{"id":2643,"date":"2025-08-29T09:20:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T09:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/?p=2643"},"modified":"2025-08-29T09:20:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T09:20:55","slug":"xxxxxxxx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/2025\/08\/29\/xxxxxxxx\/","title":{"rendered":"XXXXXXXX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”article-title-allcaps” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|800||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”44px” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The best electric choices to replace your BMW 3-series<\/span><\/h1>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Words<\/strong> Chris Chilton
Photography<\/strong> Jordan Butters, Tom Salt, Steffen Jahn and BMW<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/01-BMW-3-series-scaled.jpg” title_text=”01 BMW 3-series” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”text-with-dropcap” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

BMW\u2019s 3-series hit its half century in 2025, and for most of those 50 years it\u2019s been the go-to small sports saloon. But with no EV option available until the clean-sheet Neue Klasse car arrives at the back end of 2026, likely to be badged i3, anyone coming to the end of a three-year stint behind the wheel of a current 3-series and looking to go fully electric needs to be prepared to jump ship.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Not to an Audi A4 or Mercedes C-Class, the traditional 3-series rivals, because electric versions of those haven\u2019t arrived yet either, though they are on the way. And not necessarily to an i4, the good-but-not-great BMW that’s been around for a few years now.<\/p>\n

Instead, it might be time to head into new territory, where some of our five options wear badges that have never made it onto any list of BMW 3-series rivals before.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/02-BYD-Seal-scaled.jpg” title_text=”02 BYD Seal” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

BYD Seal<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

BYD\u2019s name wasn\u2019t on anyone\u2019s shopping list outside China until very recently. But it’s on fire right now. New-energy (electric and hybrid) export sales are up 160 per cent from a company that shifted more electric cars in Europe than even Tesla in June, and though some of that growth has been fuelled by demand for the cheap and cheerful Dolphin (now joined by the even smaller, even cheaper Dolphin Surf) and plug-in Seal-U SUV, BYD has a foot in the electric premium segment too.<\/p>\n

The Seal saloon trashes the notion that EVs have to cost more than combustion cars, the entry-level Design model\u2019s \u00a345,705 price undercutting the base petrol 3-series. That buys you a Seal with a single 308bhp motor, 5.9sec 0-62mph time and 354 miles of claimed range from an 82kWh battery.
A 150kW charge rate is only average, the ride can get fidgety and the smallish cargo bay is accessed via a conventional saloon boot, not a more practical fastback hatch. But this well-built, well-equipped EV is a credible exec, whatever your lingering badge snobbery tells you.<\/p>\n

Still not sold? Then consider that even the 523bhp dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Excellence (0-62mph in 3.8sec, 323 miles) is only a \u00a33000 step away, and could cost you just \u00a320 more per month than the base car on a lease deal that\u2019s half the price of the equivalent electric BMW policy.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/03-BMW-i4-scaled.jpg” title_text=”03 BMW i4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

BMW i4<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Yes, while it\u2019s true that BMW hasn\u2019t yet produced an electric 3-series for the US or Europe (it does sell one in China wearing i3 badges) your Western BMW dealer will sell you the next best thing. The i4 is built around the sexier five-door coupe shell of the 3-series\u2019 more glamorous spin-off, the 4-series Gran Coupe.<\/p>\n

A slinkier 3-series with pocket-money running costs? What\u2019s not to like? Maybe the price, which at \u00a351,370 for the basic eDrive 35 starts at \u00a310k more than a basic 320i and \u00a34k more than the 330e plug-in hybrid. Or range figures that in some versions continue to lag behind the competition\u2019s, despite a recent semiconductor upgrade.<\/p>\n

For that reason we\u2019d skip the 35, which only promises up to 315 WLTP miles on one charge, and go for the eDrive 40. An \u00a38k jump looks big at first glance but there\u2019s only a couple of beers of difference between them in monthly leasing costs and the range jumps to 380 miles thanks to a bigger 80.7kWh battery.<\/p>\n

