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BMW is a company that has set the standard for luxury, performance, and engineering ever since its inception in 1916. Despite all of the engineering greatness that comes from this German automotive legend of a company, rarely is BMW known for vehicle reliability. Often, BMW ends up sacrificing reliability and longevity to focus more on presence and performance. However, this isn’t always the case, as proven by the BMW i3.

Are you in the market for a BMW electric vehicle, and you want something more reliable than the typical BMW? Here is everything you need to know about the BMW EV considered to be one of the most reliable vehicles ever built in company history.

2018 BMW i3

A red BMW i3 compact electric vehicle (EV) model in a Vaund store in Hanover, Germany
A BMW i3 compact EV | Moritz Frankenberg/picture alliance via Getty Images

The innovative BMW i3 is one of the company’s most dramatically different designs in company history and one of the most reliable. The i3 was produced from the 2014 through the 2021 model years, and it was BMW’s first mass-market electric car. The BMW i3 was produced with a wide range of quirky features, including a space-age design with a carbon fiber body to save body weight. The i3’s wheels are incredibly narrow to help with range efficiency, and speaking of range, the i3 could reach a range of around 114 miles on a single charge, according to CleanTechnica.

The interior of the i3 was built to be eco-friendly, with a wide range of recycled materials making up the inside of the cabin. The i3 was also friendly for new electric vehicle owners by offering an optional range-extending engine, according to WhatCar. This $4,000 option gave the i3 a two-cylinder engine that could charge the battery on demand.

The BMW i3 is a vehicle that can still be purchased today in excellent condition that will last for years and years to come. The i3 isn’t complicated, and that EV simplicity comes with a vehicle that will never leave you stranded, even if you run out of electric charge, as its range extender will keep you on the road.

Why was the BMW i3 discontinued?

The BMW i3 was eventually discontinued after the 2021 model year. According to Bloomberg, BMW discontinued this tiny EV to focus on bigger electric vehicle offerings like the iX and i4. The i3 was popular despite its discontinuation, with over 200,000 units sold between 2014 and 2021, but this wasn’t enough to sway the higher-ups at BMW.

Initially, electric vehicles naturally turned to hatchback body style to capitalize on cargo and passenger space despite a small chassis for maximum electric range efficiency. However, electric vehicle technology has caught up quickly, and much bigger EVs can be produced with the same amount of electric range efficiency as the previous small hatchbacks. Chevrolet saw the writing on the wall for its Bolt EV and introduced the bigger Bolt EUV. BMW saw the same trend and moved on from the quirky i3.

Still, the i3 is a wonderful EV you can still buy today on the used marketplace. With so many examples sold over the years, they are not necessarily rare. If you’re looking to make the leap to EVs and you also want a reliable BMW, look no further than the BMW i3.

Related BMW Waves Goodbye to the i3

BMW Waves Goodbye to the i3