Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona NVS 2023 BMW X4 M

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Kona N 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 X4 M 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 Kona N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X4 M doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Kona N and X4 M have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Kona N has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X4 M’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Kona N and the X4 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona N the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 231 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X4 M has not been tested, yet.

The Kona N comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The X4 M’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona N 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X4 M. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the X4 M ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona N’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 39 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 15th.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona N gets better mileage than the X4 M:

The Kona N offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The X4 M doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Kona N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X4 M’s standard 45 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Kona N’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the X4 M’s (38.3 feet vs. 41.4 feet).

The Hyundai Kona N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1250 pounds less than the BMW X4 M.

The Kona N is 1 foot, 9.6 inches shorter than the X4 M, making the Kona N easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona N has .8 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the X4 M.

The Kona N has a larger cargo volume than the X4 M with its rear seat up (19.2 vs. 18.5 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona N has a standard rear wiper. The X4 M doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Kona N has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X4 M.

The Kona was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The X4 M has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the BMW X4 by almost seven to one during 2022.