Compare the2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 2023 BMW i4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 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.

Both the Ioniq 5 and i4 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Ioniq 5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The i4’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The i4 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Ioniq 5 and i4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Ioniq 5 has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The i4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Ioniq 5 and the i4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ioniq 5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The i4 has not been tested, yet.

The Ioniq 5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The i4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq 5 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the i4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the i4 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 Ioniq 5’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 Ioniq 5 gets better mileage than the i4:

The Ioniq 5 can travel longer on a full charge than the i4 on a full charge:

For better traction, the Ioniq 5 has larger standard tires than the i4 (235/55R19 vs. 225/50R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ioniq 5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the i4.

The Ioniq 5 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 5’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the i4 (118.1 inches vs. 112.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ioniq 5 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the i4.

For better maneuverability, the Ioniq 5’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the i4’s (39.3 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 650 pounds less than the BMW i4.

The Ioniq 5 is 6 inches shorter than the i4, making the Ioniq 5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Ioniq 5 has 16.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i4 (106.5 vs. 90).

The Ioniq 5 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the i4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ioniq 5’s rear seats recline. The i4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Ioniq 5 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity. The i4 has no towing capacity.

The Ioniq 5 Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The i4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ioniq 5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The i4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Ioniq 5 Limited’s Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The i4’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the BMW i4, based on reliability, safety and performance.