BMW i3 vs MINI Electric: Which is best?

Superb review. Take my money BMW. i3 shall be mine.

i3 tires are very expensive, check it out.

I3 is far superior to me, I bought mine in nov 2013 and wont turn it in for the coming years .. The load capacity of the car is sublime it fits a whole big bag with garden cuttings drfiving bto the environmental park easy unloading by ust pulling it out to! With the wide doors and rear boot It serves as a practical workhorse for me maintaining my centuries old farmhouse and garden.

145 miles? That's not what all the other reviews say LMAO

So much BMW could have done with the i3s such as a wider tyre option or Tesla style over the air updates for acceleration/range. Still a good car though.

Little disappointed that BMW didn't create a RHD version of the centre button cluster, Seems weird that the volume and fan controls are so far away from the driver. Must be more or less impossible to read those small arrows showing what heater flaps are in use in a RHD car...

I want to like the i3, i really do. But it's ugly as sin, and the wheels are far too thin. Gotta be the mini for sheer fun.

One thing that turned me oof with the i3 when I first saw it were the bicycle tires it has, but it drives a whole lot better than what you’d expect with the wagon wheels. If anything, I think the claims of the really thin tires making it more resistant to hydroplaning could be true.

Pretty much agree with most of this from my experience with my i3. Calm drive most of the time when you're used to the steering (and the slightly weird indicators). Smooth and quiet.

You mentioned, but maybe underplayed what I perceive as the shortcomings - the awkward rear access, especially for older people and the sometimes skittish cornering. This is particularly an issue on wet roads when it understeers given the chance. The other problem is the poor drag coefficient which leads to poor motorway range.

It is a shame they've discontinued it. I'm guessing it would be down to production costs plus that the issues above are really hard to fix without returning to the drawing board. The S was a fair attempt at fixing the road holding, but it made for an even stiffer ride and worsened the motorway range. For my money, though, it was ultimately the rear access that did for it.

It is all in the eyes of the beholder. Here is my take on it:

I have had my “Litl’ Blue” 2017 BMW i3 BEV 33Kw 94Ah since 01/25/2021. I bought it in Florida, in showroom condition with 24k on the odometer. I’m 75 now, and drive it about 30-100 miles a month in Comfort mode with a stomped accelerator, wide open moon roof, and a big grin, mostly just to pick up online ordered groceries and to visit the VA clinic.

I use a 240V, 16A (3.84Kw) Level 2 charger in my carport routed inside my house as an ALTERNATE device to my dryer outlet and usually charge once a month. I gain 13.5 miles per hour of charging up to 124 to 137 miles. From home my electric cost is $0.031 per Mile which at an average gas price of $4.00 per gallon equates to 129 MPG. I’m a very happy i3 owner to say the very least, totally free of ICE maintenance, and I gladly splurge to pay a helper $15.00 a month from my Social Security cash to wash, vac and dry it.

If there is a more perfect EV out there, I simply don’t want it! I don’t need more range, acceleration, styling, features, reliability, comfort, handling, or value. Litl’ Blue is obviously my Forever Car. Paid $16,500 but was offered $22,400 by Edmunds/CarMax 4 months ago which tickled my worn out ego. 36% appreciation on a used car in just over a year is certainly a first ever for me even on my ‘69 427ci/435hp Vette back in 1975. You may name yours too as you would any other loved pet. 🚙

Both cars look extremely well made and stylish. I prefer the mini interior to that of the BMW i3.

As a 2021 Mini Cooper SE owner… And with a family of four… To being a one year old and four year old… I just have to laugh whenever I hear it’s not a family car… You just need to be creative. I found a rooftop box is a great way to extend luggage capacity while keeping a stroller and diaper bag in the back for a quick grab on the road

Troubling BMW did not continue developing the i3 and even produce a new updated model, given what we know now about the future of EV’s. Very odd?

Great video. I’ve got an i3 as my first ev, I’ve had it for a month I’m really enjoying driving it! So quick off the mark so much easier to handle and park than the 3 series gt I had before. And space wise I’ve lost a LOT compared to the GT but there’s plenty of space in the car for my family (2 adults and a toddler) still feels nice and airy

Great music!

solid review, led to to a convinced buy

I got my i3 120 and really enjoying it 👍🏻

Yeah great review will be replacing my 2014 i3 with a newer version in 2 years.

The mini is just too mini for normal overweight people.

