BMW i3 used cars for sale

The BMW i3 is only available as a five-door hatchback, which sounds fairly conventional until you realise the rear doors hinge from the back – like on a Rolls Royce – giving you unhindered access to the back seats.

BMW launched the i3 in 2014 and, as the design was so fresh then, little visually has changed since. Under the skin though, the i3’s battery range has steadily improved and newer models get a smarter interior with improved infotainment. The sporty i3s model launched in 2018, while the range-extender (REX) model with a small petrol engine as a backup was dropped a year later. The i3 went off sale entirely in 2022, but don’t fear if you want an electric BMW – the i4, iX1 and iX3 are all set to be in Motorpoint showrooms soon.

Here’s a fun fact for trivia fans. The BMW i3 is the shortest BMW since 1991’s Z1, and must be one of the smallest cars in the German brand’s history. It’s barely over four metres long, but it feels like a much bigger car inside. You feel like you’ve got plenty of space, because the dashboard is so open and the seats are wafer-thin. Models with light-coloured upholstery manage to feel that bit more spacious than ones with darker interiors.

The i3’s 260-litre boot is decent enough and easy to load, although there’s nowhere you can neatly store the car’s charge cables. It’s a strict four-seater, too, but both rear seats have Isofix child-seat mounting points.

The range-extender i3 was the only version to have an engine, and then it was only used to charge the battery. More recent i3 models are electric-only, giving silent and nippy driving. There are two to pick: the standard model and the more powerful i3 S.

You can charge a BMW i3 using a Type 2 connector – that’s a slower type of connector used at home wallboxes, workplaces and some public locations – which typically charges at around 7kW. That’ll add around 30 miles of range per hour, and a full charge will take around six hours. At home, a three-pin plug socket can be used to charge up the i3, but this takes considerably longer.

The i3 has a CCS connector for out and about, and a 49kW charging capability. Plug into a suitable fast-charger and you’ll be able to top up from 20-80% charge in 40 minutes.

Read our guide to charging your EV at home for more information.

The BMW i3 sits in groups 28 and 29 out of 50, so you will have to factor insurance into your running cost calculations. Its rating is largely due to the possibility of expensive repair bills in the event of a claim. Still, it’ll cost a similar amount in insurance to other BMWs, while many other electric cars sit in a similar bracket.

Maintenance is one area that electric cars present savings versus petrol and diesel cars. The i3 has a two-year/18,000-mile service interval – most fuel-powered cars have to be serviced every year. BMW offers a service plan for the i3, which is cheaper than any of the brand’s petrol cars.