Battle of The Green Cars - BMW i3 vs Chevrolet Bolt Test Drive Review

Feb 14, 2017 08:50 AM EST | Ileen Jasmine

Shortly after its launch back in 2014, the BMW i3 became one of the most award-winning electric vehicles. Today in 2017, the Chevrolet Bolt was released. It is quickly becoming a rival to the BMW i3.

In its glory days, the BMW i3 collected multiple awards including the Green Car of the Year and UK Car of the Year. The Chevrolet Bolt is doing the same today.

The Bolt has racked up multiple awards since its release earlier this year. The awards include the Motor Trend Car of the Year, 2017 North American Car of the Year amongst others. It even landed on Car and Driver's 2017 Ten Best list.

The BMW i3 has been updated with an optional bigger battery pack since its release. This means no matter how old the model gets, there will be no shortage of power even when compared to newer models.

It is not difficult to compare and pitch these two great EVs against each other. In fact, most car enthusiasts and experts do just that. Just how well do these two green cars perform when in a head to head comparison?

Looking from a financial point of view, the BMW i3 base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the i3 is at $43,395 for the 22kWh version and $44,595 for the 33 kWh version. On the other hand, the Chevrolet Bolt base MSRP is $37,495. However, if the factor in Federal Tax credit is considered, it can be purchased for as low as $30,000.

Surprisingly, both green cars have a lot of similarities. They are both compact five-door hatchbacks with fold down rear seats. As for the driving dynamics, both cars are fun to drive.

The i3's one pedal driving is the only mode the car comes with while the Bolt allows the typical transmission style driving. Bumping the gear lever down a second time and true one pedal EV driving is engaged.

For the full specs, BMW Blog recently posted this photo in their article. It's a full comparison of both cars specs-wise.

As for their performance on the track, the BMW i3 and Chevrolet Bolt certainly did not disappoint. The video below says it all.

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