Compare the2023 Chevrolet BoltVS 2022 BMW i4

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 Bolt 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.

Both the Bolt 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Bolt 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 over 8 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bolt’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

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

The Bolt has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The i4 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires standard on the Bolt can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The i4 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

For better maneuverability, the Bolt’s turning circle is 6.2 feet tighter than the i4’s (34.8 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Chevrolet Bolt may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 to 1400 pounds less than the BMW i4.

The Bolt is 2 feet, 1.3 inches shorter than the i4, making the Bolt easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Bolt has 3.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i4 (93.9 vs. 90).

The Bolt has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the i4.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Bolt has a standard rear wiper. The i4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Bolt owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Bolt will cost $4905 to $7820 less than the i4 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Bolt will be $21496 to $30142 less than for the BMW i4.

The Bolt was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2017. The i4 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Bolt was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2017. The i4 has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Bolt as the 2017 North American Car of the Year. The i4 has never been chosen.