BMW i3 vs rivals: electric car triple test

Car manufacturers have had a tough time trying to convince buyers to ditch the internal combustion engine in favour of the electric motor, but that hasn’t stopped BMW from jumping on the EV bandwagon.

It’s just launched the battery-powered BMW i3 city car which, sizewise, slots into the line-up below the 1 Series. However, BMW knows the pure electric car fits a very specific brief – namely short trips with easy access to charging facilities.

So it also offers the i3 Range Extender (REx), which adds a two-cylinder petrol engine and provides scope for longer journeys. To find out if the newcomer is the breakthrough electric cars need, we’ve lined it up against a pair of established range-extender rivals.

• BMW i3 review

• Vauxhall Ampera review

• Toyota Prius Plug-in review

The Vauxhall Ampera follows the same idea as the i3 REx, with petrol power generating energy for an electric motor, while the Toyota Prius Plug-in uses a beefed-up version of the standard car’s hybrid.

So does the BMW raise the bar for electric cars? Or is it still too much of a compromise to be a true alternative to a conventional car? We drove all three models on a varied test route to find out.

Head-to-head

Range comparison

When fully charged, the i3 has an 88-mile electric range. In comparison, the Ampera can go 30 miles, and the Prius around 10 miles.

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The BMW and Vauxhall will hold battery charge if your journey consists of motorway miles followed by city driving, although the i3’s longer electric range means you’re more likely to do the whole journey in EV mode. Add petrol ranges, and the cars’ figures rise to 160, 357 and 505 miles respectively.

Dimensions

It's not until you park next to the Ampera that you can see how large the BMW really is. It’s five inches taller and nearly as wide, while the high ground clearance and skinny tyres are in stark contrast to the low-slung, speed hump-scraping Vauxhall.

Infrastructure

The biggest problem with these cars is that the electric charging stations required to maximise their battery range are so rare.

Our trip from London to Coventry via Silverstone relied on petrol power, and the charging points we did come across required you to sign up to a local charging scheme – not ideal if you’re on a cross-country trip.

Plus, the different fast-charging leads supplied with these cars won’t necessarily be compatible with the charging points on offer.

Verdict

1st place: BMW i3 Range Extender

The i3 is the best electric car on sale. It’s beautifully built with lots of advanced touches, it’s roomy, drives reasonably well and has a decent range. But this REx model is no substitute for a conventional car. Think of the petrol engine as a safety net for when the batteries run out, and it makes a lot more sense.

2nd place: Vauxhall Ampera

If you want to jump into electric car ownership, but only want one car, then the Ampera is still the model to go for.

It performs well, has enough hi-tech touches to make it feel like you’re driving something special, and is a capable and comfortable cruiser for long journeys.

3rd place: Toyota Prius Plug-in

The Prius Plug-in is easily the best model in Toyota’s hybrid line-up, but that’s not saying much. Good points are that it recharges quickly and it’ll be reliable.

However, it trails its rivals here for interior quality, and its plug-in drivetrain isn’t as flexible or efficient as either competitor’s.

Figures