BMW's New Electric 3 Series Claims 468 Miles of Range, Topping Tesla's Lineup

BMW has released preliminary U.S. range figures for its upcoming electric 3 Series, and the number is a big one. The i3 50 xDrive sedan is estimated to deliver up to 468 miles on a single charge on the EPA cycle, a figure that would place it ahead of every passenger car Tesla currently sells. For comparison, the longest-range Model 3 variants are rated at 342 and 363 miles respectively.

That estimate would slot the i3 fourth among advertised U.S. EV ranges, behind the Lucid Air, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and GMC Sierra EV. Only the Lucid Air beats it among sedans. European buyers see an even larger claim on the more lenient WLTP cycle, where the same model is quoted at up to 567 miles.

Mechanically, the 50 xDrive follows the formula already used by BMW’s iX3 SUV: dual motors, all-wheel drive, an 800-volt architecture, and the company’s new cylindrical battery cells. Output is listed at 463 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of about 4.5 seconds. Peak charging is rated at 400 kW, and BMW says ten minutes at a fast charger can add up to 208 miles of U.S. range.

U.S. cars will use a NACS port with a CCS adapter and support AC charging up to 15.4 kW. Pricing starts at $61,500 before destination, with deliveries slated for the first quarter of 2027. A more affordable 40 xDrive variant is confirmed for Europe only for now, and an M60 xDrive plus a wagon body are expected later.