2019 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2019 BMW i3 vs Karma Revero

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
2019 BMW i3Electric
$805/ year to fuel
113 MPGe
✓ Cheaper to run
2019 Karma ReveroPlug-in hybrid
$2,015/ year to fuel
60 MPGe + 20 MPG

RWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · Single-speed · 60 MPGe + 20 MPG

The 2019 BMW i3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $805 a year to fuel (113 MPGe), versus $2,015 for the 2019 Karma Revero (60 MPGe + 20 MPG). That's roughly $1,211 a year, or about $6,054 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • BMW i3
  • Karma Revero

Side by side

BMW i3Karma Revero
$805 Your annual fuel cost $2,015
113 MPGe Combined efficiency 60 MPGe + 20 MPG
124 MPGe City 59 MPGe / 19 MPG
102 MPGe Highway 61 MPGe / 21 MPG
29.8 kWh Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 56 kWh
153 mi Driving range 240 mi
— All-electric range 37 mi
84 cu ft Passenger volume 89 cu ft
15 cu ft Cargo volume 7 cu ft
0 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 156 g/mi
10/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
10/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
5 hrs Charge time at 240V 3.8 hrs
Electric Powertrain Plug-in hybrid
Electricity Fuel Premium gas + electricity
Electric motor (125 kW) Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Single-speed Transmission Single-speed
RWD Drivetrain RWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

BMW i3 vs Karma Revero across model years

  • BMW i3
  • Karma Revero

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

The Karma Revero goes farther between stops: about 240 miles on a full tank and charge, compared with 153 miles for the BMW i3.

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Karma Revero has more passenger space (89 vs. 84 cu ft); the BMW i3 has more cargo space (15 vs. 7 cu ft).

Among 43 2019 subcompact cars, the BMW i3 ranks 1st and the Karma Revero 12th for lowest fuel cost.

Because the BMW i3 is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Karma Revero; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 BMW i3 or the 2019 Karma Revero?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i3. The BMW i3 is rated 113 MPGe combined and the Karma Revero 60 MPGe + 20 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 BMW i3 vs. the Karma Revero per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $805 for the BMW i3 and $2,015 for the Karma Revero.

Which has more range?

The Karma Revero: about 240 miles versus 153 miles.

Which has more cargo space?

The BMW i3, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 7 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

BMW i3 vs Karma Revero in other years

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