This great Fully Charged video is still relevant - even after 3 years. Not perhaps for the Mini content (since we now have the pure Mini E available) - but still a good review for the i3/i3S. It’s now 2022, and the i3 ceases production in just 5 months after nearly 10 years and 250,000 cars - and yet, the i3 design and capabilities are still competitive. It’s a revelation when you actually drive an i3/i3S - well… it’s best to just do it - to see for yourself what the fuss is all about. It is certainly a “Marmite” car that divides opinion like no other. You either love it or hate it… but like most things, don’t knock it until you’ve really tried it. I’ve always been a complete petrolhead - having raced motorcycles for about 10 seasons and owned lots of very special ICE cars since the 1980’s. I NEVER EVER thought I’d be an early adopter of an electric car, but the i3 changed all that when I was loaned an i3S during a service of my BMW M5. I was impressed. Yes, really. Initially, soon afterwards we had a short term lease of a secondhand 94Ah i3 (no Rex) which demonstrated that electric power alone in the i3 was fast, fun to drive and in the real world actually a very nice place to be. It arrived as a “second” car, but strangely it soon appeared to become the car everyone took first… including me! I wouldn’t have thought that before we got one. Yes, range in a 94Ah was compromised to around 120 miles on a very good day, but you soon get used to the mindset of ABC (always be charging) and the feathering of the accelerator to give true one-pedal driving which boosts the range a fair bit. That instant torque, the rear wheel drive and spacious comfortable cabin won us all over - It truly is very, very addictive. After around 9 months, we upgraded to actually buying another low milage secondhand i3 with the 120Ah (42kWh) battery which we have now had for two years. Always pre-conditioned when possible, the real world range in the 120Ah version now varies from 110 miles on a very cold winters day driving on motorways (and having a heavy foot) to c.180 miles in the summer when having fun on B roads out in the countryside where we live. We do have the luxury of a 7.2kW charger at home and use mostly cheap rate early morning electricity from the grid, or solar PV (mostly spring to autumn) to charge. It’s very cheap to run that way, and easy. We have never had range anxiety despite it being a BEV, and even with a few quite regular 300+mile trips to visit elderly relatives. On range, it’s important to remember that generally, few people travel over the range of an i3 each day. Plug it in at night, and it’s full again (and also nicely warm/cool) by morning… It’s just so easy to live with. Any further than the indicated range - then we usually stop at about 25-30% left, have a coffee and a short rapid charge (say after 110 miles of driving). That will usually see you to your destination. It’s a very civilised way of travelling. (Note: Our favourite fast chargers are InstaVolt - because they just work. 35 minutes adds about 115 miles.) So after nearly 3 years of i3 ownership - we are convinced that the i3 was ahead of its time - and arguably it still is a game changer and a future classic. I’ve lived with the i3 now, and had the daily experience - good bits and bad bits. Having driven a lot of the new electric cars available (Mini E, Id.3, Kona, Leaf, e-Tron, iX3 and even a Tesla S to name a few) I find this hard to say - but I am still completely sold on the i3. A few cars give pause for thought - Seat Cupra Born as an example (a better looking ID3 really) but the i3 still wins for me. It’s hard to say why exactly, but although the range could be better (do you really need it?) I think the driving and ownership experience is still very hard to beat. Having heard the i3 was ceasing production earlier than the original 2024 date - it has forced this driver to evaluate now - exactly what I want for the next few years… That has led to an order for one of the last BMW i3S’s due for delivery later this year. The fossil fuelled cars have now all gone (apart from a vintage Land Rover Series IIA - in my family from new) and so the future is now doubly i3 based in this household. i3 good bits: Really good fun to drive Cheap to run Great cabin Versatile space for up to 4 people or 2+ lots of gear. Great infotainment Still has proper buttons Plastic panels, aluminium chassis and CFP tub means little to corrode That door arrangement works really well - except when side/side parking. i3 poor bits (seen in 2022) Less range than some rivals Slow AC charging - only 11kW DC charging limited to 50kW (though really fast chargers are rate at present anyway) “Sporty” ride - some don’t like it firm.. If always parking side to side - the doors can be a pain Some standard elements need “coding” to remove the annoyance factor. (Such as everything switches off when you get out to open or close a gate…)
I have driven an I3 since 2014. The car still makes me smile REALLY HARD every time I get into it. Such a beautiful mind blowing design, materials, engineering. Bravo BMW!
Idk I was some time in one and I really disliked the small display and the bad grey recycled plastic in the upper side of the front doors and where the interior meets the windshield.
I’ve had my BMW i3 for nearly a year and I love it more now than when I first bought it, once you have driven one it is hard to give it up. Every time I sit in the drivers seat it I feel like I’ve time travelled to the future. I’m so glad it’s been described in this video as a future classic car; I urge anyone who doubts this statement to experience an i3 for weekend test drive to see for themselves why it’s completely unique from driving anything else.
@Gabriel Cabana Us guys in the UK are still waiting a long time to even see a Model 3 :( Until then, the i3 is a fantastic car and one we can buy today.
@Gabriel Cabana I should hope so, it's taking long enough :) To be honest, I've driven a Model S and it's nice but way too big. I also don't need any more speed, the i3 offers plenty.
You nailed it Jonny! The i3 will be a design icon in years to come and like all good designs will be controversial to many and have their lovers and haters. Taste is a funny thing. Outside of the design, BMW delivered on truly the most eco-friendly build from the ground up with it's materials, production chain and well-to-wheel environmental standards. I now live in the US and the lease rates for i3's have been so great in recent years that I wish more people could experience the car. I'm 6'5 and it's one of the roomiest vehicles I've ever had for driving position. With a set of Nokians on the wheels its also a really fun drive in the winter. My wife hated the rear doors though. With our baby in a rear facing car seat it was quite the pain to get them in or out if you got boxed in a parking space.
BMW just anounced bigger battery packs for the i3 from november on. +30% capacity with 42kwh. Price and weight stays the same. Range is now about +30% around 300km+!
A pitty they do not seem to do a upgrade program :( ... well i was not keen on upgrading 50% capacity for almost 10000€ but i was really considering upgrading if the range doubled, which it now has but seems i'm out of luck :(. Can i order it as a repair part ;)?
