Choices: Toyota Land Cruiser or BMW i3 REx?
Everyday, you’re faced with choices. Stay in bed or go to the gym? Pay rent or go on vacation? Cross the street or wait? Recently I walked into my garage and had my own dilemma, should I drive my 20-year-old gas guzzling Toyota Land Cruiser or should I do my part in saving the environment by taking out the BMW i3 REx electric car?
For those not familiar, the i3 is the latest 4 wheel electronic appliance from BMW, makers of “The Ultimate Driving Machine”. The 80-series Land Cruiser was the finest SUV to come out of Japan in the 90s. Many Land Cruisers are still roaming the world providing aid to underdeveloped countries, fighting wars in the Middle East, and getting explorers though the roughest terrain on Earth. It may seem like an odd comparison, but they have much more in common than you’d think.
Tech
i3: The i3 comes equipped with the latest in tech; back up camera, parking sensors, adaptive LED headlights, carbon fiber reinforced chassis and even has its own app that will tell you where your i3 is parked along with its charging info. The air conditioning is also adaptive, but it decreases range. If you want to stay cool, you can roll down your windows... but only the front two.
LC: It first went on sale when Bush #1 was president, since then this example has been retrofitted with modern technology - such as: two TV screens, DVD player, Bluetooth connection and a backup camera. The Land Cruiser acknowledges the i3’s adaptive LED headlights and one-ups it with a 30” LED light bar. Sure, it’s not legal in California for use on paved roads, but it turns night into day when you’re off-road.
Advantage: Land Cruiser
Charging/Filling up
i3: BMW says that the i3 will get a full charge within 3 hours with a 240-watt outlet. Like most homes, mine only has a standard 120-watt outlet. With the i3 plugged in for 3 hours, I only gained 20 miles of range.
LC: Averaging 12 mpg, you quickly become the expert of where all gas stations are located. The 25-gallon tank takes a while to fill. In fact, you’ll watch at least three Priuses fill up and leave before you’re done filling up this beast.
Advantage: None
Driving Range
i3: The standard BMW i3 has an electric range of 70-100 miles on a full electric charge. The i3 REx model that I sampled had 647cc 2-cylinder range extender motor, which adds 75 miles for a total of about 150 miles. My friend suggested we go to the beach. Unfortunately, there was not enough charge to get to the beach so we took the Land Cruiser instead.
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LC: While the i3 was at home charging, we headed to the beach in the Land Cruiser. On a full tank the Land Cruiser will get you around 300 miles before running out of gas. If you're willing to push it, you may get a few miles over 300 - like that time I was coming home from LA from Zion National Park with the gaslight on and got a few miles inside of the Nevada state line before refilling.
Advantage: Land Cruiser
Design
i3: Rolls Royce Phantom, 1961-1969 Lincoln Continental, BMW i3. What do these cars have in common? Suicide doors. BMW i3 also has a carbon-fiber chassis. So does the McLaren P1, Alfa Romeo 4C and F1 cars. On the other hand, the i3 definitely stands out on the road with its love it or hate it looks. It's funky and futuristic. I picked up a friend in the i3 and her first words were “What the hell is this?” Even though it had the BMW badge, she was clearly unimpressed.
LC: For a 20-year old SUV, the Land Cruiser has aged well. It has features uncommon in today's SUVs, like a rear tailgate which is great for tailgate parties and rear quarter sliding windows to keep you cool on a warm night when car camping.
Advantage: Tie
Interior
i3: Open the door of the i3 and it looks like you’re about to walk into a rolling Urban Outfitters store. The interior features a mix of cloth, fake leather and recycled materials. Once you lift your leg over the SUV height floor of the i3 (due to the batteries being stored under the passenger area), you face a dashboard that looks like it was designed by someone who has flipped through too many issues of Dwell magazine. If you understood any of those references, the i3’s interior will probably be a welcome sight – it’s very hipster without being offensive…if that even makes sense.
LC: As any gargantuan SUV, the Land Cruiser has three rows of seats for 7 people and as any gargantuan SUV owner, I am typically the only person in the car at all times. Not practical for driving around LA, but great for camping - as I can fold the rear seats down and sleep inside the comfort of my SUV.
Advantage: i3 - if you have a beard, often wear plaid shirts and are vegan.
Advantage: Land Cruiser – if you have a beard, often wear plaid shirts and own an axe.
Driving Experience
i3: Can the makers of the “Ultimate Driving Machine” make an electric car fun to drive? Yes they can. Because of its electric motor, the i3 delivers all of its torque instantly. With 170 horsepower pushing 3,000lbs, 0-60 mph happens in about 7 seconds, albiet without a sound or gearshift. The soft suspension lifts as you accelerate and the only sound is that of wind going around the car…it feels like you are in an airplane taking off. Before you know it, you’ve spilled your Pumpkin Spice Latte and left the rest of the traffic far behind you. While peaceful, driving the i3 did make me miss the sounds of an engine revving and shifting gears. An interesting feature of the i3 is that once you lift your foot off the accelerator; the car begins to slow down. If you’ve ever played with a R/C car, the concept is the same; pull the trigger all the way back for 100% instant power. Let go and it’ll immediately begin to slow down. If timed right, you can drive the whole day without stepping on the brake pedal. I turned this into a challenge to make my drives more interesting. Taking corners in the i3 are surprisingly flat due to a low center of gravity, but don’t expect much cornering grip from the 155/55/20 tires…yes 155mm wide.
The i3 also benefits from having a carpool lane sticker (in California) to drive solo in the carpool lane. In LA this may prove pointless, as there is often more traffic in the carpool lane than all the other lanes.
LC: With 215 horsepower carrying nearly 6000 lbs, the Land Cruiser's acceleration is comparable to a senior citizen on an electric scooter crossing the street. You’ll get to highway speeds just as quickly as the sun sets. Its high stance lets you see over 75% of the cars on the road, but you will have to use situational awareness to keep from crushing smaller cars and driving over curbs. Attacking the corners isn’t this SUV's strong point, but it really shines off-road.
Advantange: i3
Bottom Line
If your commute is within 20 miles with easy access to a 240-watt charger, the i3 is the car for you.
If your commute includes constant trips to the gas station and unpaved roads, there’s no better choice than the Land Cruiser. In my informal research, the Land Cruiser is the winner of this comparison. They are two different cars for different people, both with their advantages and limitations. Priced at around $45,000, the i3 is a fair price for what it offers, but waiting for it to charge and its limited range proves an inconvenience for me. As a car enthusiast, I am more excited about crawling over rocks and listening to the purr of the 4.5L inline-6 rather than charging a car and talking about range distances. I like the i3's styling and instant acceleration, but until BMW extends the range and charging stations become more common, I will continue reaching for the keys to my tried and true Land Cruiser.
