BMW’s first electric 3 Series is now open for US reservations, and it isn’t a cheap way into the badge. The 2027 BMW i3 50 xDrive starts at $61,500 before a $1,350 destination charge, so the lowest price on paper is $62,850 before tax and dealer fees. For that, BMW promises an estimated 446 to 468 miles of range, 463 horsepower, and fast charging at up to 400 kW, according to BMW of North America’s launch release.
That range comes from BMW’s own preliminary testing using EPA procedures, not an EPA rating yet. If it holds, the i3 would beat every Tesla passenger car and rank fourth among US EVs on advertised range, behind models from Lucid, Chevrolet, and GMC, InsideEVs noted.
What you get for $61,500
There is one US version at launch. The i3 50 xDrive has a motor on each axle for all-wheel drive, 476 lb-ft of torque, and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds in BMW’s testing. It sits on the Neue Klasse platform shared with the iX3 SUV and uses BMW’s sixth-generation battery, built from new cylindrical cells that BMW says pack 20% more energy into the same space as the old prismatic cells. Those packs come from plants like the Irlbach site in Bavaria that started production this month.
BMW lists the battery at 108.7 kWh in Europe, and Electrek reports the US car uses the same pack. Divide that by the range estimate and the i3 works out to roughly 23 to 24 kWh per 100 miles. That’s our math, not an official figure, but it puts a midsize all-wheel-drive sedan in the same efficiency range as much smaller cars.
Charging uses an 800-volt system, which we explain in more detail in our 800-volt charging guide. BMW quotes 10 to 80% in 21 minutes at a 400 kW station. That’s about 76 kWh in 21 minutes, an average of more than 200 kW across the session. BMW gives two different numbers for what 10 minutes adds. The press release says 191 to 208 miles, while the BMW USA model page says 165 to 180 miles. Plan around the lower number until EPA figures and real-world tests are in.
The US car has a NACS port, so it plugs straight into Tesla Superchargers, and BMW includes a CCS adapter for other networks. Home charging runs at up to 15.4 kW on AC, which is more than most home wall units deliver. The car can also power devices through a vehicle-to-load adapter at up to 3.7 kW, and BMW says it supports bidirectional charging for backing up a home during an outage.
How it compares on range per dollar
The i3 and the iX3 SUV share a battery and a $61,500 base price. The sedan’s lower, slipperier body is where the extra range comes from.
| Model | Base MSRP | Estimated range | Price per mile of range | Body |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 BMW i3 50 xDrive | $61,500 | 446 to 468 miles (BMW estimate) | About $131 to $138 | Sedan |
| 2027 BMW iX3 50 xDrive | $61,500 | Up to 434 miles | About $142 | Compact SUV |
| BMW iX4 | $66,200 | Up to 428 miles | About $155 | Coupe SUV |
Prices exclude destination. Price per mile is our calculation from the listed MSRP and the top range figure, or both ends of the i3’s range. iX4 figures are from our iX4 price and range post.
Against cheaper sedans, the i3 is a harder sell on price alone. Electrek lists the Tesla Model 3 from $38,630 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA from $47,250, both well under the BMW. The i3’s case is range, charging speed, and the fact that it is a 3 Series, not that it is good value.
Leasing tilts the math a little. When Electrek checked BMW’s payment estimator on October 13, the i3 came out at $784 a month for 36 months with $4,999 due at signing, against $862 a month for the iX3 on the same terms. That’s $78 a month, or about $2,800 over the lease, for the car with more range. Over the full term, the i3 lease totals about $32,400 to $33,200 before tax, depending on whether the first payment is part of the amount due at signing. BMW’s estimates include dealer contributions, so a specific dealer’s quote can be different. There was no i3-specific financing rate when that check was done, and BMW’s current national offers end November 2.
What the $1,000 reservation locks in
The reservation terms are short, and a few lines matter more than the rest.
The deposit is $1,000, paid to a participating BMW dealer through a Stripe link, and it is refundable if you cancel. It gets you an approximate place in line for early production slots, first come, first served. It is not a purchase, and you don’t have to buy, finance, or lease the car when your slot comes up.
It does not lock a price. The terms say in capital letters that the dealer sets the actual price, which can differ from MSRP. If you reserve, ask the dealer in writing whether they plan to charge over sticker for early cars before you pay.
It does not lock a delivery date either. The terms say deliveries start in spring 2027, while BMW’s press release puts the US launch in the first quarter of 2027. Your build and its production date decide when your car shows up, and the build you configure on BMW’s website may not be one the dealer can reserve.
You get one reservation per person and no more than two per household. To switch dealers, you have to cancel and start over, which means losing your place in line.
Who should reserve, and who should wait
Reserve now if you want an early i3 and plan to buy or lease from a dealer you already trust. The deposit is refundable, so the main cost is tying up $1,000 for a few months. BMW had more than 100,000 orders for the car in Europe by the end of September, according to Electrek, so early US supply may be tight.
Wait if you want the sportier model. BMW says an i3 M60 xDrive joins the lineup in 2027, with no US price yet. Waiting also makes sense if you care about the final EPA range or want to see whether BMW adds lease cash or a lower rate once the car reaches showrooms.
If you want the most range for the money and don’t need a sedan, the iX3 costs the same and gives up about 34 miles. If your budget stops near $50,000, the i3 isn’t the car, and a Model 3 or CLA is the better fit.
Questions buyers are asking
Is the BMW i3 deposit refundable? Yes. The $1,000 deposit is refundable if you cancel through the process in BMW’s reservation terms.
Does reserving guarantee the $61,500 price? No. The dealer sets the final price, and it can be higher than MSRP. Taxes, title, destination, and dealer fees are extra.
When do US deliveries start? BMW says the US launch begins in the first quarter of 2027, and the reservation terms say deliveries start in spring 2027. Exact timing depends on your build.
Nothing about the US i3 is final until EPA ratings and dealer pricing are in, and those numbers will decide how good a deal it really is. For now, a refundable deposit is a cheap way to hold a spot while you wait to find out.