Meet the all-new, all-electric
BMW i3. Designed to take the
3 Series into the EV age, it marks a bold reinvention of one of BMW’s best-selling models.
Don’t be confused by the name, the new i3 isn’t a direct replacement for BMW’s discontinued electric supermini. Instead, it promises to be a fully electric 3 Series alternative. That means it’ll boast a next-gen platform, sleek styling, cutting edge battery technology, and much more.
But is it good enough to steal customers from the likes of
Tesla,
Polestar,
Audi and even nascent Chinese brands like
BYD? From price to performance, here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 BMW i3.
New BMW i3 Exterior Styling
While the new i3 appears radically different to previous generations of 3 Series, look closely and you’ll spot several signature BMW design traits.
With its new 2.5-box silhouette, the new electric 3 Series looks most like a restyled version of the brand’s 2023 Neue Klasse concept car. However, BMW fans will notice trademark touches like the frontal kidney grilles and four-light “face”. Moreover, the slightly angled nose is said to echo ‘70s and ‘80s models like the 635 CSI.
Moving down the sides, the i3’s shape clearly subscribes to the Neue Klasse idea of simplification. Its proportions are defined by a stretched wheelbase and tightly cut overhangs, creating a silhouette that places the cabin slightly rearward and gives the car a balanced, athletic feel.
Meanwhile, the Hofmeister kink is still present in the rear three quarters but appears to be more subtlety integrated than before. At the back, the taillights are slimmer and more horizontally oriented, visually widening the car and contributing to a sleek, modern finish. Compared to previous 3 Series, the i3’s rear end looks particularly futuristic.
Ultimately, though, styling is subjective and whether you like or loathe the new 3 Series design comes down to personal preference.
New BMW i3 Interior Design and Technology
Inside, things look suitably space-age. Much of the design language — including the oblong shaped wheel with spokes at 12 and 6-o’clock — is shared with the new Ix3, which makes the i3 a nice place to sit.
Like the exterior, the cabin majors in minimalism. That means there’s a clean, open layout with fewer physical buttons and an emphasis on lightweight, recycled materials, including sustainable fabrics and leather-free options such as “Veganza,” alongside responsibly sourced trims. This design philosophy not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances the sense of space, aided by the absence of a traditional transmission tunnel and the use of large glass areas.
BMW also focuses on premium comfort, offering configurable seating, ambient lighting with multiple colour options, and high-quality finishes that maintain the brand’s luxury feel while presenting a distinctly modern aesthetic.
The new i3 represents a significant step forward in in-car technology, centred around BMW’s innovative “Panoramic iDrive” system. This setup replaces traditional dashboards with a wide projection across the base of the windscreen, working alongside a prominent 17.9-inch central touchscreen and an optional 3D head-up display to present key driving information in a more immersive way. Built on the latest BMW Operating System X and supported by far more powerful computing hardware, the system delivers faster responses and a smoother, more intuitive user experience.
In addition, the i3 also benefits from voice commands powered by Amazon Alexa, augmented-reality navigation that overlays directions onto real-world views, and highly customisable display settings tailored to the driver’s preferences. There are even advanced driver-assistance features with Level 2 autonomy to take more of the stress out of driving longer journeys.