Not what you might expect.
The BMW i3 is the best. Our reigning Green Car of The Year is extremely well thought-out, with its sci-fi looks, high-quality cabin and surprisingly punchy performance at all speeds.
By simply swapping a standard Golf’s engine for an electric motor, Volkswagen has ensured its e-Golf retains most of the standard car’s impressive practicality, but with the bonus of cheaper running costs. So, which of these similarly priced electric cars is the better buy?
What are they like to drive?
Both cars have three drive modes (Normal, Eco and Eco-plus) that are increasingly restrictive on performance, limiting power, torque and top speed as well as switching off the air-con to eke out every last mile from the batteries. They also have three levels of braking regeneration.
With both fully charged, the i3 managed 85 miles in our real-world range tests; the e-Golf beat that by only two miles, despite having a notably larger battery. See the ‘Range test in detail’ for more on this.
Electric power means no gears and instant acceleration, which means both cars feel extremely punchy at low speeds.
However, because the i3 has an extra 54bhp and weighs 300kg less than the e-Golf, it keeps pulling hard at higher speeds, whereas acceleration in the e-Golf starts to tail off above 40mph. In fact, the i3’s 0-60mph time of 6.9 seconds would embarrass some hot hatches.
The BMW is more than just fast in a straight line. Its quick, nicely weighted steering and goodbody control make it feel more agile in town. The e-Golf’s steering is slower, but gives you a better sense of connection with the road.
The i3 feels less sure of itself when pushed harder, because its skinny tyres cause its front end to wash wide surprisingly early. This, combined with its quick steering, makes it feels nervous and flighty. The e-Golf’s more relaxed turn-in and lower, wider stance ultimately helps it feel the more confident and means it grips harder in corners.
Ride quality is another area where the i3 is second best. It feels firm – although never uncomfortable – over broken surfaces and potholes at low speeds, and it fails to settle atmotorway speeds. The e-Golf’s softer set-up can’t match that of a regular Golf, because you feel more bumps. However on most roads, and especially at high speeds, it feels more secure than the i3.
The Golf is also a more relaxing place to spend time, mainly because it does a better job of dealing with wind and road noise. The i3 is worse in both respects.
What are they like inside?
Tall adults will have enough head- and legroom in the front of either car, but the i3’s narrower body means less room for shoulders. There’s a wide range of adjustment on both cars’ front seats, but the Golf’s backrest adjusts using a wheel, meaning it’s easier to fine-tune a position than with the i3’s lever.
Forward visibility is good in both, but the VW’s larger rear screen and thinner pillars give it a better over-the-shoulder view.
The e-Golf is the more spacious in the back, offering more head- and shoulder room, as well as more kneeroom. The i3 also has only two rear seats, although a couple of adults will sit in relative comfort. Families will find the Golf easier to live with because three children can sit across its rear seats.
The Golf’s boot has a wider opening and the load bay is longer, deeper and wider than the i3’s, with another 80 litres. Slotting in a suitcase can be a tight squeeze in the i3, while the VW makes an easy job of it.
Both cars’ rear seats split (the i3’s 50:50, the e-Golf’s 60:40) and fold to extend the load area. The i3’s seats are more fiddly to fold, although they do lie flatter than the Golf’s when down.
BMW has done a superb job with the i3’s dashboard. Its layout is seriously user-friendly and the materials all feel solid – the use of recycled materials offers unique but surprisingly high-quality textures.
BMW’s iDrive infotainment system remains one of the easiest to use on the market, and the i3’s 6.5-inch colour screen is super-sharp.
Aside from some blue detailing on its steering wheel, gearlever and door cards, the e-Golf’s interior is much the same as any other Golf’s. That means the plastics feel dense and solidly constructed, although you might find the design a little dull by comparison. It’s certainly functional, though: the 8.0-inch touch-screen is really responsive, with simple menus and the climate controls are easy to reach and logically laid out.
What will they cost?
You can already get around £3000 off the Golf from brokers, but there are no discounts on the i3. The Government is more generous – both qualify for a £5000 electric vehicle grant.
The Golf is marginally more expensive to buy, and isn’t predicted to hold on to as much of its value during the first three years. In fact, its steeper depreciation and higher electricityconsumption are enough to make the e-Golf the more expensive car to own privately over three years, despite it having lower insurance and servicing costs.
Until April 2015, every pure-electric car will be free from company car tax. However, from thispoint until April 2016 the rules change, putting both of these cars into the 5% tax band. From then until April 2017 they go in the 7% bracket. As a result, the e-Golf will cost a 40% taxpayer more in tax than the i3, but by a very slim margin over three years.
Both cars come with alloys, climate control, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, rearparking sensors, DAB, sat-nav, Bluetooth, USB and aux sockets and a multi-function steering wheel. The e-Golf adds LED headlights, front parking sensors and benefits from a standardrapid-charging inlet – allowing for half-hour charges if you have access to one.
The i3 has been crash tested by Euro NCAP, where it received four stars. The e-Golf hasn’t been tested but the regular car managed five stars and very good adult, child and pedestrians scores. The Golf comes with more airbags (seven versus six), a city braking system and the option of rear side ’bags, but both get tyre pressure monitoring, ESP and an alarm.
Verdict
These are two of the best electric cars on sale today. The i3 continues to wow with its superb cabin, while its strong performance and real-world range also give it plenty of appeal.
The e-Golf wins, though. It might be slightly more expensive to own, but it’s considerably more practical, has a more comfortable ride, is better to drive and comes with more standard equipment. Considering all that, we think it’s just worth the extra.
