BMW i3 vs Chevrolet Bolt EV (2021)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$7,950
- i3: longer warranty.
- Bolt EV: $7,950 cheaper, uses 1.1 kWh per 100 mi less.
- Bolt EV wins 8 of 9 measures.
| Measure | i3 | Bolt EV | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $45,445 | $37,495 | Bolt EV |
| Horsepower | 168 hp | 200 hp | Bolt EV |
| Torque | 110 lb-ft | 266 lb-ft | Bolt EV |
| kWh per 100 mi | 29.8 kWh/100 mi | 28.7 kWh/100 mi | Bolt EV |
| EV range | 0 mi to 153 mi | 259 mi | N/A |
| Rear legroom | 31.9 in | 36.5 in | Bolt EV |
| Front legroom | 40.5 in | 41.6 in | Bolt EV |
| Length | 158.3 in | 164.0 in | Not scored |
| Width | N/A | 69.7 in | N/A |
| Curb weight | 2,972 lb | 3,563 lb | Not scored |
| Seats | 4 | 5 | Bolt EV |
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | N/A | N/A |
| 0-60 mph | 7.2 s tested | 6.8 s estimate | Bolt EV |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | i3 |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| i3 RWD $44,450 | Bolt EV Premier FWD $41,700 | $2,750 |
| Bolt EV LT FWD $36,500 | i3 RWD $44,450 | $7,950 |
Cost to run
Bolt EV costs $8,089 less over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | i3 | Bolt EV |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $45,445 | $37,495 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $608 | $585 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $3,647 | $3,508 |
| Total, 6 years | $49,092 | $41,003 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Bolt EV wins.
No single weight change flips the winner.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Bolt EV | 17% |
| MPG | Bolt EV | 4% |
| Power | Bolt EV | 16% |
| Space | N/A | |
| Towing | N/A |
Other years
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree