2020 BMW i3 Review





2020 BMW i3 Review
What's new
- Edition RoadStyle offers unique exterior and interior styling details
- No other significant changes
- Part of the first i3 generation introduced for 2014
2020 BMW i3 EV Insights
Estimated Range Based on Age
Charging

EV Battery Warranty
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
- Restrictions:
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Replace Your Ride program offers income qualified residents a standard grant of $10,000, or a total of $12,000 (for residency in a disadvantaged community census tract). Offer is for scrapping a qualifying model year 2010 or older vehicle and replacing it with the purchase of a battery electric vehicle. Residents under the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD cannot participate in the Clean Cars 4 All program offered through the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP). To qualify:
- Income eligible applicant must currently reside within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD.
- Application approval and authorization letter required prior to purchase of a 2018 or newer vehicle with less than 100,000 miles (but not to exceed the scrapped vehicle mileage) from an authorized participating dealer.
- Max vehicle price: $65,000.
- Scrapped vehicle must be owned and operated by applicant in CA for the past 24 months.
- Limited to one incentive per person per IRS household for the lifetime of the program. Previous participation in other CARB funded programs may affect eligibility.
Additional information:
- For the $10,000, applicant must have an income at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Level as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- For the $12,000, must also reside in a disadvantaged community census tract.
- Participants may receive up to $2,000 for the installation of a Level 2 charger.
- Participants who do not want to replace their old vehicles may obtain a $7,500 credit to be used towards car-sharing options like Zipcar, Turo, or vRide, the purchase of an e-Bike, or a discounted public transit pass.
To learn more, visit SCAQMD Replace Your Ride
- Restrictions:
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) through the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) offers two pathways for applicants: the Clean Cars 4 All route or Financial Assistance route. The path outlined here is for the Financial Assistance, offering a standard down payment assistance grant of $7,500 towards the purchase or lease of an 8 year old or newer battery electric vehicle. Scrapping and replacing a vehicle is not required. Check with your local Air District for any available programs that may take precedence over the DCAP programs. To qualify:
- Income eligible applicant must be a California resident.
- Application approval required prior to purchasing or leasing from an authorized participating dealership.
- Maximum purchase price of replacement vehicle not to exceed $45,000.
- Previous participation in other CARB funded programs may affect eligibility.
Additional information:
- For the $7,500, must have an income at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Level as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Participants may qualify for an additional charging grant, choosing between $2,000 for the purchase and install of Level 2 home charging equipment or $2,000 for a public charging card.
- Fair financing may be available, capped at $45,000 with an interest rate no more than 8%.
To learn more, visit Driving Clean Assistance Program
- Restrictions:
Southern California Edison offers EV owners a rebate of up to $4000 towards the purchase or lease of a qualified used electric vehicle.
To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or vehicle must meet the following requirements:
- Receive electricity from Southern California Edison.
- Have purchased or leased an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Additional Information:
- Income-qualified applicants may instead receive $4,000 based on their household level of income for the purchase or lease of a pre-owned EV.
To learn more, visit https://evrebates.sce.com/
- Restrictions:
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. Not every version of the vehicle models will necessarily qualify. Please check with the dealer/seller to determine the eligibility of your specific vehicle.
For the vehicle to qualify:
- Price cannot exceed $25,000.
- Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
- Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
- Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
- Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
- Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
- Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
- Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
To learn more, visit https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/used-clean-vehicle-credit
- Restrictions:
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) through the Residential EV Charging Incentive program offers income qualified residents a rebate of up to $500 towards the cost of purchasing an eligible Level 2 (240V) charger. Covers up to $500 or the amount paid for the charger, whichever is lower. To qualify:
- Income eligible applicant must currently reside within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD.
- Participant must show proof of income eligibility by either showing participation in CARE or FERA utility assistance rates or having a current CalWORKS or TANF membership.
- Must be an eligible new Level 2 charger that is wall-mounted, hard-wired and permanently installed by a licensed electrician for use for a minimum of three years.
- Limit of one rebate per individual, household, address, and/or vehicle (VIN).
To learn more, visit SCAQMD Residential EV Charging Incentive
- Restrictions: Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Edmunds visitors receive a $100 discount when they contract with Treehouse for their home charger installation. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.
To learn more, visit https://treehouse.pro/edmundsdiscount/
Cost to Drive
Am I Ready for an EV?
- EV ownership works best if you can charge at home (240V outlet) This typically means a 240V home installation, or other places your car is parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice.
- Adding a home charging system is estimated to cost $1,616 in This is an estimate for your area. Using your address and the answers you provide, Treehouse can provide a more accurate price.
- Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Learn more Edmunds customers receive a 10% installation discount and 4% smart charger discount. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the BMW i3 from 2008-2022.for Average Luxury Compact Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).for Average Luxury Compact Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).for Average Luxury Compact Car
BMW i3 Reviews
Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Amazing in so many ways
5 out of 5 starsLove our i3 REX's
5 out of 5 starsGreat car - only one of its kind!
4 out of 5 starsLove the quiet
5 out of 5 stars2020 i3 Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $44,450 |
---|---|
EV Tax Credits & Rebates | $26,100 |
Engine Type | Electric |
EPA Electric Range | 153 miles |
Cost to Drive | $112/month |
Total Charging Time (240V) | 7.0 hours |
Seating | 4 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 15.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
EV Battery Warranty | 8 years / 100,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the i3 models:
- Active Driving Assistant
- Reduces the likelihood and severity of a front collision by issuing a warning before intervening with automatic emergency braking.
- Active Cruise Control With Stop & Go
- Manages the gap to the car ahead, even down to a standstill in routine stop-and-go traffic; alerts you in sudden slowdown situations.
- Tire Pressure Monitor
- Warns you of insufficient tire pressure well before a slow leak can lead to a blowout.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintAcceptable
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