2021 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2021 BMW i3 vs BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
RWD · 0.6L 2-cyl · Single-speed · 100 MPGe + 31 MPG
The 2021 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 $948 for the 2021 BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid (100 MPGe + 31 MPG). That's roughly $143 a year, or about $716 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
- BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| BMW i3 | BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $805 | Your annual fuel cost | $948 |
| 113 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 100 MPGe + 31 MPG |
| 124 MPGe | City | 107 MPGe / 30 MPG |
| 102 MPGe | Highway | 93 MPGe / 31 MPG |
| 29.8 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 32 kWh |
| 153 mi | Driving range | 200 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 126 mi |
| 84 cu ft | Passenger volume | 84 cu ft |
| 15 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 22 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| 7 hrs | Charge time at 240V | 7 hrs |
| Electric | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Electricity | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| Electric motor (135 kW) | Engine / motor | 0.6L 2-cyl |
| 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 BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- BMW i3
- BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid
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 BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid goes farther between stops: about 200 miles on a full tank and charge, compared with 153 miles for the BMW i3.
Among 34 2021 subcompact cars, the BMW i3 ranks 1st and the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid 3rd 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 BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 BMW i3 or the 2021 BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i3. The BMW i3 is rated 113 MPGe combined and the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid 100 MPGe + 31 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 BMW i3 vs. the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid 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 $948 for the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more range?
The BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid: about 200 miles versus 153 miles.
BMW i3 vs BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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