 kilowatts. That’s nearly 26 kWh less and a 100-kW charging-power downgrade compared to the range-topping i3 50 xDrive, but the stats are still solid.

Photo by: BMW

According to BMW, the base electric sedan can gain 209 miles (337 kilometers) of range after a 10-minute top-up, while the total range on a full charge is a WLTP-estimated 441 miles (710 km). Charging from 10% to 80% takes 21 minutes.

The EPA numbers are not available yet, but when it makes its way stateside, the i3 40 xDrive should be capable of delivering around 321 miles (517 km) on a full charge. That’s 147 miles less than the top-spec i3, but it’s still plenty for daily driving and the occasional road trip.

Dual-motor all-wheel drive comes standard, as attested by the xDrive badge, with a maximum output of 369 horsepower and 384 pound-feet (520 Newton-meters) of torque. That’s 94 hp and 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) less than the i3 50 xDrive, but it’s still plenty for a sensible four-door sedan, with a quoted 0-to-62 miles per hour sprint in 5.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 124 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour).

Cutting a little bit of this and a little bit of that results in a lower weight, which should mean a better driving experience, despite the lower power. Compared to the 108.7-kWh i3 50 xDrive, the lower-powered, shorter-range i3 40 xDrive is 254 pounds (115 kilograms) lighter, tipping the scales at a relatively tame-for-a-modern-car 4,607 lbs (2,090 kg).

Gallery: The New BMW i3

Source: BMW

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The best part of it all is the price. In Germany, BMW wants €59,900 for the new entry-level i3, a healthy €6,000 less than its more powerful brother. Pricing for the U.S. isn’t available yet, but it’s sure to be less than the $62,850 starting price of the 2027 i3 50 xDrive.

An even more affordable i3 is expected to debut later next year. Dubbed the i3 40 eDrive, the upcoming entry-level EV will have a single rear-mounted electric motor and the same 82.8 kWh battery as the i3 40 xDrive.