I want to buy a BMW I3 even though it's being discontinued. Will it continue to be available after production stops in July 2022? Will support and service be a challenge? Will spare parts be impossible to find?

I’ve been driving an i3 since 2014 and I’m still impressed with this car. Handling, construction and efficiency, especially with Pretoria prices being higher in the U.S..I doubt there with ever be another car constructed like the i3. The BMW plant in Leipzig is another construction marvel powered by renewables. Excellent review of these two cars!

BMW i3💖❤️

Owned i3 for a week and really love it. Even here in Finland it is -20 celsius pure winter, that little car feels unbeatable. Fun to drive, great performance and awesome look. Total fun-machine

The i3 gets forgotten too often by auto journalists. I still think the i3 is a very modern choice, it still looks cutting edge on the outside, and for front occupants, the interior is fabulous and spacious. The construction from aluminium, CFRP and plastic panels make for a car that will last and is light weight. However BMW has forgotten to keep it evolving, perhaps thinking it is end of life, which is silly, because it still has wow factor. The i3 needs improved DC charging, 55kWh traction battery and some improvements to ride quality and cabin noise. I own a 2019 120Ah BEV i3, as a daily commuter this is a fantastic car, pre-conditioning makes frosty mornings a delight, sooo cheap to run, joyous place to be with that huge windscreen.

Just came across this - hadn't seen it before. Great summary of both and I agree with most of the points. I came from an ICE mini cooper to a BMW i3S - rex, and absolutely love the car. As you say the i3 still feels modern and sort of like a concept car even nearly 10 years on from design which is pretty incredible really. I love it so much I just ordered a new i3S. The S version does give the i3 the same power as the mini (and it's a bit faster due to the weight) and more stability so it is a bit better drive. I will have a mini again in the future I'm absolutely sure but I'm taking my (probably last) chance to get a new i3S before they disappear for good - which will be a very sad day.

It's a nice mini... they ruined the green though :(

Pricing in the UK really confuses me sometimes. Here in the States, the Mini (starts at $29k and tops out at $38k) is so much cheaper than the i3 (which starts at $45k!) whereas it seems in the UK the opposite is true. Fully loaded, a Mini SE is still many thousands cheaper than a bare bones i3.

How do these two cars compete with Tesla and BYD.

Nice review but missed the Mini achilles heel. The satnav and GOM are very inaccurate and misleading. I3 could do with better charging rate in 2021 its a bit slow and shame they have stopped making it :(

yes the i3 suspension and road noise is a pain .... i brought it for price and the rex , why would you buy one of these without the rex is a mystery to me ....but i have been spoilt i had a tesla model 3 for 2 years which is so so superior in every time i get in the bmw it makes me sad....

I’d like to review your review: Very good.

i3 wheels are so biscuity, motorbike wheels

I’d love to get an i3, but would need a bigger range of say a realistic 200 miles and even better if it was a twin motor and all wheel drive
Then I could have it as my only car
Hopefully next facelift as there’s no point remaking it as it still looks unique and futuristic

Drove the mini and it drives even better than an ice version, possibly because of the instant power and lower cg from the battery weight , but well less than 100 miles in the real world D’oh !!!

Your review was examplary!🏆 Well done 👍 Ps. I need an I3S to compliment my Mini GP2.

Neither of them is "the best small, premium EV."

Mini 8s not a premium car

how do I get an I3 and lose 70% of the purchase price in 2 years? Yes, please!

Love Vicky’s reviews which are always clear and to the point!

Great reviewer. I will be following your reviews. Great work

To be fair, in 2013 not many of us would think the i3 would be one day compared to a mini.
Both great little cars.

Have been shopping recently for a newer EV to replace my '16 i3. I think I'll just get a newer i3. Great review! 👍

Also, rear windows don't open so claustrophobia will be popular. Also, both these autos have the second highest depreciation in the U.S.

trivia the i3's electric drivetrain is not BMW's own work but came from a British engineering firm.

They are both several 10k too expensive in comparison to Model 3. The reason you should buy a top spec'ed i3s for 50k+ is just for the future classic it's going to be bc discontinued for ugly i4

I was not fond of the i3 looks when it came out, but now I love it. Thanks for the great review and comparison.

A small expensive BMW EV or a small expensive BMW EV? I would probably choose a Kia.

the i3 was a car full of potential - then they made it slow

Ordered the SE. Maybe the next one would be an i3

Unfortunately, the i3 is hideous looking. It’s one of the ugliest cars ever made.

Both awful!