2017 BMW i3 94Ah BEV new car review

1. What is it?

BMW's first upgrade for its electric city car (BEV stands for Battery Electric Vehicle). The 94Ah in the name refers to its new battery package, which trumps the 60Ah in the original i3 (which is still on sale for $2000 less).

The German giant has responded to slow sales of the car around the world (only 92 of them found new homes in Australia in 2016) by extending the range from a real-world 160km to approximately 200km.

The rest of the car is unchanged, with the new batteries packaged in the same space within the aluminium and carbon fibre reinforced plastic chassis.

2. How much does it cost and what do you get?

The i3 94Ah starts at $65,900, which isn't cheap for what is effectively a small, four-seat car. BMW only offers the i3 in one trim level that includes 19-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, heated seats, navigation, DAB+ digital radio, four-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, cruise control, ConnectedDrive Services and, of course, a charging cable.

3. What's under the bonnet?

Technically speaking what's under the 'bonnet' is a small storage area that is home to the charging cable. The electric motor sits underneath the rear seats and boot, sending its power to the rear wheels.

The redesigned lithium-ion battery package now has a gross energy output of 33kWh compared to 22kWh for the previous specification.

BMW claims this improves the range to 200km in the real world, up from 160km in the cheaper i3.

If that's not enough, BMW is also offering the i3 94Ah with the range extender petrol engine, that increases total range to 390km through the addition of a 660cc two-cylinder engine from a scooter that acts as a generator while on the move.

During our time in the car we didn't get to fully test BMW's claim of 200km overall range but it did exceed expectations - using just 30km of battery charge for 49km of driving.

Charging can still be done via either the included charging cable or an optional in-garage i Wallbox. The latter cuts charging time by 50 per cent, but still requires six hours to charge to 80 per cent capacity from empty.

As for performance, it is impressive for something so eco-friendly. With 250Nm of torque available immediately, the i3 is a rapid small car with plenty of punch off the mark and on the move.

4. What's it like to drive?

Like any electric car, the i3 requires a different style of driving compared to a traditional car. That's largely due to the regenerative brakes that begin working as soon as you lift off the accelerator.

So instead of coasting once you lift off the go pedal the car immediately begins to slow down significantly. So much so you can bring the car to a complete stop without touching the brake pedal. But it doesn't take long to adjust the way you drive and enjoy the benefits of the electric powertrain.

The tall body and elevated seating position gives the i3 a feeling more like an SUV than a typical small hatch, and the visibility is good out of the large windscreen (although there is often an annoying reflection from the matted dashboard onto the 'screen).

But if you're expecting the i3 to live up to BMW's reputation of building the 'ultimate driving machine' you'll be disappointed. The tall body and skinny tyres means the i3 is limited for grip when cornering.

5. What's it like inside?

Unlike anything else in the BMW range. Instead of going for the cookie cutter cabin design you find in everything from the 1-Series to X5, BMW's designers were given more freedom for the i3's styling.

The result is a love-it-or-hate-it cabin with modern technology (a small, tablet-style dashboard and iDrive) with unusual materials (Eucalyptus wood, woollen cloth and natural leather) in a non-conventional layout.

Personally, I think it looks fresh and different, in keeping with what BMW has tried to do with the entire i3 concept.

Space is good in all four seats, although taller adults will feel a bit tight on headroom in the back.

The unique suicide doors, which require you to open the front door in order to access the rear, look funky but can be annoying if you're travelling with kids and no adult front seat passenger - because the front door can only be closed from the front or outside.

6. Is it safe?

There are six airbags and the usual stability control to protect the occupants. In addition to that you get forward collision warning and active cruise control, but autonomous emergency braking is not included.

For pedestrians there is an audible warning you can switch on via the iDrive system, emitting a sound below 30km/h so the otherwise whisper quiet electric machine doesn't sneak up and surprise them.

7. Would I buy it?

The new battery improves the range of the i3 BEV but the appeal of the car remains limited. If you really value going electric, having a garage that you can install a wallbox and don't plan on doing many trips over 200km then the i3 is a good city runabout. Its styling certainly stands out and makes a bold statement. But it remains an expensive small car which is likely playing a large role in turning off buyers.

8. What else should I consider?

If you must go strictly electric your choices are limited to either side of the i3. The Nissan Leaf is more conventional looking and doesn't have the range but it costs just $39,990 while the Tesla Model S or Model X offer more range and practicality, but both cost more than $100k.

If you're happy to look at a plug-in hybrid or range extender equipped car then the Audi A3 e-Tron is the most obvious rival. Priced from $62,490 (plus on-roads) the Audi hatch goes the opposite way to the i3, with minimal styling changes, an electric motor with a 50km range and a petrol engine for back-up power generation, for a more conservative take on environmentally-friendly motoring.

2017 BMW i3 BEV 94Ah pricing and specifications

Price: From $65,900 plus on-road costs

Engine: Electric motor

Power: 125kW

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use: 0.0L/100km