New BMW i3 Neue Klasse Review: First Test Drive, 912 km Range and 400 kW Charging
BMW i3 Neue Klasse first drive review: 50 xDrive vs 40 xDrive range, 21-minute 10–80% charging, Panoramic iDrive, performance, practicality and the one real flaw testers found.
The old BMW i3 was a quirky city car. The new BMW i3 Neue Klasse is effectively an electric 3 Series sedan, and UK channel Electrifying has given it one of the first test drives in i3 50 xDrive form. Here is what the review found, checked against BMW's official data.
BMW i3 range: up to 912 km WLTP
According to BMW, the i3 50 xDrive has a 108.7 kWh usable battery and up to 912 km (567 miles) WLTP. The cheaper i3 40 xDrive uses an 82.8 kWh pack for up to 710 km (441 miles) WLTP. That makes it one of the rare cars whose electric version outranges its petrol sibling.
BMW i3 charging speed: 400 kW and 21 minutes 10–80%
Both versions run on 800 V architecture. The 50 xDrive charges at up to 400 kW, the 40 xDrive at up to 300 kW, and both go from 10 to 80% in about 21 minutes. In ten minutes BMW quotes up to 423 km of added range for the 50 and 337 km for the 40.
BMW i3 performance and driving impressions
- i3 50 xDrive: 469 hp, 0–100 km/h in 4.7 s.
- i3 40 xDrive: 374 hp, 0–100 km/h in 5.4 s.
The tester praised the sharp steering in Sport mode, strong one-pedal driving in B mode and the clear head-up display. The test car lacked adaptive suspension, which she would wait for after feeling the difference in the iX3.
Interior and tech: Panoramic iDrive
The customizable Panoramic iDrive strip under the windscreen felt odd at first but proved non-distracting. The centre screen offers YouTube, Disney+ and AirConsole games that use your phone as a controller. Soft-touch materials, a panoramic roof, Harman Kardon audio and a magnetic phone charger also impressed; the oddly shaped steering wheel will divide opinion.
The one real flaw
The clearest downside is the frunk release, a fiddly lever under the steering column. The semi-flush door handles take getting used to, and ISOFIX is only on the rear bench. A 169 cm adult still has good rear knee room.
What it means for drivers
Range anxiety is largely gone: even the entry i3 40 xDrive promises over 700 km WLTP, and a 21-minute 10–80% stop makes long trips easy. In Germany, prices start at €59,900 for the i3 40 xDrive. Key rivals are the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and the electric Mercedes C-Class.
