The Electric BMW i3 Costs $11,600 More Than a 330. Here's How Long It Takes to Pay Off
The 330 starts at $49,900, the electric i3 at $61,500, and the M350 xDrive at $65,900. We compare power, range, charging, space, and five-year energy costs.
BMW now sells the 3 Series two ways: with a gas engine under the hood or a battery under the floor. The 2027 cars look like one family, but the price ladder splits them. The 330 starts at $49,900, the 330 xDrive at $51,900, the electric i3 50 xDrive at $61,500, and the M350 xDrive at $65,900, all before a $1,350 destination charge. All four go on sale in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2027, according to BMW of North America.
Our 2027 BMW 3 Series price and specs guide covers what's new across the range. This comparison answers a narrower question: which one is worth your money.
2027 BMW 330 vs. M350 xDrive vs. i3: Specs and Prices
| 330 / 330 xDrive | M350 xDrive | i3 50 xDrive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $49,900 / $51,900 | $65,900 | $61,500 |
| With $1,350 destination | $51,250 / $53,250 | $67,250 | $62,850 |
| Powertrain | 2.0-liter turbo four, 48V mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic | 3.0-liter turbo inline-six, 48V mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic | Two electric motors, 800V architecture |
| Drive | RWD / AWD | AWD; rear-drive Drift Moment via 2027 software update | AWD; rear motor is the primary drive |
| Output | 255 hp, 295 lb-ft | 437 hp, 428 lb-ft | 463 hp, 476 lb-ft |
| 0–60 mph | 5.9 sec | 3.9 sec | 4.5 sec |
| Top speed | 155 mph with sport tires | 155 mph with sport tires | Not published |
| EPA fuel economy / range | TBA | TBA | TBA; BMW estimate 446–468 miles |
| DC fast charging | n/a | n/a | Up to 400 kW; 191–208 miles in 10 min (BMW estimate) |
| Home charging | n/a | n/a | Up to 15.4 kW AC |
| Charging port | n/a | n/a | NACS, with CCS adapter |
| Platform | Evolved CLAR | Evolved CLAR | Neue Klasse EV architecture |
| Rear floor | Center tunnel | Center tunnel | Flat |
| Length / wheelbase | 187.6 / 112.6 in | 187.6 / 112.6 in | 187.4 / 114.1 in |
| Trunk | 15.9 cu ft | 15.9 cu ft | 14.8 cu ft, plus 1.1 cu ft front trunk |
| Curb weight | TBA | 4,169 lb | TBA |
| Built in | Dingolfing, Germany | Dingolfing, Germany | Munich, Germany |
| U.S. launch | Q1 2027 | Q1 2027 | Q1 2027 |
| Federal EV tax credit | n/a | n/a | None |
Sources: BMW of North America; i3 dimensions from BMW Group UK; platform, gas-car dimensions, trunk volumes, and M350 weight from BMWBlog; charging port from InsideEVs. TBA: not yet published by BMW or the EPA.
Price: The Electric Car Sits in the Middle
The first $2,000 step buys all-wheel drive: the 330 xDrive costs exactly that much more than the rear-drive 330. From there, the i3 asks another $9,600, and the M350 xDrive sits $4,400 above the i3.
No federal incentive narrows the gap: the $7,500 EV tax credit ended a year ago, so the i3 joins our list of new EVs coming to America in 2027 at full sticker. Options climb fast, too. BMWBlog's loaded i3 build on the now-live U.S. configurator reached $78,650 with destination, $15,800 of it in options.
Performance: The M350 Is the Quickest of the Three
On paper, the i3 has the most power, 463 hp against the M350's 437 hp. The M350 is still quicker: BMW quotes 3.9 seconds to 60 mph for the six-cylinder car and 4.5 seconds for the i3. The 330 and 330 xDrive both need 5.9 seconds.
The M350 also gets the keen-driver hardware as standard: Adaptive M Suspension, variable sport steering, an M Sport differential, and M Sport brakes. Its rear-drive Drift Moment mode arrives by software update during 2027, even for cars already delivered; we explained how the M350's Drift Moment works earlier.
The i3 leans on a 322-hp rear motor, with a 165-hp unit up front. How it feels next to the M350 is a question for a first drive, not a spec sheet.
Range and Charging: Estimates Only
The i3's headline number is BMW's estimate of 446 to 468 miles, based on the company's own preliminary testing under EPA procedures. BMWBlog notes the top figure applies to 20-inch wheels. For reference, the iX3 50 xDrive crossover, with the same 463-hp output, is EPA-rated at 383 to 434 miles depending on wheels and tires, per fueleconomy.gov.
