![\"I3](\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/i3-v-G20-LCI-front.jpg\" "\\"I3")
<\/a><\/p>\nThere\u2019s absolutely nothing that hasn\u2019t been changed from the G20 to the i3 sedan<\/a> (or NA0). Indeed, it might be challenging to convince someone that didn\u2019t already know that the NA0 was a 3 Series at all if they were using the old car as a reference point. Kidney grilles are definitely out, but there are some vague similarities in how the lower front bumper is constructed on both cars. From a side profile, you can kind of make out that the two might\u2019ve come from the same manufacturer. After all, BMW\u2019s new \u201c2.5-box\u201d design doesn\u2019t leave that much to the imagination.<\/p>\n Like in our BMW i4 and i3 comparison<\/a>, I think the i3 struggles most at the rear. The high beltline is a sharp contrast from the smooth look of the G20. Perhaps predictably, the i3 is larger than the \u201cold\u201d 3 Series. It\u2019s around two inches longer and wider. Two inches of additional wheelbase and a wider front and rear track should help balance things out and make the i3 a competent performer, but it might still feel big compared to the G20. Especially when we hear how much the car weighs \u2014 a top on which BMW is conspicuously silent on.<\/p>\n The 3 Series got a larger screen around midway through its lifecycle. But the i3 sedan proudly showcases the next evolution of digital dashboards: iDrive X<\/a>. Along with reconfigured screen layouts and the lack of a gauge cluster, BMW changes pretty much everything about the cabin. From eliminating switchgear to integrating ambient lighting into the dashboard, the new i3 sedan looks far and away more futuristic than the G20 3 Series. Available sport seats, interesting available colors (Agave Green? Sign me up), and overall pleasant aesthetics almost help you forget about the very complicated looking steering wheel and generally digital feeling in the cabin. Quality will likely be the biggest measure of improvement here, which we can\u2019t really account for until we get some seat time. The old G20 is screwed together pretty tight; we have high expectations for the i3, too.<\/p>\n Ah performance, the great equalizer. Whereas design is somewhat subjective, performance numbers can tell you quickly how two cars stack up with no bias whatsoever. And \u2014 as seems to be the case with all of the i3\u2019s would-be competitors \u2014 it\u2019s no contest here. The i3 has 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque to work with. That\u2019s in its current i3 50 xDrive guise; so, the forthcoming M Performance model will perform even better. The top dog M340i gets 386 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. While the i3 will likely weigh far more than the gas 3 Series, we have a feeling it\u2019ll still be a riot to drive. We\u2019ll also hedge our bets that the i3 will accelerate from zero to 60 somewhere between the 330i\u2019s 5.4 second time and the M340i RWD\u2019s 4.4-second time. The EV will likely get you further without stopping too, thanks to its 440-mile range.<\/p>\nInterior Design<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPerformance<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nTechnology<\/h3>\n