BMW Prices 2027 Electric i3 at $61,500, Undercutting Gas M350 in the US

BMW has opened US order books for its eighth-generation 3 Series, pricing its initial all-electric variant below its top-tier petrol equivalent, as reported by The Next Web .

The 2027 BMW i3 50 xDrive starts at $61,500, undercutting the petrol M350 xDrive's $65,900 base price by $4,400, or roughly 6.7 percent. Both figures exclude a mandatory $1,350 destination fee.

The combustion lineup still provides the lowest financial threshold to the 3 Series badge. The rear-wheel-drive petrol 330 starts at $49,900, while the all-wheel-drive 330 xDrive costs $51,900. Because BMW has not yet introduced an entry-level electric trim, the i3 50 xDrive sits $11,600 above the standard petrol base model.

All four launch configurations are scheduled to reach US dealerships in the first quarter of 2027. A higher-performance variant, the i3 M60 xDrive, is slated to arrive later in 2027, with pricing announced closer to its release.

Powertrain specifications diverge between the two configurations. The electric i3 50 xDrive uses two motors generating a combined 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The petrol M350 xDrive pairs a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system for 437 horsepower, hitting 60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

BMW estimates the i3 will deliver between 446 and 468 miles (718 to 753 km) of range based on preliminary testing under EPA procedures. When connected to a 400kW DC fast charger, the vehicle can recover 191 to 208 miles of range in 10 minutes. The car's built-in navigation system will automatically incorporate charging stops prioritizing IONNA, BMW's preferred charging network partner in the US.

The electric i3 is the first 3 Series manufactured on BMW's dedicated Neue Klasse architecture and will be assembled in Munich. The petrol variants rely on an upgraded chassis and body architecture, with production starting in Dingolfing this November.

Direct price comparisons between electric and combustion models remain uncommon in the premium sedan segment. BMW, which has delivered two million electric vehicles across its global portfolio to date, views the model as a core volume driver. "As a fully electric model in a high-volume segment, the BMW i3 is a hugely significant car for the BMW Group," said Jochen Goller, the BMW board member responsible for sales.