Thats awesome... I dont really fancy an EV with less then 300 km of range as a primary car, as a secondary, the i3S in its current form would be plenty good enough. I see the i3's fairly often around where I live, probably because there is one or two owners here xD
I think the upgrade was in 2018... Nonetheless, they've improved upon a modern-day classic! The biggest compliment you can give this car is that; motoring journalists and reviews have run out of superlatives!
Our family rented the basic i3 1st generation for a month last year. WOW! Even my teenage son changed his mind about the design, from negative to positive. My wife fell in love (with the car) and I am still crying, since I had to deliver it back.
I sold my mini copper (petrol) for i3 because I was sick of waiting for the long promised mini electric (still waiting!). Anyone - I don't regret. Lovin it!
Been driving i3's since April of 2015, loved the concept, followed the concept through to production. Leased a REx, then purchased a CPO BEV, all options for $17,600; it boggles my mind how cheap the i3 can be had used. Best bang for the buck in my bias opinion. Yesterday BMW announced another battery bump and my understanding is it only weighs 4lbs more. If true, that is incredible!
The video confirms my impression of the i3s. What a great driving experience. I'll order one because the charging infrastructure is good enough for me now and the design has become cooler.
Johnny’s presentation style is brilliant. It is conversational and candid. Perfect for the channel. Also great infographics, they are great for product reviews, but it is a shame there weren’t any on the model 3 vid. Great video.
I think it's fair to say until you have driven a car like the i3 you'll struggle to get it. I had one for a day and fell for it within a mile of driving. You instantly engage with the car and it's engineering. So good in fact I have one coming as a company car in 3 weeks. Yes the design is "marmite" but once you drive and live with it, as I said, you get it.
I'm glad Smith calls out the Mini Clumpman's looks. I've driven a couple on holiday and always felt I should be wearing a blue pointy hat with a bell on #noddy
Thanks for the Video - i3s for me thanks - most likely with the REX. The reason why these two cars are so different is that they were not made by the same teams. The i3 was developed at the BMW headquarters in Munich by a separate 200 Employees department working solely on the i3. All the research that was made for the interior has also been taken to German universities on environmental design and engineering studies. The i3´s materials are more environmentally friendly than any other EV currently on the market - also the i3 is the most sold EV in Germany. I have only driven an i3 once and was hugely and positively surprised by its immediacy and acceleration from about 15-100 Km/h - As a city commuter, it is perfect. And I would also like to see the i8 as a pure EV - the design would be perfect for it.
My wife drives a Countryman PHEV and it's a great car. Looks excellent in British Racing Green with the white roof. A much better family car than the Golf GTE given that you can actually fit something in the boot. The kids love it, my wife loves it, I am happy to drive it. Plus, unlike the wondrous original Mini, it's not made of rust and we aren't the crumple zone, which is always a bonus. Still rather have it full EV, but I have my Ioniq for that.
Shane Rickwood they stopped writing it like that, it’s now stylised MINI and I reckon they did that just to reduce the absurdity of having a Mini larger than some old SUVs.
Agreed. People are being precious about the Mini's size. You can still get a three door Cooper which is relatively tiny. Hell, look at how the Nissan Leaf has blown out in size.
The MINI is a marmite car, I have one & I think it looks cute & chunky, I've never had a car that people actually walk up and tell me they like my car before, I assume there are an equal number of people who think it's awful but just aren't mentioning it. It works for me & I'm averaging over 300 MPG, though I have seen extremes of 706 MPG & 23.9 MPG. It's surprisingly quick too one magazine hit 60 in 5.8 which is quicker than the JCW though MINI will not tell you this.
The i3 looks to the future, the mini looks to the past. I love the engineering of the i3 - aluminium frame, CFRP tub with plastic body panels makes a light car that will not rust or suffer parking dents - the plastic just bounces back! For front passengers, the experience is spacious, with a large panoramic view through that windscreen. And the real treat is 'fuel' costs - I charge over night on cheap rate, I costs me £1.30 to do about 140 miles.
I am really excited by this channel - I like Robert and Jonny a lot and I love the focus of the channel. I recently went self employed and my other half would scalp me if i did it right now, but as soon as I can I will be supporting this content on Patreon!
Couldn't agree with you more, Jonny. The Countryman bastardises what was an iconic and rather charming retro Mini design. It's for people who can't live with a small car, have no taste for design and somehow think the Mini name makes them seem cool and young at heart. It doesn't. Middle aged and overweight, more like.
However the original Mini was tiny, noisy, uncomfortable, impractical, dangerous, had rubbish heating and rubbish ancient engines!! Just for starters......
@@andymccabe6712 I agree with you re the original Mini, but I was comparing the Countryman to BMW's rebirthed two-door Mini as a modern classic with loads of retro styling cues combined with up to date safety, convenience and comfort features. It was an iconic, cuddly and charming car, with great handling thrown in - but was never going to be practical as family transport. To expand its target market, BMW has bastardised the design to breaking point. I can understand why - while wishing they hadn't. What I can't understand is why anyone with good taste would want to buy one of these bloated, ugly beasts.
Entitled millennials who think the world revolves around them make me puke. Wanting a car that can fit a family does not make one overweight. No one took the impractical smaller Mini away from you. Why does it upset you that they added a larger model?
The i3S would be my choice if I could just have any EV. Especially now with the latest battery upgrade they just announced. It has the range, it’s a great size for me, it’s fun to drive and looks good. The Mini Countryman on the other hand I’m not a fan of and I do think it damages the brand. The Clubman at least looks like a Mini, even if it is too big and has impractical twin doors at the back. The new Mini EV does look good though so I hope it’s a big success.
Another fantastic video from Smith. Don’t know about other people but he always reviews cars how I would and describes cars how I would too! I3 is a fantastic bit of kit, expensive but a great piece of engineering and shows how EVs can be built when carefully thought out. And now with an even better range, nearly 200 miles on a charge. That’s very useable.
Definitely a future classic! 10 years on and it still looks amazing and once you driven one your realise why! Best car I have ever bought! Just about to upgrade to i3s 120AH! Can't wait!