It has a blend of ride, handling and braking attributes that\u2019ll make any 3-series driver feel right at home, class-leading refinement and an interior that\u2019s both handsome and practical. That and a top-notch touchscreen system that can still be toggled using the rotary iDrive controller that\u2019s quickly disappearing from BMW\u2019s other cars. Grab it while you can.<\/p>\n

The i4 even sounds good, thanks to a feature developed by movie-score legend Hans Zimmer. Usually a \u00a3200 option, BMW IconicSounds is standard on the 593bhp, 338-mile, \u00a371,000 M60, which is currently BMW\u2019s most popular M-car. It\u2019s not the best i4, though. The lighter, simpler, slower single-motor cars are more fun and feelsome. More like a 3-series.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/04-Tesla-Model-3-scaled.jpg” title_text=”04 Tesla Model 3″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Tesla Model 3<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

But there\u2019s one big reason you might not buy any version of the i4 and it\u2019s Tesla\u2019s Model 3. It’s been mildly refreshed with a better quality interior, but the basic design dates to 2017. That’s not a problem, though; rather, it emphasises just how good the Model 3 was from the start, and it still punches hard where it counts.<\/p>\n

We\u2019d prefer a practical hatchback, like the BMW\u2019s, but can\u2019t argue with the generous boot that\u2019s bigger than an i4\u2019s, plus (unlike the German car) a frunk. It\u2019s roomy in the cabin, too, and despite the 3\u2019s low-slung stance the minimalist interior feels bright thanks to a standard glass roof and generous side glazing.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth making sure you can live with two post-facelift features before you sign up for a multi-year Model 3 ownership experience, though: the digital drive\/reverse\/neutral selector and steering wheel-mounted indicators. You get used to them, the same way you would get used to it if Tesla had decided to swap the accelerator and brake pedals round on an Elon Musk whim (shh, don\u2019t tempt him) but that doesn\u2019t make them better than conventional controls.<\/p>\n

Unquestionably better on recent cars, though, is the refinement. The latest Model 3s are quieter and more comfortable than the pre-update cars, and they\u2019re still fun to drive, if not quite i4 fun. The entry-level RWD car can breeze to 62mph in 6.1sec, feels faster still, and has a claimed 323-mile range. Those stats put in broadly on a par with the base Seal and i4, though at \u00a339,990 it\u2019s cheaper than both.<\/p>\n

Another \u00a35k gets you into the Long Range RWD, meaning 5.2sec to 62mph and 436 miles between charges, and that\u2019s probably the sweet spot in the range. The Model 3 Performance is overkill, but thanks to its 3.1sec sprint time you\u2019ll have fun taunting Porsches and the odd Lamborghini, as well as every other EV on our list.<\/p>\n

At \u00a359,990 it\u2019s an icon-eating bargain, though the slower BMW i4 M50 has a more natural feel on twisty roads, has a little more visual flair and feels plenty quick enough, if short on steering feel.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/05-VW-ID.-7-scaled.jpg” title_text=”05 VW ID. 7″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

VW ID. 7<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Volkswagen\u2019s ID. 7 won\u2019t satisfy speed demons and it doesn\u2019t have the brand kudos of a 3-series. But this underrated aero-frumpy fastback is the best electric car VW makes, and yes, we\u2019re including the funky ID. Buzz in that assessment.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s huge, for a start, and usefully so. The space for rear passengers will seem limo-like to anyone coming from a 3-series, the boot is massive \u2013 good, because there\u2019s no frunk \u2013 and, unlike the other EVs on our list, the ID. 7 is also available in estate form. But where the ID. 7 really moves the VW electric game on is in interior quality.<\/p>\n

