Compare the2023 BMW i4VS 2023 Nissan Leaf

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The i4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Leaf doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The i4 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Leaf 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.

The i4 M50 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the i4 and the Leaf 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The BMW i4 weighs 765 to 1509 pounds more than the Nissan Leaf. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The i4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Leaf’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The i4’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Leaf’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i4 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotation, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Leaf.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 15th.

Engine

The i4 has more powerful engines than the Leaf:

	Horsepower	Torque
i4 eDrive35 electric motor	281 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
i4 eDrive40 electric motor	335 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
i4 M50 electric motors	536 HP	586 lbs.-ft.
Leaf electric motor	147 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
Leaf PLUS electric motor	214 HP	250 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the i4 M50 electric motors is faster than the Leaf PLUS:

	i4	Leaf
Zero to 30 MPH	1.6 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	3.5 sec	7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	2.1 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	11.9 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	119 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The i4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

			Miles
i4
	RWD	eDrive35 18" Wheels Electric Motor	256 miles
		eDrive35 19" Wheels Electric Motor	235 miles
		eDrive40 18" Wheels Electric Motor	301 miles
		eDrive40 19" Wheels Electric Motor	282 miles
	AWD	M50 19" Wheels Electric Motors	271 miles
		M50 20" Wheels Electric Motors	227 miles
Leaf
	FWD	SV PLUS Electric Motor	212 miles
		Electric Motor	149 miles

Transmission

The i4 M50’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Leaf doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the i4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Leaf:

	i4 eDrive40	i4 M50	Leaf
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	14.7 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	11.5 inches

The i4 stops much shorter than the Leaf:

	i4	Leaf
70 to 0 MPH	149 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the i4 has larger standard tires than the Leaf (225/50R18 vs. 205/55R16). The i4 M50’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (F:255/35R20 & R:285/30R20 vs. 215/50R17).

The i4’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 Leaf S’ standard 55 series tires. The i4 M50’s optional 255/35R20 front and 285/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Leaf SV PLUS’ 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i4 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S. The i4 M50’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Leaf SV PLUS.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the BMW i4 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Leaf has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The rear suspension of the i4 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Leaf, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The i4 offers an optional 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 Leaf’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The i4 has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Leaf doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i4’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Leaf (112.4 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the i4 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The i4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (48.7% to 51.3%) than the Leaf’s (57.3% to 42.7%). This gives the i4 more stable handling and braking.

The i4 M50 handles at .96 G’s, while the Leaf pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The front grille of the i4 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Leaf doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The i4 has .9 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the i4. The Leaf doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the i4’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Leaf doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The i4 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Leaf uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the i4, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The Leaf doesn’t offer a memory system.

The i4 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Leaf doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The i4’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the i4 and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the i4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The i4’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 Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the i4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Leaf can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The i4’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Leaf’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The i4’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Leaf S’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the i4 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Leaf doesn’t offer cornering lights. The i4 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The i4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV PLUS.

When the i4 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Leaf’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The i4’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 Leaf offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the i4 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Leaf doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The i4 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The i4’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the i4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW i4 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The i4’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The i4 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the i4 will retain 42.03% to 42.04% of its original price after five years, while the Leaf only retains 31.29% to 31.72%.