I must admit when I come to change my 2014 leaf the i3 is very tempting. I love the design and I wish more car manufacturers would stick there neck out with radical designs. As for the MINI it's a car that people who don't have a real interest in cars buy in my opinion.
HOW have they not made a pure electric Mini Cooper-E (CoopEr?) A good electric MINI would really expand the EV market - people just love the classic mini look, and it's generally used as a city/2nd car runabout anyway
New i3 with extra range now going in production in November and the electric Mini is expected sometime next year. next years is looking great for this segment.
@@JAyThaRevo well Julian The amount you should spend on a car as a percentage of your salary really depends on how much you care about cars. However, bear in mind the average salary is £26000 in the UK. To be fair adequate is not a word I would use - I would use 'affordable'. Hope that helps Julian. Thanks Ronnie
Just get a used one... I cannot afford a new one myself, but I have a 4 year old one one and can swing the payments... it's a nice compromise! A used i3 is really a GREAT value!
Good review Jonny! Do you know what the i3 reminds me of? In the "cheeky and fun" way that it drives? Yup, an original BL Mini! Somehow, more than the sum of its parts with a genuine character that makes you smile when you drive it. To drive it is to love it ime. Also ime, the BeV handles significantly better than the ReX, with noticeably better roll on performance and less weight in the back. I commute through MK (where this piece was filmed) and the aggressive regen in my i3 means you can actually maintain a very decent pace on the grid roads (roundabout -> 200m -> roundabout ) without using the friction brakes, and hence still maintaining an overall low consumption.
Speaking as a 330e driver... the only reason for most of the Mini Countryman PHEV sales will have been company car “benefit in kind” tax, which until recently treated the PHEV the same as a full EV. That’s changing from 2020, with the new rules taking into account electric range to determine tax levels - hopefully that will coincide with the EV market in the UK maturing, so I and many other company car drivers can move from our “compliance car” emissions cheating PHEVs to actual usable, proper EVs
I don't get these big small cars... Mini, fiat 500 XL... If you want a big car get a big car, if you want a small cute car get a small cute car, when a fiat 500 XL passes me and it looks bigger than my car... A Dacia duster... It's not really a fiat 500 is it?
They're aimed at women. Looks fugly to me though. Kia Soul is likely for a similar target market but actually looks good to me. Captures the spirit of the mini better.
Michael Edmond - I think it's just a matter of perception. A car is as big as it is - not as big as you imagine it is! We have a Fiat 500L. It's a good sized practical 5 door hatchback- that's it....
@@andymccabe6712 but a fiat 500 is supposed to be tiny... If you got a single chicken nugget XL is it a chicken nugget or a chicken fillet? That's the point. You don't call a spade a trowel XXL ;-)
A brilliant comparative test Jonny I agree with you, never been a fan of this design of BMW's mini, but i do like there i series. But my heart is with Jaguar and the future is going to be fascinating.
I loved the Hitchcock-like appearance of Llewellyn in the rear view parking video! Very good. Others have said it here, but it’s worth repeating. BMW have forgotten about the essence of the Mini. I imagine Izzy Issigonis is spinning in his grave. I used to own an original and it was great fun. They could do so much with a built-from-the-ground-up full-EV Mini.
I believe that the BMW equivalent of the Mini PHEV is the 225xe - very similar specs. Same 1.5l turbo engine and 88Kw motor I believe (both total 165Kw power output and 0-100 in 6.7s). I have the 225xe as it's slightly bigger and found it more practical for families.
Thanks! I am trying to decide between these two cars right now! The Mini PHEV is available on Motability the BMW I3 is not :( much prefer the I3 but Motability scheme is so much easier to go with....
The BMW i3 is a really nice stylish car, great review. I saw a side by side picture of the original mini from the 60's and the new Mini and the size difference between them is enormous, It really has got bloated.
lancpudn Actually it hasn't 'got' anything! Minis were designed an built 50+ years ago - this is a completely different car in every respect other than the name(or a bit of the name!)
Well half right they have binned the extend range model, only the EV remains. Brave, given it was around 60% of all i3’s sold to puts ones faith in the 40%. The new battery must be good
I find the BMW I3 too small and too expensive.... The Mini would be some what interesting if it wasn't so expensive but still is more interesting than the I3. Thank you for your review I really appreciate it. You are doing a wonderful work!!
I been in the mini very nice car and very fast. It has a type2 with 4 hours to change up. Real Range (Electric Only) between 11 - 23 mi City - Cold Weather 17 mi Highway - Cold Weather 11 mi Combined - Cold Weather 14 mi City - Mild Weather 23 mi Highway - Mild Weather 14 mi Combined - Mild Weather 17 m
I think you’ve completely missed a trick with this “comparison”. Instead of testing the Mini PHEV, you should have tested the BMW 225xe. Same running gear, but feels a completely different car. The i3 isn’t in my considerations yet, but the 225xe is. Totally agree with the looks of the Mini; I also found the interior space and packaging (the usability) terrible. The i3 is smaller, yet is far more useful. Interesting video. Thanks
@James White - Not sure if the link will work - multimac.co.uk/p/superclub_3_seater It fits an i3 and makes three seats across the rear! "Each seat berth will take children from 0 - 36kg in the adjustable 5 point harness. Both headrests are compatible with every seat."
@videogalore thanks for the multimac suggestion. They look great but the problem is that, as well as responsibly seating my three kids in the back (the multimac would totally sort that problem out), I also want to have the option to give a lift home to as many mates as I can after football for example. Can't see three of my fully grown friends sitting in the back (not even at a squeeze like it is in the back of my polo now) if a Multimac was installed. If BMW just offered an option to replace the hard plastic cupholders in the middle with a soft bit of seating and a seatbelt, they'd sell a bunch more cars. I'm certain of it.
Nice video again, But As u present it, these are siblings, I think you mixed something up, at least in sweden the small sporty brother is BMW225XE, and the bigger brother with some Hull are Mini Countryman Phev. 225XE Mini and Countryman Phev share “all” Phev tech, as the I3 has at least one different parent, isn’t that right?
