Compare the2022 Porsche TaycanVS 2021 BMW i3

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Porsche Taycan have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The BMW i3 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Taycan’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 Porsche Taycan 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 Porsche Taycan 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 Taycan offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The i3 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Taycan helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera 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 Taycan’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The i3 doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Taycan offers an optional Surround View 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 Taycan’s optional 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 Taycan and the i3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The Porsche Taycan weighs 1259 to 2227 pounds more than the BMW i3. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche 15th in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 20th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in reliability, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 3 places higher in reliability than BMW.

Engine

The Taycan has more powerful engines than the i3:

	Horsepower	Torque
Taycan electric motor	402 HP	254 lbs.-ft.
Taycan Performance Plus electric motor	469 HP	263 lbs.-ft.
Taycan Cross Turismo electric motors	469 HP	368 lbs.-ft.
Taycan 4S electric motors	522 HP	472 lbs.-ft.
Taycan 4S Performance Plus/Cross Turismo electric motors	562 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
Taycan Turbo electric motors	670 HP	626 lbs.-ft.
Taycan Turbo S electric motors	750 HP	774 lbs.-ft.
i3 REx 0.6 2-cylinder hybrid	168 HP	184 lbs.-ft.
i3s electric motor	181 HP	199 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Taycan 4S Performance Plus/Cross Turismo’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 227 miles on a full charge, 15.0532184490623% further than the i3 REx’s 197.3 mile range. The i3 can only travel about 153 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 Porsche Taycan higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW i3 (7 to 10). This means the Taycan produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the i3 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Taycan’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 Taycan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the i3:

	Taycan Base/4S	Taycan Turbo S	i3
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	16.5 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	14.1 inches	16.1 inches	11 inches

The Taycan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The i3 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Taycan stops much shorter than the i3:

	Taycan	i3
70 to 0 MPH	147 feet	163 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	108 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Taycan has larger standard tires than the i3 (F:225/55R19 & R:275/45R19 vs. F:155/70R19 & R:175/60R19). The Taycan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the i3 (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. F:175/55R20 & R:195/50R20).

The Taycan’s standard 225/55R19 front and 275/45R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the i3’s standard 70 series front and 60 series rear tires. The Taycan’s optional 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the i3s’ 55 series front and 50 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taycan offers optional 21-inch wheels. The i3’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Taycan has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Taycan flat and controlled during cornering. The i3’s suspension doesn’t offer stabilizer bars.

The Taycan offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The i3 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Taycan offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the i3.

The Taycan 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. The i3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taycan’s wheelbase is 13 inches longer than on the i3 (114.2 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taycan is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the i3.

The Taycan 4S handles at 1.03 G’s, while the i3 pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Taycan is 8.3 inches shorter in height than the i3, making the Taycan much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The design of the Porsche Taycan amounts to more than styling. The Taycan offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .22 to .26 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly lower than the i3 (.29 to .33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Taycan get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Taycan Sedan a Compact car, while the i3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Taycan offers optional seating for 5 passengers; the i3 can only carry 4.

The Taycan has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i3 (88 vs. 83.6).

The Taycan has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear legroom and 4 inches more rear shoulder room than the i3.

Cargo Capacity

The Taycan has a much larger trunk than the i3 with its rear seat up (17.2 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the i3 with its rear seat up (18.7 vs. 15.1 cubic feet). The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the i3 with its rear seat folded (45.7 vs. 36.9 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Taycan. 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 Taycan’s power trunk 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.

Payload

The Taycan has a much higher standard payload capacity than the i3 (1331 vs. 814 lbs.).

The Taycan has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the i3 (1594 vs. 814 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Porsche first in service department satisfaction. With a 33% lower rating, BMW is ranked 8th.

Ergonomics

The Taycan 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 Taycan offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Taycan’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The i3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Taycan’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.

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

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

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Taycan 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 Taycan’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The i3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Taycan 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 Taycan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the i3.

The Taycan’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 Porsche Taycan has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The i3 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Taycan’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The i3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Model Availability

The Porsche Taycan comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the BMW i3 isn’t available as a sedan or station wagon.

Recommendations

The Porsche Taycan outsold the BMW i3 by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.

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