Instead of the hard, scratchy plastics that had us asking if the ID. 3 really was from the same VW that gave us the Mk4 Golf\u2019s slush-moulded dash and damped grab handles, the ID. 7\u2019s interior is crammed with expensive-feeling materials. And the refinement doesn\u2019t vanish once you\u2019re rolling. The ID. 7 is quieter than the Model 3, i4 and its ID siblings, which together with electric range claims that stretch from 380 right up to 433 miles, depending on version, makes it perfect for chewing through big motorway trips.<\/p>\n

But when the road turns interesting, the ID. 7 fails to keep pace. It rarely invites you to exploit performance that\u2019s modest by EV standards, if still ample by combustion ones. The base \u00a351,005 single-motor ID. 7 makes 282bhp and gets to 62mph in 6.5sec, and even the \u00a359,110 335bhp dual-motor GTX needs a nothing-special 5.4sec. Maybe that\u2019s just as well: the ID. 7\u2019s long brake-pedal travel doesn\u2019t inspire much confidence, even if there\u2019s nothing wrong with the braking power, and the chassis is stable but short on sizzle.<\/p>\n

The ID. 7 could also do with a bigger, configurable driver\u2019s display and more physical dashboard buttons, though a ChatGPT-powered voice assistant cuts out a few forays to the 15-inch touchscreen. But don\u2019t pay too much mind to its unimpressive-on-paper 175-200kW charge rates. In our testing the ID. 7 maintained its peak charge rate for longer, and so charged more quickly than a supposedly faster-filling Tesla Model 3.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/06-Polestar-2-scaled.jpg” title_text=”06 Polestar 2″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Polestar 2<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

We were seriously tempted by Hyundai\u2019s eye-catching Ioniq 6 but we\u2019ve picked the older Polestar 2 as the last of our five electric 3-series alternatives. The Swede can\u2019t match the Korean\u2019s 270kW charge rate, and both are tight for rear headroom, but the \u00a343,160 base version of the Polestar undercuts its Ioniq opposite number by \u00a32k, its 6.2sec shames the Hyundai by 1.2sec, and though a claimed 344- vs 338-mile range difference doesn\u2019t sound like much, we’ve found the real-world gap to be much bigger.<\/p>\n

Step up to the \u00a347,160 Long Range and Polestar promises you\u2019ll cover a chunky 408 miles before needing to find a plug. Or four grand on top of that gets you the 469bhp Long Range Dual Motor, whose 369-mile range isn\u2019t actually as long, but can hit 62mph in as little as 4.2sec with the optional Performance pack.<\/p>\n

At a glance the 2 looks much like the car that went on sale in 2020, but Polestar has made some big changes under the skin, ramping up the sluggish charging rates to 180-200kW depending on model, and switching the single-motor version\u2019s powerplant from the front to the back, sharpening up the handling a smidge in the process. Shame about the brittle ride and unchanged \u2013 and still awful \u2013 rear visibility, though the 2 does at least have a rear window, unlike the Polestar 4.
You can decide for yourself if you value the BYD\u2019s price over the Polestar\u2019s cool Scandi style or prefer the ID. 7\u2019s easygoing nature, family-friendly practicality and massive range. The VW certainly deserves serious attention, but it’s not enough in this case. Because our mission to find an EV for a BMW 3-series fan leads us past all three and to the Model 3 and BMW i4.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”small-subhead” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The verdict<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The i4 makes it so easy for anyone coming out of a 3-series to switch over to EV power. The familiarity of every control, including the excellent touchscreen system, is a major asset, and so too are the style, handling, hatchback practicality and recently improved range figures. Hands up, it\u2019s the one I\u2019d pick. But if \u2013 and it\u2019s a big if \u2013 you can live with the Tesla\u2019s control quirks, the faster, cheaper, rangier and often more exciting Model 3 is still out in front.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Love the BMW 3-series but want an EV? These are the top electric alternatives for you \u2013 and they don’t involve waiting for BMW’s all-new 2026 i3<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"kschwarz","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2674,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643\/revisions\/2674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/car\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}