As usual top notch review and presentation Jonny - good to see MK especially Willen :) - when you were driving the i3 the mini looked like it wanted to overtake all the time behind you ! Good to Booby making a cameo in reverse parking camera . Unusually some of the fixed camera work was a bit shaky and out of focus in the i3 . I think if you going to buy a new £30k PHEV the Outlander is hard to beat albeit larger than the odd looking countryman. Be good to see the review of the 3 door EV Mini when it finally comes out .
Love Jonny's reviews, thoroughly opinionated - just as they should be! Robert please take a humble pill and refrain from reviewing cars and leave that up to the best man for the job, Jonny!
I’m sorry Jonny you went into a objective review with a subjective bias which resulted in a below par comparison. The Mini Countryman PHEV is a great car to drive and the perfect transition car. It’s looks are divisive as is the i3. Focus on the driving, handling, in car tech and fuel economy. I drive the Countryman PHEV and it is a comfortable car, efficient on fuel and yet has superb handling & performance.All the comments on here reflect people’s’ different tastes. It is better to day ‘in my opinion’ rather than ‘it looks’. Personally I’d have the Mini Countryman over the i3 any day for capacity, looks, driving and performance. Horses for courses! Drive what makes you happy. As for being a reviewer, try not to let your subjective dislikes dictate the entire review Jonny!
The last time I had any interest in those bigger modern Minis is with the ones from Italian Job in 2003, especially the Cooper Works with that wicked supercharger sound. After that they just started going huge, ugly and boring. The i3 I've always liked and in that sporty trim it looks great, slap some light blue on it and I'd have that any day over the Mini. Good video Jonny, you kept this interesting even without any nice background music.
I love the i3, it's just too expensive for a small car. In ways, it reminds me the little Smart that I bought in November 2000 and still use it everyday.
As much as I hate traditional automotive manufacturers, props to BMW for this and their work on i3. A shame they missed the opportunity with i8, could have been a proper Tesla competitor, and, more importantly, a market pivot indicator back in the day
Hi! You are off on weight of the i3S. Papers say around 1350kg for the non-REX, which still is lighter than any Golf. Also, the wood is dark oak, eukalyptus is almost as light as bamboo. Apart from that I share your views and will test out the new 120Ah i3 (not the S) for comparison. The Rex won't be available anymore in Germany, don't know about UK. Also, regarding Mini Concepts, the 2015 BEV Mini Touring Superleggera Roadster Concept is the most beautiful Mini to date, and all that made it to production where the union jack rear lights. Very uninspired, contrary to the i3
I was mulling over a second hand i3 but hated the skinny wheels so glad they're fixing that and adding more range. The look of the vehicle is still and love hate thing with most people. I like it but it depends on the colour. As for the Mini, well I own a Mini 3dr Cooper SD and I'm waiting to see what BMW bring to the electric Mini design next year. The i3 looks are too radical and jarring for most people but I'd love it if the new electric Mini retained some of its design but still looks and most importantly handles like a Mini.
This great Fully Charged video is still relevant - even after 3 years.
Not perhaps for the Mini content (since we now have the pure Mini E available) - but still a good review for the i3/i3S.
It’s now 2022, and the i3 ceases production in just 5 months after nearly 10 years and 250,000 cars - and yet, the i3 design and capabilities are still competitive.
It’s a revelation when you actually drive an i3/i3S - well… it’s best to just do it - to see for yourself what the fuss is all about.
It is certainly a “Marmite” car that divides opinion like no other. You either love it or hate it… but like most things, don’t knock it until you’ve really tried it.
I’ve always been a complete petrolhead - having raced motorcycles for about 10 seasons and owned lots of very special ICE cars since the 1980’s.
I NEVER EVER thought I’d be an early adopter of an electric car, but the i3 changed all that when I was loaned an i3S during a service of my BMW M5.
I was impressed. Yes, really.
Initially, soon afterwards we had a short term lease of a secondhand 94Ah i3 (no Rex) which demonstrated that electric power alone in the i3 was fast, fun to drive and in the real world actually a very nice place to be.
It arrived as a “second” car, but strangely it soon appeared to become the car everyone took first… including me!
I wouldn’t have thought that before we got one.
Yes, range in a 94Ah was compromised to around 120 miles on a very good day, but you soon get used to the mindset of ABC (always be charging) and the feathering of the accelerator to give true one-pedal driving which boosts the range a fair bit.
That instant torque, the rear wheel drive and spacious comfortable cabin won us all over - It truly is very, very addictive.
After around 9 months, we upgraded to actually buying another low milage secondhand i3 with the 120Ah (42kWh) battery which we have now had for two years.
Always pre-conditioned when possible, the real world range in the 120Ah version now varies from 110 miles on a very cold winters day driving on motorways (and having a heavy foot) to c.180 miles in the summer when having fun on B roads out in the countryside where we live.
We do have the luxury of a 7.2kW charger at home and use mostly cheap rate early morning electricity from the grid, or solar PV (mostly spring to autumn) to charge.
It’s very cheap to run that way, and easy.
We have never had range anxiety despite it being a BEV, and even with a few quite regular 300+mile trips to visit elderly relatives.
On range, it’s important to remember that generally, few people travel over the range of an i3 each day. Plug it in at night, and it’s full again (and also nicely warm/cool) by morning…
It’s just so easy to live with.
Any further than the indicated range - then we usually stop at about 25-30% left, have a coffee and a short rapid charge (say after 110 miles of driving). That will usually see you to your destination. It’s a very civilised way of travelling.
(Note: Our favourite fast chargers are InstaVolt - because they just work. 35 minutes adds about 115 miles.)
So after nearly 3 years of i3 ownership - we are convinced that the i3 was ahead of its time - and arguably it still is a game changer and a future classic.
I’ve lived with the i3 now, and had the daily experience - good bits and bad bits.
Having driven a lot of the new electric cars available (Mini E, Id.3, Kona, Leaf, e-Tron, iX3 and even a Tesla S to name a few) I find this hard to say - but I am still completely sold on the i3. A few cars give pause for thought - Seat Cupra Born as an example (a better looking ID3 really) but the i3 still wins for me.
It’s hard to say why exactly, but although the range could be better (do you really need it?) I think the driving and ownership experience is still very hard to beat.
Having heard the i3 was ceasing production earlier than the original 2024 date - it has forced this driver to evaluate now - exactly what I want for the next few years…
That has led to an order for one of the last BMW i3S’s due for delivery later this year.
