Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW i3 review – the city car perfected? - Design

The BMW i3 is a genuinely impressive take on the electric city car.

Evo rating
  • Brilliant performance, great interior, stand-out looks
  • Range extender engine noisy, limited range without it

Design

Nothing else on the road looks like the BMW i3, yet thanks to (blanked off) kidney grilles, 'hooded' front lights and a unique take on the company's characteristic Hofmeister kink, it's unmistakably a BMW. It's not conventionally pretty, but it grabs more attention than any Lamborghini. That's despite a gangly appearance when viewed dead on front or rear.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The black bonnet, unique side glass, lack of rear door handles and the seamless rear end distract the eye though and the detailing in the rear lights is just gorgeous. At 3999mm long it's some 300mm shorter than a Volkswagen Golf, but it's about the same width, surprisingly. That's disguised by the 120mm higher roof on the i3, giving it more headroom, but also a rangy look at times.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best car tyres 2026 – evo tyre test
evo tyre test 2026
Features

Best car tyres 2026 – evo tyre test

What are the best road tyres for your hot hatch? We tested and ranked nine of them
18 Oct 2026
No, you can’t drive the ‘flying’ Tesla Roadster on the road, or buy one…
2028 Tesla Roadster
News

No, you can’t drive the ‘flying’ Tesla Roadster on the road, or buy one…

The demo for the revived Tesla Roadster was certainly awe inspiring, but don’t start planning your flight routes to work just yet
16 Oct 2026
New Mercedes-AMG GT SUV is a 1153bhp alternative to the Porsche Cayenne Electric
Mercedes-AMG GT SUV
News

New Mercedes-AMG GT SUV is a 1153bhp alternative to the Porsche Cayenne Electric

Joining the AMG GT 4-door electric is a new SUV, with a tri-motor set-up, over 1100bhp and hypercar performance. The question is: will it sell?
17 Oct 2026