The Neue Klasse BMW i3 put everyone on notice. Not just the luxury segment, but EVERYTHING. Now, the bar to reach just got harder thanks to this all-electric 3 Series sports sedan. However, it’s even tougher for EV sedans. No longer the typical consumer’s de facto choice, automakers must make anything that isn’t an SUV punch above its weight. For the i3’s existing and upcoming competitors, this just became that much more difficult.
To put it simply, the arrival of the Neue Klasse i3 changes the game. It’s no longer just about having one thing or another. To compete successfully in the EV sedan segment, a model must do it all and then some. Going 300 miles per charge no longer cuts it because the new benchmark is now 400, with the i3 promising a whopping 440 miles on the EPA cycle. That alone changes the game, especially when you consider that it’s not a six-figure flagship but a compact luxury sports sedan. In other words, it’s right in the heart of the market. Most electric sedans in the $40,000 to $70,000 bracket can’t exactly match what the i3 offers, since that’s expected to slot in that price range too.
EV Sedans: The Current Crop
At the moment, sports sedan buyers don’t have much to choose from if they want to go electric but don’t want a massive car. The Tesla Model 3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA remain the only options. Additionally, the recently discontinued Hyundai Ioniq 6 is an option, if you can find a leftover, and you’re ok with its size. Most of these have versions that can go 300 to 400 miles per charge. However, if you want the driving range closer to 400 miles, you must select a specific trim. Larger sedans like the Lucid Air can hit the 400-mile mark, while others like the BMW i5, Audi A6 e-tron, and Mercedes-Benz EQE all fall under that number.
Where the i3 beats the current crop of EV sedans mentioned above is in its balance of range and power. The all-electric 3 Series achieves that 440-mile estimated rating in its 50 xDrive variant. Yep, the dual-motor AWD model with 463 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque has the most driving range in the i3 lineup. In those other vehicles, the high-powered variants all have under 350 miles of driving range.3
Although BMW did not disclose pricing, we expect the i3 to land in the same ballpark as the current i4, maybe slightly lower. That could mean a starting price of around $55,000 to $60,000, the same range its SUV sibling, the iX3, is expected to start at. Should that be the case, the bar to clear is even higher than ever.
The Future Crop: Lexus ES
BMW isn’t the only brand still committed to EV sedans. The i3 has more competition on the way. However, they must now meet or exceed an extremely high benchmark. Everything the i3 promises puts it significantly above every other electric sedan on the market. Whether it fulfills all of them remains to be seen. Regardless, the retro-modern Bimmer talks a big game. It and competition must talk the talk and walk the walk to make sure no one underdelivers.
Beyond the existing competition, several automakers have new electric sedans joining the segment. The first to arrive this year is the latest Lexus ES, which grew to the size of the old LS, clearly targeting the Chinese market. Priced from around $50,000, the base ES 350e has 307 miles of range with the standard 19-inch wheels. You can also select the dual-motor AWD ES 500e, which has 276 miles of range with 19-inch wheels or 272 with the optional 21s. Although the driving range falls way short of the i3, the ES has more than enough for most daily driving and road-tripping needs. Additionally, its price spread ranges between $50,000 to roughly $65,000, which makes it a surprisingly good value.
We suspect the ES is also underrated, considering how efficient its SUV cousins, the Toyota bZ and Subaru Solterra, are. It also has a relatively modest battery at 74.7 kWh, further highlighting its efficiency, especially with only around 69 kWh of usable capacity. Most importantly, its badge carries a lot of weight. Lexus may be late to the EV game, but it has extensive experience with electrification through its hybrids and plug-in hybrids. One shouldn’t underestimate Toyota and its luxury division, especially with its latest crop of EVs.
The Future Crop: Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV
Mercedes-Benz’s EV renaissance continues. Following the CLA, GLB, GLC, and VLE, the C-Class arrives in 2027 to go head-to-head against the i3 and Tesla Model 3. If the most recent debuts are anything to go by, the C-Class EV will feature an 800-volt electrical architecture, along with either an RWD or AWD configuration.
Price-wise, the all-electric C-Class will most likely fall right in the heart of the luxury market. That may potentially put it in the same pricing bracket as the i3. However, that will likely allow the Lexus ES to keep its value leader positioning, especially with how outrageous the German brands get with the cost of optional extras.
Unfortunately, the C-Class may not hit that benchmark 400-mile rating on any model. In the GLC, Mercedes noted that the preliminary 400-mile rating comes from the more lenient WLTP cycle. As a result, its EPA ratings may fall in the mid-300-mile ballpark. Like the CLA, it may require a specific configuration to achieve the higher number.
Don’t expect the Mercedes to fall short in efficiency, though. Like the Lexus ES, the C-Class EV achieves its long range with a battery that’s less than 100 kWh. This hints at its efficiency, which can help cars go farther without using an oversized battery. Additionally, Mercedes tends to offer more potent options than its rival in Munich. In the GLC 400, the dual-motor AWD setup has 483 hp. The C-Class may offer something similar in its AWD variant, putting it right in line with the i3 50 xDrive.
The Future Crop: Polestar 2
Quite possibly the most exciting upcoming vehicle and the one we know the least about in this segment is the Polestar 2. Announced at Polestar’s product briefing last month, the 2 returns, losing its lifted sedan look in favor of a low and ground-hugging design. Based on the included teaser shot, it features the latest version of the split Thor’s hammer headlight treatment.
Like the C-Class, we don’t know much else about the Polestar 2 beyond what the teasers gave away. However, an unnamed source tells us that the second generation got larger in every dimension. The biggest change? Length. Our old Polestar 2 was on the small side for a compact sport sedan, giving it a cramped interior. This new one? around 8 inches longer than our old car, giving it similar dimensions to the i3 and Tesla Model 3. That effectively puts the Polestar 2 in the heart of the market, giving the car more interior space, especially for rear seat occupants.
The big question with the Polestar 2 remains the architecture under the skin. We think it’s the SPA3 platform introduced on the Volvo EX60. It can accommodate 800-volt electrical architectures, which could serve as an advantage against the rest of the segment. Most importantly, using an existing vehicle architecture helps keep costs down, especially one designed for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This allows the Polestar 2’s price tag to stay relatively reasonable in the face of unpredictable conditions.
Regardless of the platform it uses, the second-generation Polestar 2 has the biggest potential to match or beat the BMW i3. The EX60 already promises a 400-mile driving range rating in an upright SUV on some of its variants. Putting the Polestar 2 on that chassis may allow it to eke out more thanks to its more aerodynamic shape.
EV Sedans: The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown Down
BMW threw down the gauntlet for the rest of the industry with the new i3. Through careful and calculated moves, it brought a car that all EV sedans aspired to become. Will the competition meet that? That remains to be seen. However, if we were betting people, we’d put our money down on the Polestar 2 being the one to match the i3. The SPA3 platform gives it the right bones and foundations to do just that, as evident in the Volvo EX60. Regardless, we can’t wait to see these vehicles come to fruition.