The fossil fuelled cars have now all gone (apart from a vintage Land Rover Series IIA - in my family from new) and so the future is now doubly i3 based in this household.
i3 good bits:
Really good fun to drive
Cheap to run
Great cabin
Versatile space for up to 4 people or 2+ lots of gear.
Great infotainment
Still has proper buttons
Plastic panels, aluminium chassis and CFP tub means little to corrode
That door arrangement works really well - except when side/side parking.
i3 poor bits (seen in 2022)
Less range than some rivals
Slow AC charging - only 11kW
DC charging limited to 50kW (though really fast chargers are rate at present anyway)
“Sporty” ride - some don’t like it firm..
If always parking side to side - the doors can be a pain
Some standard elements need “coding” to remove the annoyance factor. (Such as everything switches off when you get out to open or close a gate…)
I have driven an I3 since 2014. The car still makes me smile REALLY HARD every time I get into it. Such a beautiful mind blowing design, materials, engineering. Bravo BMW!
Idk I was some time in one and I really disliked the small display and the bad grey recycled plastic in the upper side of the front doors and where the interior meets the windshield.
Mihnea Lazăr - It's not plastic, it is the kenaf plant fibre impregnated with eco-friendly resin
"Once you've driven it, you don't want to go back" - a phrase well known to all i3 drivers :-)
My father drove one and while it’s pretty cool being electric, I dislike all the other facts about it,
Yes, once you drive this car, you won't go back. I had the 2014, now the 2018 i3s. My girl has the 2017.
I’ve had my BMW i3 for nearly a year and I love it more now than when I first bought it, once you have driven one it is hard to give it up. Every time I sit in the drivers seat it I feel like I’ve time travelled to the future.
I’m so glad it’s been described in this video as a future classic car; I urge anyone who doubts this statement to experience an i3 for weekend test drive to see for themselves why it’s completely unique from driving anything else.
@Gabriel Cabana Us guys in the UK are still waiting a long time to even see a Model 3 :( Until then, the i3 is a fantastic car and one we can buy today.
@Gabriel Cabana I should hope so, it's taking long enough :) To be honest, I've driven a Model S and it's nice but way too big. I also don't need any more speed, the i3 offers plenty.
You nailed it Jonny! The i3 will be a design icon in years to come and like all good designs will be controversial to many and have their lovers and haters. Taste is a funny thing. Outside of the design, BMW delivered on truly the most eco-friendly build from the ground up with it's materials, production chain and well-to-wheel environmental standards. I now live in the US and the lease rates for i3's have been so great in recent years that I wish more people could experience the car. I'm 6'5 and it's one of the roomiest vehicles I've ever had for driving position. With a set of Nokians on the wheels its also a really fun drive in the winter. My wife hated the rear doors though. With our baby in a rear facing car seat it was quite the pain to get them in or out if you got boxed in a parking space.
This video really shows how much of an amazing addition Jonny is to Fully Charged.
BMW just anounced bigger battery packs for the i3 from november on. +30% capacity with 42kwh. Price and weight stays the same. Range is now about +30% around 300km+!
A pitty they do not seem to do a upgrade program :( ... well i was not keen on upgrading 50% capacity for almost 10000€ but i was really considering upgrading if the range doubled, which it now has but seems i'm out of luck :(. Can i order it as a repair part ;)?
Astravall
Battery change has been made in Norway with help from BMW. The battery was from a crashed car.
Good improvement in battery tech. Same size, more range.
Thats awesome... I dont really fancy an EV with less then 300 km of range as a primary car, as a secondary, the i3S in its current form would be plenty good enough. I see the i3's fairly often around where I live, probably because there is one or two owners here xD
BMW sad they are not offering an updated so far due to the low demand they had the last time.
The i3 is a seriously underrated vehicle. With the battery upgrade in the 2019 model, it's become even better.
I think the upgrade was in 2018...
Nonetheless, they've improved upon a modern-day classic!
The biggest compliment you can give this car is that; motoring journalists and reviews have run out of superlatives!
Our family rented the basic i3 1st generation for a month last year. WOW! Even my teenage son changed his mind about the design, from negative to positive. My wife fell in love (with the car) and I am still crying, since I had to deliver it back.
I do own a Countryman phev and I absolutely love it! My first choise and perfectly happy with it.
I sold my mini copper (petrol) for i3 because I was sick of waiting for the long promised mini electric (still waiting!). Anyone - I don't regret. Lovin it!
Been driving i3's since April of 2015, loved the concept, followed the concept through to production. Leased a REx, then purchased a CPO BEV, all options for $17,600; it boggles my mind how cheap the i3 can be had used. Best bang for the buck in my bias opinion. Yesterday BMW announced another battery bump and my understanding is it only weighs 4lbs more. If true, that is incredible!
I absolutely adore my i3. It's a joy to drive and gets great range for me
So do I, my i3s rex is my second i3.
Yes, driving it, want it - got the i3s 120Ah..
I love my i3, love driving it, it’s like a electric smile.
I also love the sound of cold start from my e46 M3... Like the best from two worlds ❤️
Lmao, I have an i3 and an e46 too! Mine is a 2005 bmw m3 zcp interlagos blue over black. Love the i3 for a daily and my m3 for the weekend.
Johnny you've found your spirtual home on this channel. Such a good fit for both. Well done.
The video confirms my impression of the i3s. What a great driving experience. I'll order one because the charging infrastructure is good enough for me now and the design has become cooler.
Johnny’s presentation style is brilliant. It is conversational and candid. Perfect for the channel. Also great infographics, they are great for product reviews, but it is a shame there weren’t any on the model 3 vid. Great video.
More videos like this please Jonny! Great work
I’d choose the i3s for sure
The quality of that show is amazing. Well done guys, this is amazing, love it.
I think it's fair to say until you have driven a car like the i3 you'll struggle to get it. I had one for a day and fell for it within a mile of driving. You instantly engage with the car and it's engineering. So good in fact I have one coming as a company car in 3 weeks. Yes the design is "marmite" but once you drive and live with it, as I said, you get it.
