Compare the2023 Toyota bZ4XVS 2023 BMW i4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota bZ4X are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW i4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the bZ4X are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The i4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the bZ4X AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The i4 doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the bZ4X and the i4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the bZ4X 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the i4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the i4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the bZ4X’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 12th.

On the EPA test cycle the bZ4X gets better mileage than the i4:

The bZ4X XLE AWD can travel longer on a full charge than the i4 M50 20" Wheels (228 miles vs. 227 miles).

For better traction, the bZ4X has larger tires than the i4 (235/60R18 vs. 225/50R18).

For better maneuverability, the bZ4X’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the i4’s (40 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Toyota bZ4X may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 550 pounds less than the BMW i4.

The bZ4X is 3.9 inches shorter than the i4, making the bZ4X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The bZ4X has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i4 (94.4 vs. 90).

The bZ4X has .4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the i4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the bZ4X’s rear seats recline. The i4’s rear seats don’t recline.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the bZ4X has standard extendable sun visors. The i4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the bZ4X and the i4 offer optional heated front seats. The bZ4X Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the i4.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota bZ4X has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the i4.