For 5 decades, the BMW 3 Series has been a saloon-car benchmark for car makers. Now there's a fully electric version, and BMW is gunning to be the new benchmark for EV saloons too.
The New Electric 3 Series BMW
The 2026 BMW i3 is without a doubt one of BMW's most significant cars in the last 20 years. The new i3 isn't the brand's first EV, nor is it the first time we've seen electrification on a 3 Series platform, but in terms of a fully electric 3 Series (a format that's been a staple for BMW since 1975), this is the brand's first proper go at it.
The i3, while sharing many visual similarities with its (also recently updated) petrol variants, is built on a completely unique platform from the new petrol version. Both models display BMW's latest iteration of Neue Klasse (new class) design, which we saw first on the iX3 that was launched earlier in the year. Design, as ever, is subjective, and whilst I wasn't too sure about the styling of the new iX3, I think the Neue Klasse design on the 3 Series saloon is a match made in heaven. The new grille and lighting design elongate the model's width, and purposeful bulges on either side of the BMW roundel give the car a new aggressive stance.
New BMW i3: The Headlines
As you might expect, the headlines for the new i3 are significant, and so they should be. BMW has invested over €2 billion in developing the model, with updated battery tech, new interior and exterior designs, new in-car software, and driver-assist technology that should have the likes of Tesla very concerned.
Range: 566 Miles on a Single Charge
The headline on electric range is probably the one that will grab most buyers' attention. In launch spec, the i3 is launched as a '50 xDrive'. As standard, the car includes a list of great luxuries including multifunctional heated seating, wireless phone charging, BMW's new Panoramic View Screen and the latest in stylish ambient lighting. But it's the overall EV range that casts a shadow over all the other luxuries. On the i3 50 xDrive, BMW's WLTP-certified range reaches 566 miles on a single charge.
As is the norm, testing is done in a best-case-scenario environment, but even after discounting the typical 10-20% in real-world daily use, a reliable 500+ miles on a single charge should appease most drivers.
Rapid charge: 260+ miles in just 10 minutes
The i3 50 xDrive comes with 800-volt DC rapid charging capability, making it ideal for those who need a big range boost in a short time. If you can find a 400 kW rapid charger (and assuming you're happy to pay for the privilege), you can add up to 263 miles of range in as little as ten minutes.
New Interior design and layout
The i3 is a completely new car for 2026 with the new BMW chassis code: 'NA0', and while the exterior has a new design language, the interior has a completely new look, too. The i3, like the iX3 SUV version, has BMW's new Panoramic Vision screen, which replaces the usual instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel with a long head-up display that stretches across the entire windscreen and dashboard. The Panoramic Vision screen layout is customisable via the large central touchscreen that handles infotainment, navigation, and settings adjustments. The central screen is also angled 3 degrees toward the driver to give a more driver-focused feel.
Elsewhere, the interior is fairly minimalist, with very few physical buttons; however, the screen is intuitive, with the option to set up quick and easy shortcuts for preferences. Alternatively, commands for everything from climate control adjustments to navigation requests can be made by speaking to the car with voice prompts thanks to Alexa Plus, which is now built into the model.
Comfort and space
The new i3 has new seating, with the option to add extra comfort features such as massage, ventilation, and heating, and it even has a new futuristic steering wheel that looks unique and provides excellent ergonomic comfort.
The rear seating offers plenty of space for taller adults in both headroom and legroom, and with the optional panoramic glass roof (£1,275), the car feels bright, spacious, and airy in all seats.
Here's the best bit: It Drives Like a 3 Series Should
The positive headlines about design, tech convenience, and luxuries are great, but they would be pointless if the new i3 didn't do what it really needs to: drive like a 3 Series.
And that's good news, too, as the new i3 might have just set a new bar for an EV driver's car. Tesla has been at it for a few years with the Model 3 and Model 3 Performance, and even the new kids on the block like BYD have made a decent product with the BYD Seal, but neither has 5 decades of refinement and engineering prowess as BMW does, and it shows.
The i3 50 xDrive model I tested was on what BMW call 'passive suspension' - that's non-adjustable springs to you and me. On the sportier M and M Sport variants, drivers can tweak the feel of the suspension and chassis through settings screens, but for launch, the non-adjustable chassis comes as standard.
The good old-fashioned springs add a familiar feel to the car's compliance over undulations and during faster cornering. The unique finish to our British roads can make the car feel a little stiff and oversprung at slower speeds, but once up and over 30mph, it settles nicely. At 40- 60 mph on faster country lanes and A roads, the ride is lovely, and I didn't feel any desire for a softer or stiffer ride, so hats off to the driving dynamics team.
Power: 443hp and 580Nm of Torque
An area where BMW has been especially clever with the i3 50 xDrive is the power delivery. The new model is xDrive (All Wheel Drive), which immediately does wonders for traction. In the '50 xDrive' trim, power output is 443hp and peak torque is 580Nm. These figures are more than enough for daily driving duties and offer the perfect balance of performance and usable power. Other power variants of the i3 will follow, including 3 lesser-powered versions: a 211hp '320' trim, a 369hp '40 xDrive' trim, and a 443hp 'M350 xDrive' trim. A more powerful 'M60 xDrive' trim is also on the way, although final figures are yet to be announced.
The power feels sensible. Many new EVs prioritise power delivery that feels immediately punchy, which is rarely what you want on the road. At 443hp, the i3 50 xDrive is anything but slow, but at the same time feels rarely overwhelming. The steering feels pinsharp, and the brakes are also reassuringly BMW-esque, which gives the i3 50 xDrive a feel of quality, performance and even a touch of luxury - and this is an achievement that many other EV makers attempt to create but rarely deliver on so unanimously.
New Tech: Motorway Assist
Typically, a new EV like the i3 50 xDrive comes with a lot of new tech. Most of it has been refined and improved after many years of being already brilliant, while some is new for this new era of models. The most exciting new driver-assist feature is motorway assist, which, when enabled, lets drivers drive completely hands-free on motorways. The system (a £925 optional extra) works much like assisted cruise control but lets the driver sit without touching the steering wheel. The motorway assist feature even navigates lane changes without driver input by detecting when adjacent lanes are clear. As the driver, you look to your wing mirror; the car assesses if it's safe to manoeuvre, and then it seamlessly indicates, moves and positions itself in the required lane, all without any input.
Parking Assistant Pro (a £775 optional extra) is another feature that works especially well on the i3. In car parks or on streets with parallel spaces, the i3 can detect and manoeuvre into parking spaces automatically.
Worth the Extra Money Over a Tesla Model 3?
The i3 xDrive 50, as tested, retails from £53,425 before options, making it a £10,000 step up in price from the equivalent Tesla Model 3 it's targeting, but the good news for BMW is that it's very much a case of 'you get what you pay for' - plus 100 miles more range too.
The overall quality, comfort, and driving experience of the BMW noticeably exceed those of the equivalent Tesla, and while some won't care, many more will.
Conclusion
For many buyers since 1975, a 3 Series BMW has represented so much more than just another means of transport. The 3 Series has represented success and a sports-car heritage which owners have been proud of.
The i3 takes up that baton brilliantly, with the perks of the huge EV range and standard luxuries; the i3 xDrive 50 is likely to do incredibly well in the market. The i3 is now the benchmark electric saloon.
Words by John Marcar
Photography by Henry Faulkner-Smith
