2026 BMW i3: New-generation electric saloon ushers in the next BMW 3 Series
The next generation of BMW's executive car will offer up to 500 miles of electric range – but there'll be traditional petrol power too...
On sale 2026 | Price from £50,000 (est)
The BMW i3 is back, but not as we know it. While the original i3 launched back in 2013 was a futuristic-looking hatchback with a relatively short electric range and dinky proportions, this new model couldn’t be more different.
A low-slung saloon counterpart to BMW’s latest iX3 electric SUV (our reigning Car of the Year), it will usher in the eighth generation of the BMW 3 Series – which has long been one of our favourite executive cars.
The i3 looks radically different from the outgoing 3 Series (a model that isn’t available in fully electric form), with more angular lines and a wider, flatter version of the iX3’s split front grille, integrated with the headlights. It’s 50mm longer than today’s 3 Series and its roof is less sloping; the result is likely to be improved head and leg room, especially in the rear seats.
The i3 sits on the same underpinnings (with an 800-volt electrical system) as the iX3 and shares its sibling’s gigantic battery, which has a usable capacity of 108.7kWh. In the initial 50 xDrive version, it powers two electric motors that pump out a combined 463bhp.
As with the iX3, the four-wheel-drive 50 xDrive will be the only version available at launch, with cheaper options and a hot electric M3 performance car to follow.
While the iX3 can officially cover up to 500 miles on a full charge, the slipperier i3 stretches that figure to a whopping 559 miles – the longest range of any production electric vehicle (EV). For comparison, the rival Mercedes CLA and Tesla Model 3 can officially manage up to 483 miles and 466 miles respectively.
When a fill-up is required, the new i3 won’t keep you waiting for long. A maximum charging rate of 400kW puts the i3 among the fastest-charging EVs on sale and means a 10-80% top-up could take as little as 21 minutes, assuming you can find a powerful enough public charger.
At the core of the new i3 is what BMW calls the ‘Heart of Joy’ – an internal computer that controls the way power is delivered and some steering functions. This is designed to improve responses, optimise agility and bring deeper levels of customisation. In a nutshell, its aim is to make the i3 even more enjoyable to drive than the outgoing 3 Series.
Adaptive suspension will be available as an option on the 50 xDrive and any other four-wheel-drive variants, to allow the driver to further adjust the car’s ride and handling balance to suit the circumstances.
Inside, the i3 bears a striking resemblance to the iX3, which is mostly very impressive. The instrument panel takes the form of a shallow strip that runs the full width of the dashboard, just below the base of the windscreen and close to the driver’s line of sight. The digital instruments are projected onto this strip, which can be customised to display whatever information you find most important. A head-up display (which projects key information onto the windscreen itself) will be optional.
As in the iX3, there’s a distinct absence of physical buttons. There are touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel, but most functions are accessed via a huge, 17.9in trapezoidal infotainment touchscreen or voice commands. We found the screen to be crisp and responsive to inputs, with good-sized icons and reasonably intuitive menus.
Full specifications have yet to be revealed, but among the new i3’s standard features will be 21in wheels and keyless entry, with optional M Sport and M Sport Pro trims adding more equipment.
The i3 will be followed by a reworked version of the combustion-engined 3 Series. That car will share the i3’s looks and some of its technology, but will sit on the old car’s underpinnings. The line-up is likely to include an upgraded version of today’s 330e plug-in hybrid. New Touring estate versions of both the i3 and 3 Series will follow.
The new i3 is expected to be priced from around £50,000, making it slightly more expensive than the CLA 250+ and similar to the Model 3 Long Range AWD.
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