BMW's electric 3 Series undercuts its gas twin by $4,400

For years, analysts have predicted electric vehicles would eventually become cheaper than their gas-powered equivalents, with BloombergNEF projecting the crossover would arrive in 2026. They weren’t far off. EV prices have fallen significantly in recent years, but the comparison has been difficult to make directly because few EVs have a true like-for-like gas-powered counterpart.

BMW now offers one. The 2027 BMW 3 Series comes in both gas and electric versions, and the EV is $4,400 cheaper. The gas-powered M350 xDrive starts at $65,900, while the electric i3 50 xDrive costs $61,500 — neither price includes destination charges. The two are similarly powerful, similarly styled, and aimed at similar buyers, making the EV 6.7% cheaper overall.

There’s a significantly less expensive gas-powered 3 Series trim, the 330, priced at $49,900 (or $51,900 for the xDrive version), though it has no electric equivalent yet. The comparable gas and electric models are also built on different platforms: the i3 benefits from BMW’s newest chassis and technology, while the gas 3 Series relies on an overhauled version of an existing platform.

For most buyers, the biggest practical difference will be the charging or refueling experience — though even there, the two are closer than some might expect. The gas 3 Series’ range is likely similar to previous models, at about 450 miles per tank in all-wheel-drive form, while the electric i3 will travel 468 miles on a full charge. BMW says the i3’s fast charging can replenish 208 miles of range in 10 minutes. The gap might matter to extreme road-trippers, but for most drivers it will be academic.

Why it matters

The conventional wisdom has been that EVs cost more upfront but save money over time through lower running costs; BMW’s matched pair suggests that advantage is starting to extend to the sticker price itself, at least for automakers that can share a platform across both powertrains.