On an 800-volt DC fast charger, BMW estimates the i3 adds 191 to 208 miles in 10 minutes at up to 400 kW. Home AC charging runs at up to 15.4 kW. U.S. cars get a NACS port with a CCS adapter, InsideEVs reports, so the i3 plugs straight into Tesla's network; our guide lists which EVs can use Tesla Superchargers.
The gas cars have no EPA ratings yet. The outgoing 2026 330i is rated at 31 mpg combined and the M340i xDrive at 29 mpg, both on premium; the new Miller-cycle engines will rate differently.
Same Look, Different Cars Underneath
All three share a design language and a cabin built around a 17.9-inch central display. Underneath, they split: the i3 rides on BMW's Neue Klasse EV architecture, while the gas cars use an evolution of the existing CLAR platform, according to BMWBlog.
The difference shows up in the back seat. The gas sedans keep a floor hump for the driveshaft tunnel, while the i3's rear floor is flat, and its wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer. The gas car wins on trunk space, 15.9 cubic feet against the i3's 14.8, but the i3 adds a 1.1-cubic-foot front trunk sized for its charging cable.
Five Years of Fuel vs. Electricity: Our Math
With no efficiency ratings published, this is an OctaneDaily estimate, not a BMW figure. It covers energy only, and every input is an assumption:
- 12,000 miles a year for five years, or 60,000 miles.
- Gas cars: EPA combined ratings of the outgoing models as stand-ins, 31 mpg for the 330 and 29 mpg for the 330 xDrive and M350 xDrive.
- Premium fuel at $5.32 a gallon, AAA's national average as of October 1, 2026.
- i3: 29 kWh per 100 miles, the EPA figure for the most efficient iX3 50 xDrive. The lower, sleeker sedan should do better, so this leans against the i3.
- All charging at home at 18.31 cents per kWh, the U.S. residential average for July 2026 from the Energy Information Administration.
On those numbers, a 330 burns about $2,060 of fuel a year, a 330 xDrive or M350 xDrive about $2,200, and the i3 uses about $640 of electricity. Over five years, purchase price with destination plus energy comes to roughly $61,550 for the 330, $64,250 for the 330 xDrive, $66,050 for the i3, and $78,250 for the M350 xDrive.
Against the 330 xDrive, the i3's $9,600 premium takes about six years to earn back. Against the rear-drive 330, it takes about eight. Against the M350 xDrive, the i3 starts $4,400 cheaper and pulls about $12,200 ahead by year five. Every $1 change in the price of premium moves the 330 xDrive's five-year fuel bill by about $2,070, and every paid public fast-charging session narrows the i3's advantage.
The math leaves out insurance, maintenance, depreciation, financing, sales tax, and a home charger, none of which can be priced honestly before the cars reach dealers.
What We Don't Know Yet
- EPA ratings. None of the four versions has an EPA fuel-economy or range figure. The i3's 446–468 miles is a BMW estimate.
- Lease and finance terms. BMW Financial Services hasn't published programs for any of the four. With the federal credit gone, the monthly payment may matter more than the sticker.
- Curb weights. Only the M350 xDrive's 4,169 pounds has been reported, by BMWBlog.
- A plug-in hybrid. BMWBlog reports one joins the lineup in 2027. BMW of North America hasn't said whether it's coming to the U.S.
- The i3 M60 xDrive. BMW says it joins the range in 2027, with no U.S. price or specs yet.
Which One Should You Buy?
The 330 or 330 xDrive if price comes first. It gets the same cabin, screens, and available hands-free Highway Assist as the pricier cars for $9,600 to $11,600 less than the i3.
The i3 50 xDrive if you can charge at home and keep cars for six years or more. It has the most power in the lineup, a flat rear floor, and the lowest running costs in our math. The catch: its range is still an estimate, and its lease terms are unknown.
The M350 xDrive if you want the quickest 3 Series and an inline-six with a four-tailpipe exhaust. At $4,400 more than the i3 up front and about $12,200 more over five years in our math, it's the enthusiast's choice, not the rational one, at least until the i3 M60 arrives.
For most buyers who can plug in at home, our pick is the i3, but there's no reason to sign anything yet. Deliveries don't start until the first quarter of 2027. Wait for the EPA numbers and BMW's lease programs; both could change this math.
