BMW i3 Claims 468-Mile Range, Outpacing Tesla’s Longest-Range Models
BMW’s new electric 3 Series is making its case on a spec that matters to daily drivers: range. The company says the i3 50 xDrive sedan will deliver up to 468 miles on a single charge in the United States. The figure is preliminary, but if it holds, the car would sit among the longest-range EVs on sale in America and ahead of every passenger car in Tesla’s lineup.
How the 468-Mile Claim Compares?
The EPA rates the Tesla Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive at up to 342 miles. The single-motor Long Range version of the Model 3 manages 363 miles. Both fall well short of BMW’s preliminary number.
On advertised range, the i3 would rank fourth among EVs sold in the U.S. Ahead of it are the Lucid Air at 512 miles, the Chevrolet Silverado EV at 493 miles and the GMC Sierra EV at 478 miles. Among sedans, only the Lucid goes farther on paper. These rankings mix EPA-rated figures with manufacturer claims, so they are not a like-for-like comparison.
Buyers in Europe are quoted an even higher number for the same version: up to 567 miles (912 km). That figure comes from the WLTP test cycle, which is generally more optimistic than the EPA’s procedure and should not be compared directly with U.S. ratings.
Powertrain and Performance
The i3 50 xDrive shares its underpinnings with the iX3 SUV. It uses two motors, all-wheel drive, an 800-volt electrical system and BMW’s new cylindrical battery cells. BMW has confirmed a 108.7 kWh battery for Europe. The U.S. announcement does not state the capacity, though it is likely the same.
Output is 463 hp (469 PS) in both markets. The car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and European specifications list 4.7 seconds to 62 mph (100 km/h).
Charging: Same Hardware, Different Numbers
Peak DC charging power is 400 kW. BMW says a 10-minute stop can add up to 208 miles of range in the U.S., against 263 miles (423 km) in Europe. The gap reflects how range is calculated in each market, not a difference in hardware.
There are real hardware differences elsewhere. U.S. cars come with a NACS port and a CCS adapter, while European cars use CCS. For AC charging, American buyers get up to 15.4 kW. European cars get 11 kW as standard, with a 22 kW option.
A Cheaper i3 for Europe
Europe will also get the i3 40 xDrive, which has a smaller 82.8 kWh battery and a dual-motor setup producing 369 hp. BMW claims 441 miles (710 km) on the WLTP cycle. It reaches 62 mph in 5.4 seconds and charges at up to 300 kW. An equivalent iX3 variant is also offered in Europe. BMW has made no official announcement of a U.S. launch for the 40.
Pricing and Availability
In Germany, the i3 40 starts at €59,900 and the 50 at €65,900. In the United States, the 50 xDrive starts at $61,500, or $62,850 including destination, with deliveries due in the first quarter of 2027. UK deliveries begin this autumn.
What Comes Next?
An i3 M60 xDrive is planned for 2027, including in the U.S., though BMW has not released its power or range figures. A wagon-bodied i3 Touring has also been spotted testing under camouflage in Germany. It is not yet clear whether that version will be sold in America.
The 468-mile figure is preliminary, and the final EPA rating may differ. Even so, the numbers put the i3 in direct competition with the long-range EVs buyers are already cross-shopping, and they set up a closer comparison with the Model 3 than BMW’s earlier electric sedans managed.
