Both these cars go on sale next year at prices starting around $40,000. The BMW will be available nationwide while the Mercedes will be available in just a handful of states at first. The Mercedes will have a slight edge in driving range with the ability to go about 115 miles on a charge compared to 80 to 90 for the BMW. (The i3 will be available with an range-extending gas-powered engine, like the Chevy Volt.) Either way, both cars will have more than enough juice for a typical day of commuting and errands.
So which car is right for you? It's actually a tough call. I'm betting the i3 will be more popular because it just looks much, much cooler. Personally, I'd probably opt for the Mercedes and do my attention-seeking in other ways.
