2018 BMW i3
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2018 BMW i3 is sold in the U.S. with electric and plug-in hybrid power. The EPA lists 4 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 35 to 118 MPGe and an estimated annual fuel cost of $650 to $2,300 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Subcompact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Electric, Plug-in Hybrid |
| Combined economy | 35-118 MPGe |
| Best / worst combined | 118 / 35 MPGe |
| Annual fuel cost | $650-$2,300 |
| EPA range | 107-180 mi |
| 240V charge time | 5.0-5.0 h |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 29-29 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 7-10 / 10 |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2018 i3 costs about $650 to $2,300 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $1,475. Over five years that is about $7,375 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient i3 configuration saves about $8,250 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of subcompact cars in this dataset is about 27 MPGe. The i3 sits roughly 49 MPGe above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i3 (94Ah) | electric | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Electric | 118 MPGe | $650 |
| i3s (94Ah) | electric | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Electric | 112 MPGe | $650 |
| i3 (94Ah) with Range Extender | 0.6L 2-cyl | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Plug-in Hybrid | 35 MPGe | $2,300 |
| i3s (94Ah) with Range Extender | 0.6L 2-cyl | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Plug-in Hybrid | 35 MPGe | $2,300 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2018 i3 records tailpipe CO₂ of 29-29 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 7-10 out of 10, and an EPA electric range of 107 to 180 miles when running on battery. The EPA classifies it as subcompact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2018 i3 up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2018 BMW i3 overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.