Compare the2024 BMW i5VS 2023 Toyota bZ4X

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

Safety

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The i5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The bZ4X doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the i5 and the bZ4X 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, 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 i5 weighs 452 to 981 pounds more than the Toyota bZ4X. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The i5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The bZ4X’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The i5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the bZ4X’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i5 for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the bZ4X (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

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.

Engine

The i5 eDrive40’s standard electric motor produces 134 more horsepower (335 vs. 201) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 196) than the bZ4X’s standard electric motor. The i5 eDrive40’s electric motor produces 121 more horsepower (335 vs. 214) and 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 248) than the bZ4X’s optional electric motors. The i5 M60’s standard electric motors produces 379 more horsepower (593 vs. 214) and 338 lbs.-ft. more torque (586 vs. 248) than the bZ4X’s optional electric motors.

Fuel Economy and Range

The i5 can travel longer on a full charge than the bZ4X on a full charge:

			Miles
i5
	RWD	19" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	295 miles
		20" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	278 miles
		21" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	270 miles
	AWD	M60 19" Wheels Electric Motor	256 miles
		M60 20" Wheels Electric Motor	248 miles
		M60 21" Wheels Electric Motor	240 miles
bZ4X
	FWD	XLE Electric Motor	252 miles
		Limited Electric Motor	242 miles
	AWD	XLE Electric Motors	228 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	222 miles

The i5 has a standard locking charge port with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The bZ4X doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

Transmission

The i5’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 bZ4X doesn’t offer launch control.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the i5 has larger standard tires than the bZ4X (245/45R19 vs. 235/60R18). The i5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the bZ4X (F:245/40R20 & R:275/35R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The i5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the bZ4X XLE’s standard 60 series tires. The i5’s optional 245/35R21 front and 275/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the bZ4X Limited’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the bZ4X XLE. The i5’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the bZ4X Limited.

The i5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the bZ4X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The i5 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The bZ4X doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The i5 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Toyota doesn’t offer an active suspension on the bZ4X.

The i5 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 bZ4X’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i5’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the bZ4X (117.9 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the i5 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the bZ4X.

For better maneuverability, the i5 M60 xDrive’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the bZ4X’s (39 feet vs. 40 feet).

Passenger Space

The i5 has 3.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the bZ4X (98 vs. 94.4).

The i5 has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the bZ4X.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the i5 offers cargo security. The bZ4X’s sport utility bodystyle defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the i5. The bZ4X doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The i5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The bZ4X 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.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the i5, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The i5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The bZ4X doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The i5 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The i5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The bZ4X’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the i5 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The bZ4X doesn’t offer cornering lights. The i5 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the i5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

When the i5 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 bZ4X’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The i5’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 bZ4X has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The i5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the bZ4X.

The i5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The bZ4X doesn’t offer an automated parking system.