There’s been much hubbub about BMW and Telsa going head to head for electric vehicle domination. But in the mix of all of this BMW/Tesla arguing, it’s almost as if people have forgotten about little ole Chevy. The new Chevy Volt is an impressive little car, that offers a very intriguing hybrid proposition. These two cars are actually more similar to each other than they are to anything coming from Silicon Valley, as they both offer a gasoline engine as a way to charge their batteries. But anyway, on to the test. A Canadian publication, The Globe and Mail, recently tested both cars back to back, so let’s see what they found.
In terms of looks, the two cars couldn’t actually be more different. The only similarity they share is that they’re both technically hatchbacks. While the Volt looks like a typical compact sedan, it actually has a hatchback-style trunk. But aside from that design quirk, you’d be hard pressed to differentiate the Volt from any other compact sedan on the market. The BMW i3, on the other hand, looks like something that came out of Minority Report, as if it were plucked from a science fiction novel. It’s downright funky and different and weird, but it makes owning an EV feel like owning something from the future and that’s a very good thing indeed. So, because of its far-out there styling, it is certainly the design winner.
In terms of interior, the Volt has a fine looking cabin that does look quite useful and functional. However, it also seems quite cramped and just looks as if it’s a standard sedan’s interior with some fancy screens slapped on it. The BMW i3’s cabin is far more interesting and has loads more room. It’s also superbly built, using exotic materials and is extremely different. But most importantly, it looks special and like something purposely built and designed to be the future of the automobile, while the Volt’s looks like a Cruze interior with an EV skin on top. Advantage again goes to BMW.
Where the Volt starts to catch up is in the range department. While the Chevy actually has a shorter electric range than the i3, 65 km to the i3’s 108 km in this test, it has a much further gasoline-extended range of 500 km, compared to the BMW’s 100 km or so. So the Chevy can realistically go further than the i3 and makes it the better EV for long journeys. While the i3 makes and excellent city car, where its better electric range but lack of overall range isn’t much of an issue, the Volt is a great city car too and it can go further distances. So advantage Chevy.
When it comes to actually driving both cars, the i3 really shines. The short wheelbase, extremely low curb weight and rear-drive nature makes the i3 a blast to drive. It has go-kart handling and cobra-like reflexes to go with its surprisingly brisk acceleration. 0-60 mph comes in a claimed 7.9 seconds, but everyone who’s driven an i3 knows that it feels quicker than that. The Volt, on the other hand, isn’t bad either. While it lacks the sportiness of the i3, it’s still a nice car to drive and a bit more comfortable. It’s more the relaxed cruiser, which is good considering that it has the ability to travel long distances. But, overall, the BMW i3 is the better car to drive.
In terms of cost, though, the Chevy has a real advantage. Costing over $10,000 less than the BMW i3 REx, the Chevy Volt is the better deal, as it has a further range and similar levels of tech. However, the BMW i3 does justify its higher price with superb materials, a far superior cabin and better driving dynamics. In this test, the Volt was rated just a bit higher than the i3 for its better breadth of abilities. However, we feel that if someone can afford the i3, it’s the better car overall. But, if one wants to save some money, the Chevy Volt is a fantastic value proposition and a great little EV for the price.
[Source: The Globe and Mail]
The BMW’s interior is so nice! The outside looks like garbage.
In a world where Camrys and Sonatas are norm, the i3 doesn’t really fit in. I’ll take the i3 any day.
Agree that the Volt interior is cramped at best, especially the rear seats. The i3 feels like a mid-size SUV in comparison. Extremely spacious in the front, and pretty good even in the back.
I like both cars for different reasons.
The volt actually looks like a car from the outside, though.
We get it, John. You don’t like how the i3 looks. Duly noted.
If you’re 5’10” or less you could be ok in the back.
My problem is kids who are taller.
Why isn’t there a Volt Wagon, to fix this and to sell into the business market?
What hubbub are you referring to? The Chevy Bolt is mentioned in practically every Tesla story. The only mention of BMW generally has to do with Musk’s assertion that the Model 3 is more a 3-series competitor than a Bolt competitor. Outside the BMW Blog fanboy bubble, I’m not sure anyone believes BMW is even in the running for EV dominance…
I agree that the two cars couldn’t be more different. I recently spent time in a new BMW M3 and realized at the end that its overall real world commuter driving dynamics reminded me most of a – Chevy Volt, no one more surprised than me, although I find the Volt more quiet and quick and more solid and smooth. That’s still a complement to both. In contrast, in my experience the BMW i3 driving dynamics feels like two Dakar style motorcycles woven together, with amazing lateral stiffness and 1960s American muscle car strong launches, a hoot to drive in urban settings. I forget how quiet the i3 was as noisy shouts of joyful amazement was the background.
I think the i3 stands out in city, suburb and country driving. It only seems to have occasional issues on highway driving. It needs a bit more rubber on the road. And with the new battery coming out, I hope BMW adds a little width to the tires for highway stability.
Can’t you easily change tires and wheels from the factory stock after you get a car?
BMW really needs to generate some more buzz.
After the Tesla Model 3, it looks like they need that i5 out quicker, and at a lower price point.
Let’s see:
I3 0-60 7.9 = sporty
Volt 0-60 7 = sluggardly
Interesting…
It has to do with how that speed is delivered. I’d be interested in knowing what the 0-30 time is. The i3 feels like a pocket rocket around town. The Volt, not so much.
0-30 is 2.2 I also found 2.6, so likely 2.2 is in sport mode… Many of the 0-60 times are tested in “normal” mode…
I see one test on I3 as 0-30 at 3.5, does it have different modes?
Subjectively some vehicles feel much faster then others even though they objectively test slower. I’ve ridden a few bikes that felt radically quick compared to what I saw riding, but then line them up and I’d walk them on my bike. Every time I noticed this the other bike was much lighter, you know “flickable”…
My volt is a tank, it’s quick, but it feels substantial (to put it politely). From what I read the I3 is a miracle of state of the art lightening… From the carbon space cage on up… But frankly, it’s far more of a modern miracle on it’s energy absorption during crashes.