BMW i3 vs. Mercedes-Benz B-Class
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW i3 and Mercedes-Benz B-Class contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW i3 and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.
In comparing the BMW i3's and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class's specifications and ratings, the BMW i3 has the advantage in the area of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars. The Mercedes-Benz B-Class has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the BMW i3's and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class's specifications and ratings, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is a better car than the BMW i3.
Pricing: A used 2017 BMW i3 ranges from $10,665 to $18,692 while a used 2017 Mercedes-Benz B-Class is priced between $11,994 to $18,473.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW i3’s base engine makes 168 horsepower, and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class base engine makes 177 horsepower. The i3 is rated to deliver an average of 127 miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe), with a highway range of 81 miles. The B-Class is rated to deliver an average of 85 miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe), with a highway range of 87 miles.This gives the BMW i3 the advantage in fuel efficiency and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class the advantage in maximum range. Both models use electricity. The charge time for the i3 is 4 hours (240V), while the charge time for the B-Class is 3.5 hours (240V).
Passenger Space Comparison: The Mercedes-Benz B-Class has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, rear shoulder room, and cargo space. The BMW i3, a electric compact car, has the advantage in the area of rear head room.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$42,400
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
$38,700
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
$35,000 - $42,400
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$39,900
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$14,963
Price Range:
$10,665 - $18,692
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
$19,614
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
$14,963 - $24,265
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
21
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
57,866
# Good or Great Deals:
9
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$15,878
Price Range:
$11,994 - $18,473
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
4
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
50,782
# Good or Great Deals:
3
BMW i3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
6.8 / 10
Reliability:
7.2 / 10
Retained Value:
6.4 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Mercedes-Benz B-Class Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW i3
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
3.4
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
4.6
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
6.4
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
107.7
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
6.4 - 209
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.6
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
BMW i3 Rankings
Ranking
3 out of / 15Ranking
3 out of / 15Ranking
4 out of / 26Ranking
6 out of / 26Ranking
6 out of / 15Ranking
7 out of / 15Ranking
10 out of / 26Ranking
10 out of / 26Ranking
10 out of / 15Ranking
10 out of / 15Ranking
13 out of / 15Ranking
13 out of / 15Ranking
15 out of / 15Ranking
16 out of / 26Ranking
17 out of / 26Ranking
18 out of / 26Ranking
21 out of / 26Mercedes-Benz B-Class Rankings
Available Body Styles
Hatchback
Available Body Styles
Hatchback
Available Drivetrain Options
Electric, Plug-In Hybrid
Available Drivetrain Options
Electric
BMW i3 Trim Levels
60 Ah, 94 Ah
Mercedes-Benz B-Class Trim Levels
B 250e
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
168 hp
Torque:
184 foot-lbs
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.058 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
177 hp
Torque:
251 foot-lbs
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.045 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
MPGe:
127 / 111 / 124
Range (city/hwy):
81 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Electricity
Battery Size/Capacity :
33 kWh
Maximum Charging Rate:
4 hours (240V)
Engine Specifications
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
MPGe:
85 / 82 / 84
Range (city/hwy):
87 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Electricity
Battery Size/Capacity:
Not yet available
Maximum Charging Rate:
3.5 hours (240V)
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
Available
Apple CarPlay:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
Available
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
40.5 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
53.6 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.2 inches
Rear Leg Room:
31.9 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
49.2 inches
Cargo Space:
9.2 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
93.2 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40 inches
Front Leg Room:
Not yet available
Front Shoulder Room:
55.5 inches
Rear Head Room:
37 inches
Rear Leg Room:
Not yet available
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.4 inches
Cargo Space:
21.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
116.9 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2886 lbs
Width:
80.3 inches
Height:
62.9 inches
Length:
157.4 inches
Wheelbase:
101.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.5 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3924 lbs
Width:
79.1 inches
Height:
62.5 inches
Length:
171.5 inches
Wheelbase:
106.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 5.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
155/70R19
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Fluid Black w/ Highlight BMW i Blue
Gray
Mineral Grey w/ BMW i Frozen Blue Accent
Silver
Ionic Silver Metallic w/ BMW i Frozen Blue Accent / Platinum Silver w/ BMW i Frozen Blue Accent
White
Capparis White w/ BMW i Frozen Blue Accent
Blue
Not available
Brown
Not available
Green
Not available
Red
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Cosmos Black Metallic / Night Black
Gray
designo Mountain Grey Magno / Mountain Grey Metallic / Polar Silver Metallic
Silver
Not available
White
Cirrus White
Blue
Lunar Blue Metallic / South Seas Blue Metallic
Brown
Cocoa Brown Metallic
Green
Kryptonite Green Metallic
Red
Jupiter Red
Interior Colors
Brown
Tera Dalbergia Brown
Gray
Giga Cassia / Mega Carum Spice Grey
Beige
Not available
Black
Not available
Red
Not available
Interior Colors
Brown
Hazelnut Brown
Gray
Crystal Grey
Beige
Sahara Beige
Black
Black
Red
Cranberry Red
