BMW i3 vs Nissan Leaf

The i3 costs less to run, by the official figures: about $10 a year less in New Zealand and $10 in the US.

BMW i3Nissan Leaf

Side by side

Specs are for each car's newest version. The better figure is in green.

BMW i3Nissan Leaf

A typical year's fuel

New Zealand
$794 (better)
$800
Australia
$678 (better)
$683
United Kingdom
£515 (better)
£519
United States
$724 (better)
$729

Official figures

Uses
18.5 kWh/100km (better)
18.6 kWh/100km
UK
3.4 mi/kWh (better)
3.3 mi/kWh
US
113 MPGe (better)
112 MPGe
Range
246 km
463 km (better)

Space

Seats
5
5
Boot
260 L
435 L (better)
Towing, braked
–
0 kg
Length
3,999 mm
4,490 mm
Weight
1,245 kg
1,580 kg

Engine

Engine
Single electric motor
Single electric motor
Power
135 kW (better)
110 kW
Torque
270 Nm
320 Nm (better)
Gearbox
Single-speed automatic
Single-speed reduction gear
Drive
RWD
FWD

Safety

ANCAP
★★★★★
★★★★★
Euro NCAP
–
★★★★★
Airbags
6
6

A typical year: New Zealand 11,000 km (Ministry of Transport's average for a light vehicle); Australia 11,100 km (ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use average); United Kingdom 11,265 km (DfT National Travel Survey average of about 7,000 miles); United States 21,726 km (FHWA average of about 13,500 miles). Real costs depend on how and where you drive. Work out a particular trip.

i3 or Leaf?

Which is cheaper to run, the BMW i3 or the Nissan Leaf?

The BMW i3: about $10 a year less in New Zealand and $10 in the US than the Nissan Leaf at today's average prices and a typical year's driving.

Which has the bigger boot, the BMW i3 or the Nissan Leaf?

The Nissan Leaf, at 435 L to the BMW i3's 260 L, for their newest versions.

Each on its own

Other comparisons

What will the drive cost?

Roadtrip works out the fuel or charging cost of any drive for your exact car, finds the cheapest stations on the way, and splits it between everyone in the car.

Rated 4.7 by drivers · 700,000 downloads

The Roadtrip app showing a drive into London that costs £4.81 each, with fuel prices along the way