I'm glad Smith calls out the Mini Clumpman's looks. I've driven a couple on holiday and always felt I should be wearing a blue pointy hat with a bell on
#noddy
Mark Iliff but you probably do that anyway, don't you?
Reading the comments the MINI gets a big thumbs down.
Thanks for the Video - i3s for me thanks - most likely with the REX. The reason why these two cars are so different is that they were not made by the same teams. The i3 was developed at the BMW headquarters in Munich by a separate 200 Employees department working solely on the i3. All the research that was made for the interior has also been taken to German universities on environmental design and engineering studies. The i3´s materials are more environmentally friendly than any other EV currently on the market - also the i3 is the most sold EV in Germany.
I have only driven an i3 once and was hugely and positively surprised by its immediacy and acceleration from about 15-100 Km/h - As a city commuter, it is perfect. And I would also like to see the i8 as a pure EV - the design would be perfect for it.
I'm biased, but I love our i3! Only car I've driven for the last 2 years and it still makes me smile like a loon! :)
I3 is looking much better now. Especially next to the boring and massive "Mini".
You mean "Mingy"?
Yes, the i3s no longer looks so exaggerated and embarrassing, but sporty and timelessly modern.
My wife drives a Countryman PHEV and it's a great car. Looks excellent in British Racing Green with the white roof. A much better family car than the Golf GTE given that you can actually fit something in the boot. The kids love it, my wife loves it, I am happy to drive it. Plus, unlike the wondrous original Mini, it's not made of rust and we aren't the crumple zone, which is always a bonus.
Still rather have it full EV, but I have my Ioniq for that.
@Use your Brain That's your opinion, and you're entirely entitled to it. The Countryman works for us, so there you have it.
it's ok, but don't call it MINI because it's bloody big
They don't! The model is called the Countryman. Mini is the brand name.
Shane Rickwood they stopped writing it like that, it’s now stylised MINI and I reckon they did that just to reduce the absurdity of having a Mini larger than some old SUVs.
Agreed. People are being precious about the Mini's size. You can still get a three door Cooper which is relatively tiny. Hell, look at how the Nissan Leaf has blown out in size.
We share our love for the i3. Soon I will own one.
The MINI is a marmite car, I have one & I think it looks cute & chunky, I've never had a car that people actually walk up and tell me they like my car before, I assume there are an equal number of people who think it's awful but just aren't mentioning it. It works for me & I'm averaging over 300 MPG, though I have seen extremes of 706 MPG & 23.9 MPG. It's surprisingly quick too one magazine hit 60 in 5.8 which is quicker than the JCW though MINI will not tell you this.
I have one too ♥
Omg, the narrative used in this episode is so good! One should listen to every Johnny’s word.
The i3 interior looks great, especially with the bamboo finish 👍
The plant matter is a hemp material. I always enjoy your videos. Thanks
The first person to see what I did in the i3 when I tried the first example - memories of 70's Citroens! Thanks Jonny. 👍
The i3 looks to the future, the mini looks to the past. I love the engineering of the i3 - aluminium frame, CFRP tub with plastic body panels makes a light car that will not rust or suffer parking dents - the plastic just bounces back! For front passengers, the experience is spacious, with a large panoramic view through that windscreen. And the real treat is 'fuel' costs - I charge over night on cheap rate, I costs me £1.30 to do about 140 miles.
I am really excited by this channel - I like Robert and Jonny a lot and I love the focus of the channel. I recently went self employed and my other half would scalp me if i did it right now, but as soon as I can I will be supporting this content on Patreon!
Great review, finally someone that gets the i3
The mini looks like someone put their Range Rover in the hot wash and it's shrunk.
Richard Collins and got a dose of uglyitus
It's an "old" mini in a fat suit!
Sir Alex would be appalled!
Look at the dimensions of a 2 door Range Rover
This MINI is bigger
Lol
Hhahahahaha! Yup!
Brilliant video Jonny - I would love an i3S just on it's looks.
Couldn't agree with you more, Jonny. The Countryman bastardises what was an iconic and rather charming retro Mini design. It's for people who can't live with a small car, have no taste for design and somehow think the Mini name makes them seem cool and young at heart. It doesn't. Middle aged and overweight, more like.
PS: And I love my original i3 to bits! Thinking of the i3s as a replacement . . .
However the original Mini was tiny, noisy, uncomfortable, impractical, dangerous, had rubbish heating and rubbish ancient engines!!
Just for starters......
@@andymccabe6712 I agree with you re the original Mini, but I was comparing the Countryman to BMW's rebirthed two-door Mini as a modern classic with loads of retro styling cues combined with up to date safety, convenience and comfort features. It was an iconic, cuddly and charming car, with great handling thrown in - but was never going to be practical as family transport. To expand its target market, BMW has bastardised the design to breaking point. I can understand why - while wishing they hadn't. What I can't understand is why anyone with good taste would want to buy one of these bloated, ugly beasts.
Entitled millennials who think the world revolves around them make me puke. Wanting a car that can fit a family does not make one overweight. No one took the impractical smaller Mini away from you. Why does it upset you that they added a larger model?
The i3S would be my choice if I could just have any EV. Especially now with the latest battery upgrade they just announced. It has the range, it’s a great size for me, it’s fun to drive and looks good. The Mini Countryman on the other hand I’m not a fan of and I do think it damages the brand.
The Clubman at least looks like a Mini, even if it is too big and has impractical twin doors at the back. The new Mini EV does look good though so I hope it’s a big success.
You two guys are a match made in heaven, and absolutely, transparently EV enthusiasts. This is the best car show since classic Top Gear, bar none.
My mums just bought a nearly new I3.
What a car!
Goes like stink and if you keep the REX topped up there’s no range anxiety.
Another fantastic video from Smith. Don’t know about other people but he always reviews cars how I would and describes cars how I would too!
I3 is a fantastic bit of kit, expensive but a great piece of engineering and shows how EVs can be built when carefully thought out. And now with an even better range, nearly 200 miles on a charge. That’s very useable.
Definitely a future classic! 10 years on and it still looks amazing and once you driven one your realise why! Best car I have ever bought! Just about to upgrade to i3s 120AH! Can't wait!
The i3s drive so great, i really love my one! It is so much fun to drive!
I must admit when I come to change my 2014 leaf the i3 is very tempting.
I love the design and I wish more car manufacturers would stick there neck out with radical designs.
As for the MINI it's a car that people who don't have a real interest in cars buy in my opinion.
Great episode I'd love to have a go of the i3
It's time now for a review/comparison of the current i3 120Ah vs the new Mini e.
HOW have they not made a pure electric Mini Cooper-E (CoopEr?) A good electric MINI would really expand the EV market - people just love the classic mini look, and it's generally used as a city/2nd car runabout anyway
The electric Mini will start next year.
Its in production - I think BMW should bring out EV based on the much loved Morris Minor - theres clearly a lot of milage in the retro futuristic look
Electric cars are too expensive and hydrogen is the future not lithium
Jonny Smith is very good at what he does. Thank you.
New i3 with extra range now going in production in November and the electric Mini is expected sometime next year. next years is looking great for this segment.
These cars are not within the price range of the ordinary working person. Love the BMW! Will do the Lotto
ronald millsopp
What would you say is an adequate price for the ordinary person?
@@JAyThaRevo well Julian The amount you should spend on a car as a percentage of your salary really depends on how much you care about cars. However, bear in mind the average salary is £26000 in the UK. To be fair adequate is not a word I would use - I would use 'affordable'.
Hope that helps Julian. Thanks Ronnie
£40k for an electric car to save a bit over petrol is crazy.
Just get a used one... I cannot afford a new one myself, but I have a 4 year old one one and can swing the payments... it's a nice compromise! A used i3 is really a GREAT value!
I like the look of the Mini Countryman.
Good review Jonny! Do you know what the i3 reminds me of? In the "cheeky and fun" way that it drives? Yup, an original BL Mini! Somehow, more than the sum of its parts with a genuine character that makes you smile when you drive it. To drive it is to love it ime. Also ime, the BeV handles significantly better than the ReX, with noticeably better roll on performance and less weight in the back. I commute through MK (where this piece was filmed) and the aggressive regen in my i3 means you can actually maintain a very decent pace on the grid roads (roundabout -> 200m -> roundabout ) without using the friction brakes, and hence still maintaining an overall low consumption.
Do not pause at 0:05. Very scary look.
The dark paint colour scheme here makes the i3 look absolutely at its best, I think...
I love the Mini countryman's looks and it sells well so others must like it too. Each to their own.
I do like that this particular mini can haul a teardrop caravan. It looks so 'meant to be.'
Speaking as a 330e driver... the only reason for most of the Mini Countryman PHEV sales will have been company car “benefit in kind” tax, which until recently treated the PHEV the same as a full EV. That’s changing from 2020, with the new rules taking into account electric range to determine tax levels - hopefully that will coincide with the EV market in the UK maturing, so I and many other company car drivers can move from our “compliance car” emissions cheating PHEVs to actual usable, proper EVs
You say you don’t like the countryman... but that is the country man ...
Great review, I couldn't unwatch. That new BMW looks fasntastic,
Nice new graphics ! Love my i3
Your an excellent reviewer. Very professional.
I don't get these big small cars... Mini, fiat 500 XL...
If you want a big car get a big car, if you want a small cute car get a small cute car, when a fiat 500 XL passes me and it looks bigger than my car... A Dacia duster... It's not really a fiat 500 is it?
They're aimed at women. Looks fugly to me though. Kia Soul is likely for a similar target market but actually looks good to me. Captures the spirit of the mini better.
@@ShinShinoke yeah I quite like the new Kona coming out...
Michael Edmond - I think it's just a matter of perception. A car is as big as it is - not as big as you imagine it is!
We have a Fiat 500L. It's a good sized practical 5 door hatchback- that's it....
@@andymccabe6712 but a fiat 500 is supposed to be tiny...
If you got a single chicken nugget XL is it a chicken nugget or a chicken fillet?
That's the point.
You don't call a spade a trowel XXL ;-)
Michael Edmond Fiat 500 is pretty damn small, 500L is supposed to be a newer Mutlipla.
The last time I was this early, the Mini was still mini.
A brilliant comparative test Jonny I agree with you, never been a fan of this design of BMW's mini, but i do like there i series. But my heart is with Jaguar and the future is going to be fascinating.
Ahh I can't say too much, but never underestimate Jaguar they have some of the best people in the business.
I loved the Hitchcock-like appearance of Llewellyn in the rear view parking video! Very good.
Others have said it here, but it’s worth repeating. BMW have forgotten about the essence of the Mini. I imagine Izzy Issigonis is spinning in his grave. I used to own an original and it was great fun. They could do so much with a built-from-the-ground-up full-EV Mini.
„Mini“ is just ridiculous. It‘s got as fat as we are. 😁
Achenar Myst - err, maybe that's the point!!??
Last countryman was better more nimble
I believe that the BMW equivalent of the Mini PHEV is the 225xe - very similar specs. Same 1.5l turbo engine and 88Kw motor I believe (both total 165Kw power output and 0-100 in 6.7s). I have the 225xe as it's slightly bigger and found it more practical for families.
How close was that mini driving behind you!!!!
Thanks! I am trying to decide between these two cars right now! The Mini PHEV is available on Motability the BMW I3 is not :( much prefer the I3 but Motability scheme is so much easier to go with....
I just wish they would bring down the price on the i3, otherwise I love it! I want one! Mayby a barebones one for the next gen?
"Personally, I don't find the i3S uncomfortable at all"
(camera image shudders violently)
;)
Well done for being honest about the bastardisation of the original mini concept.
The BMW i3 is a really nice stylish car, great review. I saw a side by side picture of the original mini from the 60's and the new Mini and the size difference between them is enormous, It really has got bloated.
lancpudn Actually it hasn't 'got' anything! Minis were designed an built 50+ years ago - this is a completely different car in every respect other than the name(or a bit of the name!)
The name is a contradiction in terms with the BMW Mini, It's still bloaty McBloaty from where I'm standing.
Well half right they have binned the extend range model, only the EV remains. Brave, given it was around 60% of all i3’s sold to puts ones faith in the 40%. The new battery must be good
I find the BMW I3 too small and too expensive.... The Mini would be some what interesting if it wasn't so expensive but still is more interesting than the I3.
