BMW i3 vs Tesla Model S
The i3 costs less to run, by the official figures: about $20 a year less in New Zealand, $20 in Australia, £10 in the UK and $20 in the US.
Side by side
Specs are for each car's newest version. The better figure is in green.
A typical year's fuel
- New Zealand
- $794 (better)
- $816
- Australia
- $678 (better)
- $696
- United Kingdom
- £515 (better)
- £529
- United States
- $724 (better)
- $743
Official figures
- Uses
- 18.5 kWh/100km (better)
- 19.0 kWh/100km
- UK
- 3.4 mi/kWh (better)
- 3.3 mi/kWh
- US
- 113 MPGe (better)
- 110 MPGe
- Range
- 246 km
- 592 km (better)
Space
- Seats
- 5
- 5
- Boot
- 260 L
- 796 L (better)
- Length
- 3,999 mm
- 5,022 mm
- Weight
- 1,245 kg
- 2,068 kg
Engine
- Engine
- Single electric motor
- Dual electric motors
- Power
- 135 kW
- 500 kW (better)
- Torque
- 270 Nm
- 440 Nm (better)
- Gearbox
- Single-speed automatic
- Single-speed direct drive
- Drive
- RWD
- AWD
Safety
- ANCAP
- ★★★★★
- ★★★★★
- Euro NCAP
- –
- ★★★★★
- Airbags
- 6
- 8 (better)
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 Model S?
Which is cheaper to run, the BMW i3 or the Tesla Model S?
The BMW i3: about $20 a year less in New Zealand, $20 in Australia, £10 in the UK and $20 in the US than the Tesla Model S at today's average prices and a typical year's driving.
Which has the bigger boot, the BMW i3 or the Tesla Model S?
The Tesla Model S, at 796 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.
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