BMW is now taking reservations in the U.S. for the i3 50 xDrive, the first fully electric 3 Series, and it wants a refundable $1,000 deposit before it has said what the car costs. Deliveries start in early 2027. Reservations opened on September 29, the same week BMW Group published the full lineup of the new 3 Series in Europe.
BMW’s U.S. site now estimates 446 to 468 miles of range for the i3 50 xDrive. The i3 is the second Neue Klasse model, after the iX3 SUV, and BMW started building it at its Munich plant in August.
The price is the one number BMW USA leaves off the page.
The i3 50 xDrive Pairs 463 HP With a 108.7-kWh Battery
The U.S. i3 50 xDrive uses two motors for all-wheel drive, making 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque, enough for 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Its 108.7-kWh battery uses cylindrical cells and an 800-volt system from BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive.
The range figures are BMW’s own. The BMW USA i3 page calls 446 to 468 miles a preliminary estimate from BMW tests run under EPA procedures, not an EPA-certified rating. It is up from the 440 miles BMW quoted when EVXL covered the i3’s reveal in March. Europe’s WLTP cycle is gentler and gives the same car up to 567 miles (912 kilometers).
Europe also gets a cheaper i3 40 xDrive with 275 kW (369 hp), an 82.8-kWh battery and up to 441 WLTP miles (710 kilometers). BMW USA lists only the i3 50 xDrive for now, and an M60 xDrive follows in 2027.
A 10-Minute Charge Adds Up to 208 Miles on a 400-kW Charger
The i3 accepts up to 400 kW at a DC fast charger. BMW USA says 10 minutes adds 191 to 208 miles, and a 10-to-80% charge takes 21 minutes. The car has a NACS port for Tesla Superchargers and comes with a CCS adapter.
The battery also works in reverse. BMW USA lists bidirectional charging that can back up a house during an outage or run electronics off the car.
Panoramic Vision Puts the Driver’s Information on the Windshield
Inside, BMW Panoramic Vision projects speed and range across the lower edge of the windshield, beside a 17.9-inch central display. A computer BMW calls the Heart of Joy runs the drivetrain and driving dynamics, processing data up to ten times faster than BMW’s previous systems, the company says.
Outside, the i3 keeps a long wheelbase and a wide stance. The front merges the kidney grille and headlights into one band of light that runs the width of the car, and the rear gets new horizontal taillights.
BMW’s Only U.S. Price Clue Is the $61,500 iX3
BMW USA’s reservation page says a deposit does not lock in a price, and BMW has not published an MSRP for the i3. The closest reference is its Neue Klasse sibling: the iX3 50 xDrive SUV starts at $61,500 plus $1,350 destination, with an EPA-estimated 434 miles of range.
The i3’s competition is already out in the open. Mercedes answered in April with a C-Class Electric rated at 482 hp and 473 WLTP miles, aimed squarely at this car.
EVXL’s Take
The i3 looks like a strong second chapter for the Neue Klasse. The number I’m waiting for is the EPA label, because range is the first thing most EV shoppers compare. BMW has already moved its U.S. estimate from 440 miles to as much as 468. Even the low end of that estimate would beat the iX3’s 434 miles.
Charging is not where this car will struggle. At 400 kW it accepts more power than a Tesla Model 3 can take at a Supercharger, and 21 minutes from 10 to 80% is a normal coffee stop.
The design is where I’m split. From the front and side, it has the aggressive look a 3 Series should have. The rear has too much going on: between the trunk shape, the bumper and taillights that kick up at the ends, I can’t tell where BMW wants me to look. I’m curious what the aftermarket does with it.
Sources: BMW USA, BMW Group PressClub, BMW Group PressClub USA
EVXL uses automated tools to support research and source retrieval. All reporting is by Damien Kesteloo, edited by Haye Kesteloo.
