BMW i3s MPG by year — every rating on record
The BMW i3s has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 2019 to 2021. Across those years its best rated version returned 113 mpg (2019) and its thirstiest returned 31 mpg (2019). The EPA record holds 6 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.
In the EPA record this nameplate also appears as i3s and i3. The figures below cover every one of them.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 113 mpg | 31 mpg | #1 of 85 (100th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity, Premium Gas or Electricity | Subcompact Cars |
| 2020 | 2 | 113 mpg | 31 mpg | #1 of 87 (100th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity, Premium Gas or Electricity | Subcompact Cars |
| 2021 | 2 | 113 mpg | 31 mpg | #1 of 79 (100th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gas or Electricity, Electricity | Subcompact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW i3s placed highest in 2019 at #1 of 85, and lowest in 2019 at #1 of 85. It spent 3 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 6 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | Range | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.6L 2-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) Premium Gas or Electricity | PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 30 | 31 | 31 | 371.0 | 0.9 | $2,500 | 200 mi | 22 | 10/10 |
| 2021 | Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) Electricity | EV | 124 | 102 | 113 | 101.8 | 0.1 | $650 | 153 mi | n/a | 10/10 |
| 2020 | 0.6L 2-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) Premium Gas or Electricity | PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 30 | 31 | 31 | 371.0 | 0.9 | $2,500 | 200 mi | 22 | 10/10 |
| 2020 | Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) Electricity | EV | 124 | 102 | 113 | 101.8 | 0.1 | $650 | 153 mi | n/a | 10/10 |
| 2019 | 0.6L 2-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) Premium Gas or Electricity | PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid, start-stop | 30 | 31 | 31 | 371.0 | 0.9 | $2,500 | 200 mi | 22 | 10/10 |
| 2019 | Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) Electricity | EV | 124 | 102 | 113 | 101.8 | 0.1 | $650 | 153 mi | n/a | 10/10 |
What i3s fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2021 BMW i3s burns 102 to 371 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $305 | $1,113 | $808 |
| $3.50/gal | $356 | $1,298 | $942 |
| $4.00/gal | $407 | $1,484 | $1,077 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2021 model year is $650 to $2,500 a year in fuel, or $7,000 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 113 mpg the BMW i3s is 89 mpg better the median, which is worth about $1,321 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other BMW nameplates
Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.