- Newest year: 2021
- Plug-in hybrid
- Electric
- Small cars
- Same as 2020
2019-2021 BMW i3 MPG & Fuel Cost
3 model years · 31 MPG combined
15,000 mi/yr · premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026) + residential electricity 18.3¢/kWh (U.S. average, Jul 2026)
Cheaper to fuel than 10 of 10 small car configurations, MY2021. Ranked against all rated configurations, not sales-weighted.
2019-2021 BMW i3 at a glance
The 2019-2021 BMW i3 covers 3 model years in the EPA database (12 configurations in all), rated 31 MPG combined. The newest model year, 2021, costs about $1,020 a year to fuel for its most efficient version, the with Range Extender 0.6L 2-cyl RWD (31 MPG), at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026). Powertrains over the years: plug-in hybrid and electric. EPA lists identical ratings for every model year of this generation.
2019-2021 BMW i3 by model year
| Model year | Powertrains | Combined | $/yr | EPA ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Plug-in hybrid, Electric | 31 MPG, 113 MPGe | $820–$1,020 | Same EPA ratings as 2020 |
| 2020 | Plug-in hybrid, Electric | 31 MPG, 113 MPGe | $820–$1,020 | Same EPA ratings as 2019 |
| 2019 | Plug-in hybrid, Electric | 31 MPG, 113 MPGe | $820–$1,020 | First year |
What the 2021 with Range Extender 0.6L 2-cyl RWD costs to drive
Per month
$85
$1,020 a year ÷ 12
Per 25 miles
$1.70
Per 100 miles
$6.80
Five years
$5,100
5 × the yearly cost, prices held at today's level
vs the small car median
$2,190less a year
Class median $3,210 a year, MY2021
Based on 15,000 miles a year and premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).
2021 BMW i3 MPG
EPA lists the same ratings for the 2021 BMW i3 as for the 2020 model, so the configurations and costs are the ones in the 2020 section above.See 2020
On electricity 100 MPGe, with 126 miles of electric range.
See plug-in hybrid configurationsPlug-in hybrid configurations (2)
| Trim | Drive | Gas MPG | Electric MPGe | Electric range | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| with Range Extender (Most efficient) | RWD | 31 | 100 | 126 mi | $1,020 |
| i3s with Range Extender | RWD | 31 | 100 | 126 mi | $1,020 |
Cost assumes EPA's utility factor: 92% of miles are driven on electricity (residential electricity 18.3¢/kWh (U.S. average, Jul 2026)) and the rest on gasoline (premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026)).
Electric configurations (2)
| Trim | Drive | kWh/100 mi | MPGe | Range | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i3s (Most efficient) | RWD | 30 | 113 | 153 mi | $820 |
| i3 | RWD | 30 | 113 | 153 mi | $820 |
MPGe is the distance an electric car travels on 33.7 kWh, the energy in a gallon of gasoline. Fewer kWh per 100 miles means a lower running cost.
2020 BMW i3 MPG
Same EPA ratings as 2019
EPA lists the same ratings for the 2020 BMW i3 as for the 2019 model, so the configurations and costs are the ones in the 2019 section above.See 2019
2019 BMW i3 MPG
31 MPG, 113 MPGe · $820–$1,020/yr
On electricity 100 MPGe, with 126 miles of electric range.
See plug-in hybrid configurationsPlug-in hybrid configurations (2)
| Trim | Drive | Gas MPG | Electric MPGe | Electric range | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| with Range Extender (Most efficient) | RWD | 31 | 100 | 126 mi | $1,020 |
| i3s with Range Extender | RWD | 31 | 100 | 126 mi | $1,020 |
Cost assumes EPA's utility factor: 92% of miles are driven on electricity (residential electricity 18.3¢/kWh (U.S. average, Jul 2026)) and the rest on gasoline (premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026)).
Electric configurations (2)
| Trim | Drive | kWh/100 mi | MPGe | Range | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i3 (Most efficient) | RWD | 30 | 113 | 153 mi | $820 |
| i3s | RWD | 30 | 113 | 153 mi | $820 |
MPGe is the distance an electric car travels on 33.7 kWh, the energy in a gallon of gasoline. Fewer kWh per 100 miles means a lower running cost.
Fuel cost by state
Yearly cost of the with Range Extender 0.6L 2-cyl RWD: $1,730 in California and $750 in Louisiana, a $980 difference.
- California $1,730
- New York $1,530
- Texas $880
- Florida $860
- Louisiana $750
Similar cars
Closest combined MPG among MY2021 small car models.
Generations
- 2014-2018
- 2019-2021 (G20)
Frequently asked questions
What gas mileage does the 2019-2021 BMW i3 get?
EPA rates the 2019-2021 BMW i3 at 31 MPG combined across 12 configurations and 3 model years. The most efficient version, the 2021 with Range Extender 0.6L 2-cyl RWD, is rated 31 MPG (30 city, 31 highway). By powertrain: Plug-in hybrid: 31 MPG; Electric: 113 MPGe.
Which years had the best MPG in the 2019-2021 BMW i3?
Every model year of the 2019-2021 BMW i3 tops out at 31 MPG combined, so no year is better than another.
Did EPA ratings change during the 2019-2021 BMW i3?
No. EPA lists the same ratings for every model year from 2019 to 2021.
How does the 2019-2021 BMW i3 compare with the previous generation?
The previous generation (2014-2018 BMW i3) is rated 35–39 MPG combined and costs $740–$1,020 a year to fuel; the 2019-2021 model is rated 31 MPG and costs $820–$1,020 a year.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 BMW i3 per year?
Driving 15,000 miles a year at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026) + residential electricity 18.3¢/kWh (U.S. average, Jul 2026), the with Range Extender 0.6L 2-cyl RWD costs about $1,020 a year. Across all 4 configurations the cost runs $820–$1,020 a year. That is a $200 difference between the cheapest and the costliest configuration.
How does the 2021 BMW i3 compare with other small car configurations?
The with Range Extender 0.6L 2-cyl RWD costs about $1,020 a year to fuel, $2,190 less than the class median of $3,210, and less than 10 of 10 small car configurations. The comparison covers all 298 rated small car configurations for MY2021, not weighted by sales.
What is the range and charging cost of the 2021 BMW i3?
EPA rates the range at 153 miles depending on configuration, and the i3s RWD goes 153 mi. Efficiency is 30 kWh per 100 miles (113 MPGe). At residential electricity 18.3¢/kWh (U.S. average, Jul 2026), charging costs $820 a year, or $5.47 per 100 miles for the i3s RWD.
How far does the 2021 BMW i3 plug-in hybrid go on electricity?
EPA rates the electric range at 126 miles, with a total range of 200 miles when the gasoline engine helps. Once the battery is used, the car runs as a hybrid at 31 MPG. The with Range Extender 0.6L 2-cyl RWD costs about $1,020 a year, assuming EPA's utility factor of 92% of miles on electricity, at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026) + residential electricity 18.3¢/kWh (U.S. average, Jul 2026).
Is the 2021 BMW i3 different from the 2020 model?
No. EPA lists the same ratings for 2020 and 2021: 4 configurations rated 31 MPG combined. See the 2020 BMW i3 for that year.