Compare the2023 BMW i7VS 2022 Kia EV6

The i7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The EV6 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The i7 has standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The EV6 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time All-Wheel Drive is standard on the i7. But it costs extra on the EV6.

Both the i7 and the EV6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, 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.

The BMW i7 weighs 1378 to 1933 pounds more than the Kia EV6. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The i7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years and unlimited miles longer than the EV6’s (12/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i7 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the EV6.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 3 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The i7’s electric motors produces 369 more horsepower (536 vs. 167) and 291 lbs.-ft. more torque (549 vs. 258) than the EV6 Light’s standard electric motor. The i7’s electric motors produces 311 more horsepower (536 vs. 225) and 291 lbs.-ft. more torque (549 vs. 258) than the EV6 Wind/GT-Line’s standard electric motor. The i7’s electric motors produces 216 more horsepower (536 vs. 320) and 103 lbs.-ft. more torque (549 vs. 446) than the EV6’s optional electric motors.

The i7 can travel longer on a full charge than the EV6 on a full charge:

For better traction, the i7 has larger standard tires than the EV6 (245/50R19 vs. 235/45R20). The i7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EV6 (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 235/45R20).

The i7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EV6’s standard 55 series tires. The i7’s optional 255/40R21 front and 285/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the EV6 GT-Line e-AWD’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i7 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The EV6’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The i7 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride. This helps keep the tires glued to the road. The EV6 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the i7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the EV6, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The i7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Kia doesn’t offer an active suspension on the EV6.

The i7 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The EV6’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The i7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The i7’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The EV6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i7’s wheelbase is 12.4 inches longer than on the EV6 (126.6 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the i7 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the EV6.

The i7 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The EV6 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The i7 has .8 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the EV6.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the i7. The EV6 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 32% lower rating, Kia is ranked 26th.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the EV6, the i7 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The i7’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The EV6’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the i7 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EV6 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The i7 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the i7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The EV6 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The i7’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The EV6 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The i7 has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The EV6 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The i7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the EV6.

The i7 offers optional massaging front and rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the EV6.