Compare the2024 BMW i4VS 2023 Toyota Prius Prime

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 Prius Prime doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW i4 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The i4 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the i4 and the Prius Prime 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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 i4 weighs 982 to 1557 pounds more than the Toyota Prius Prime. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Prius Prime’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 Prius Prime’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i4 for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Prius Prime (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Toyota.

The i4 eDrive35’s standard electric motor produces 62 more horsepower (282 vs. 220) than the Prius Prime’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The i4 eDrive40’s standard electric motor produces 115 more horsepower (335 vs. 220) than the Prius Prime’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The i4 xDrive40’s standard electric motors produces 176 more horsepower (396 vs. 220) than the Prius Prime’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The i4 M50’s standard electric motors produces 316 more horsepower (536 vs. 220) than the Prius Prime’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the i4 gets better mileage than the Prius Prime running its gasoline engine:

The i4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Prius Prime on electricity, only, on a full charge:

The i4, as a pure battery electric vehicle, has no need to “idle” its motors in traffic: they only burn power when moving. The i4’s climate control systems still work completely when the vehicle is stopped. The Prius Prime still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

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 Prius Prime doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The i4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Prius Prime are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the i4 has larger standard tires than the Prius Prime (225/50R18 vs. 195/60R17). The i4 M50’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Prius Prime (F:255/35R20 & R:285/30R20 vs. 195/60R17).

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 Prius Prime SE’s standard 60 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 Prius Prime XSE’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i4 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Prius Prime SE. The i4 M50’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Prius Prime XSE.

The rear suspension of the i4 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Prius Prime, 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 Prius Prime’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 Prius Prime doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i4’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Prius Prime (112.4 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The design of the BMW i4 amounts to more than styling. The i4 offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .24 to .25 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the Prius Prime (.27 to .29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the i4 get better fuel mileage.

The i4 has .2 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Prius Prime.

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the i4’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The i4 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Prius Prime 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 Toyota. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The i4 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer a remote starting 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 Prius Prime doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The i4 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Prius Prime has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XSE.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the i4 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Prius Prime 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.

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 Prius Prime’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 Prius Prime offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Prius Prime doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the i4 and the Prius Prime offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the i4 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Prius Prime doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW i4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The i4 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The Prius Prime has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.