Compare the2022 Audi e-tronVS 2021 BMW i3

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The e-tron’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The i3 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi e-tron are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW i3 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Audi e-tron has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The i3 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre Sense Front in the e-tron as “Superior.” The i3 scores only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The i3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The e-tron offers four-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The i3 doesn’t offer four-wheel drive.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The i3 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The e-tron’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The i3 doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The e-tron offers an optional Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The i3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the e-tron’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The i3 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the e-tron and the i3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Audi e-tron weighs 2456 to 3102 pounds more than the BMW i3. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the e-tron is safer than the i3:

	e-tron	i3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Torso Acceleration	11.6 g’s	13.3 g’s
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Shearing Force	0	5
Max Neck Tension	224	561

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the e-tron its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The i3 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

Engine

The e-tron’s standard electric motors produce 234 more horsepower (402 vs. 168) and 306 lbs.-ft. more torque (490 vs. 184) than the i3 REx’s standard 0.6 2-cylinder hybrid. The e-tron’s electric motors produce 221 more horsepower (402 vs. 181) and 291 lbs.-ft. more torque (490 vs. 199) than the i3s’ standard electric motor. The e-tron S’ standard electric motors produce 315 more horsepower (496 vs. 181) and 518 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 199) than the i3s’ standard electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

The e-tron’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 181 to 222 miles on a full charge (dependent on motors and equipment), 18% to 45% further than the i3’s 152-mile range. The i3 REx can only travel about 126 miles before it has to start its internal combustion engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi e-tron higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW i3 (7 to 10). This means the e-tron produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the i3 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The e-tron’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The i3 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the e-tron’s brake rotors are larger than those on the i3:

	e-tron	i3
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	11 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the e-tron has larger standard tires than the i3 (255/50R20 vs. 155/70R19). The e-tron’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the i3 (265/45R21 vs. 175/55R20).

The e-tron’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the i3’s standard 70 series front and 60 series rear tires. The e-tron’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the i3s’ 55 series front and 50 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the i3. The e-tron’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the i3s.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the i3, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The e-tron has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The i3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The e-tron has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The e-tron’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The i3 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the e-tron S’ wheelbase is 13.9 inches longer than on the i3 (115.1 inches vs. 101.2 inches). The e-tron’s wheelbase is 14.1 inches longer than on the i3 (115.3 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron is 3 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the i3.

The e-tron Chronos Edition handles at .85 G’s, while the i3 pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The e-tron has standard seating for 5 passengers; the i3 can only carry 4.

The e-tron has .3 inches more front legroom, 5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 7.2 inches more rear legroom and 8.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the i3.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the e-tron’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The i3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the e-tron. The i3 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the e-tron’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The i3 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Towing

The e-tron has a 4000 lbs. towing capacity. The i3 has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The e-tron has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The i3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the i3, the e-tron Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The e-tron’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The i3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The e-tron’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. BMW does not offer a locking feature on the i3’s standard power windows.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The e-tron’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the i3’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the e-tron detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The i3 doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The i3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the e-tron and the i3 have standard heated front seats. The e-tron also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the i3.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The i3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the e-tron’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The i3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The e-tron has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The i3 doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The e-tron Prestige has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the i3.

The e-tron’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The i3 doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi e-tron offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The i3 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

The e-tron will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the e-tron will retain 40.6% to 40.79% of its original price after five years, while the i3 only retains 23.25% to 28.45%.

Recommendations

The Audi e-tron outsold the BMW i3 by over five to one during the 2021 model year.