Our Fleet Test Drive: BMW i3 - 11 report
Date:
03 December 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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Never mind 'range anxiety', I think I'm suffering 'range reality'. '100% charged' seems to mean different things on different days and even according to what device I check.
Case in point: after charging to 100% according to my i3 phone app, it indicated 78 miles of range, but when I got into the car not long after, only 70 miles was displayed on the vehicle's driver screen. '100%' seems to be bringing diminishing returns too, only registering a 65-mile range after fully topping up the other day compared with a heady 93-mile high point three months ago.
How can electricity be calculated differently? And has the car sussed my driving style?
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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