Thank you for your review I really appreciate it.
You are doing a wonderful work!!
If I had charging at home I’d be straight on one of these i3s!
I been in the mini very nice car and very fast. It has a type2 with 4 hours to change up.
Real Range (Electric Only)
between 11 - 23 mi
City - Cold Weather 17 mi
Highway - Cold Weather 11 mi
Combined - Cold Weather 14 mi
City - Mild Weather 23 mi
Highway - Mild Weather 14 mi
Combined - Mild Weather 17 m
Seeing plenty of I3s around these days - I think it's selling well
04:39 so in fact, it is a BMW 225e Active Tourer with a Countryman´s body
Yes it is & of course it is also an i8 with the power train reversed....
@@geoffreysearle7162 LOL
I think you’ve completely missed a trick with this “comparison”. Instead of testing the Mini PHEV, you should have tested the BMW 225xe. Same running gear, but feels a completely different car. The i3 isn’t in my considerations yet, but the 225xe is. Totally agree with the looks of the Mini; I also found the interior space and packaging (the usability) terrible. The i3 is smaller, yet is far more useful. Interesting video. Thanks
Why oh why do BMW not have a 5th seatbelt in the middle option. Three kids wld easily fit in there and I would buy it in a heartbeat
Beats me too. Probably some stupid regulation thing, otherwise it makes no sense. It’s not a small car inside.
You can fit three children in the back of any i3 with a 'Multimac' system! Problem solved! :D
@@videogalore Doesn't sound very safe :) It's sadly stopping me getting another, which is a shame because I absolutely love it.
@James White - Not sure if the link will work - multimac.co.uk/p/superclub_3_seater It fits an i3 and makes three seats across the rear! "Each seat berth will take children from 0 - 36kg in the adjustable 5 point harness. Both headrests are compatible with every seat."
@videogalore thanks for the multimac suggestion. They look great but the problem is that, as well as responsibly seating my three kids in the back (the multimac would totally sort that problem out), I also want to have the option to give a lift home to as many mates as I can after football for example. Can't see three of my fully grown friends sitting in the back (not even at a squeeze like it is in the back of my polo now) if a Multimac was installed. If BMW just offered an option to replace the hard plastic cupholders in the middle with a soft bit of seating and a seatbelt, they'd sell a bunch more cars. I'm certain of it.
Excellent video guys :)) love to see more of this :)
Nice video again,
But
As u present it, these are siblings, I think you mixed something up, at least in sweden the small sporty brother is BMW225XE, and the bigger brother with some Hull are Mini Countryman Phev.
225XE Mini and Countryman Phev share “all” Phev tech, as the I3 has at least one different parent, isn’t that right?
5:15
It has Type 2 plug with 2 lowest pi s left blank.
So it is limited to single phase 7kW charge.
As usual top notch review and presentation Jonny - good to see MK especially Willen :) - when you were driving the i3 the mini looked like it wanted to overtake all the time behind you ! Good to Booby making a cameo in reverse parking camera . Unusually some of the fixed camera work was a bit shaky and out of focus in the i3 . I think if you going to buy a new £30k PHEV the Outlander is hard to beat albeit larger than the odd looking countryman. Be good to see the review of the 3 door EV Mini when it finally comes out .
Love Jonny's reviews, thoroughly opinionated - just as they should be! Robert please take a humble pill and refrain from reviewing cars and leave that up to the best man for the job, Jonny!
awesome prog' !! i3s looks really gd too!first non tsla i actually want!! great commute car, with awesome looks!
mini is vile.
I’m sorry Jonny you went into a objective review with a subjective bias which resulted in a below par comparison. The Mini Countryman PHEV is a great car to drive and the perfect transition car. It’s looks are divisive as is the i3. Focus on the driving, handling, in car tech and fuel economy. I drive the Countryman PHEV and it is a comfortable car, efficient on fuel and yet has superb handling & performance.All the comments on here reflect people’s’ different tastes. It is better to day ‘in my opinion’ rather than ‘it looks’.
Personally I’d have the Mini Countryman over the i3 any day for capacity, looks, driving and performance. Horses for courses! Drive what makes you happy. As for being a reviewer, try not to let your subjective dislikes dictate the entire review Jonny!
The mini is just another ice car, my heart sank when to pointed out and open the recharge point!
The last time I had any interest in those bigger modern Minis is with the ones from Italian Job in 2003, especially the Cooper Works with that wicked supercharger sound. After that they just started going huge, ugly and boring. The i3 I've always liked and in that sporty trim it looks great, slap some light blue on it and I'd have that any day over the Mini.
Good video Jonny, you kept this interesting even without any nice background music.
I agree with all your comments. Great show really like the video
love these videos
I love the i3, it's just too expensive for a small car.
In ways, it reminds me the little Smart that I bought in November 2000 and still use it everyday.
As much as I hate traditional automotive manufacturers, props to BMW for this and their work on i3. A shame they missed the opportunity with i8, could have been a proper Tesla competitor, and, more importantly, a market pivot indicator back in the day
Great episode. Liking the i3 I have to say
0:43 that V90 in the background 🤤🤤
Mistake cancelling this, still hits for me
I would never ever expect the word Cooper being associated with a 3 cilinder plug-in hybrid crossover.
Hi! You are off on weight of the i3S. Papers say around 1350kg for the non-REX, which still is lighter than any Golf. Also, the wood is dark oak, eukalyptus is almost as light as bamboo. Apart from that I share your views and will test out the new 120Ah i3 (not the S) for comparison. The Rex won't be available anymore in Germany, don't know about UK. Also, regarding Mini Concepts, the 2015 BEV Mini Touring Superleggera Roadster Concept is the most beautiful Mini to date, and all that made it to production where the union jack rear lights. Very uninspired, contrary to the i3
I was mulling over a second hand i3 but hated the skinny wheels so glad they're fixing that and adding more range.
The look of the vehicle is still and love hate thing with most people. I like it but it depends on the colour.
As for the Mini, well I own a Mini 3dr Cooper SD and I'm waiting to see what BMW bring to the electric Mini design next year.
The i3 looks are too radical and jarring for most people but I'd love it if the new electric Mini retained some of its design but still looks and most importantly handles like a Mini.