Our Fleet Test Drive: BMW i3 - 10th report
Date:
19 November 2015
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Author: Guy Bird
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Why we're running it: | To see if this EV cuts in beyond the theory | Equipment: | 6 airbags, stability and cornering brake control, hill-start assist, auto aircon, electric windows, leather-covered multi-function steering wheel, satnav, Bluetooth hands-free facility with USB, 50:50 split-fold rear seats, rear park distance control, 19in streamline star alloys, halogen headlights | Options: | Lodge trim (£1500), 19in turbine alloys (£680), Harmon Kardon hi-fi (£640), DC rapid charge prep (£560), silver metallic paint (£530), Enhanced Bluetooth with USB (£350), internet (£95) | Media Package - BMW Professional (£960), Park assist package inc. colour reversing cam (£790), Winter package inc. heated | front seats (£260), Online Entertainment (£190) |
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They came through the front door close to throwing up. Guide camp couldn't have been that bad, could it?
Turns out it was the 40-minute lift home - in an internal combustion-engined (ICE) car, allegedly driven a little jerkily by a friend's dad - that almost brought my daughters' lunch up. It's true, they have always been prone to car sickness, although I've only had one full-blown incident in-car - and that was years ago.
Maybe the BMW i3's super-smooth ride and general lack of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) has made them 'go soft', but the difference between the relatively new compact ICE crossover and the electric-powered i3 (used on the trip to camp) was stark.
Of course, individual driving style is a factor, but due to the way the i3's EV works its regenerative magic, it subtly influences any driver to change to a more coasting, momentum-based approach. It's an under-reported asset of any EV, and coupled with the great view and feeling of space from the i3's rear seats - enabled by the deliberately dipped window line at that point - it's a generator of genuine feel-good factor for potentially car-sick young ones.
BMW i3 Range Extender
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Mileage 2074 |
Official combined consumption |
186.1mpg |
Our average consumption 1554mpg |
Forecast/actual CPM 59.4p/56.8p |
P11D price |
£35,575* |
Model price range |
£30,925-35,575* |
Residual value 39.1% |
Depreciation cost £21,675 |
Fuel £1670 |
Service, maintenance and repair £1722 |
Vehicle Excise Duty £0 |
National Insurance £1031 |
CO2 (tax) |
13g/km/5% |
BIK 20/40% per month |
£28/£57 |
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Verdict
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- Serene drive
- Great interior
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- Learning new driving and refuelling skills
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