Compare the2023 Nissan AriyaVS 2024 BMW i4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Ariya 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.

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 Ariya 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.

The Ariya Platinum+ has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The i4 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Ariya and the i4 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, 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 performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ariya its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The i4 has not been tested, yet.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Ariya 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the i4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the i4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Nissan dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ariya’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ariya’s reliability 12 points higher than the i4.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Ariya gets better mileage than the i4:

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

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

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

The Ariya 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 better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ariya is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the i4.

For better maneuverability, the Ariya’s turning circle is 5.6 feet tighter than the i4’s (35.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Nissan Ariya may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the BMW i4.

The Ariya is 5.6 inches shorter than the i4, making the Ariya easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Ariya Platinum+ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The i4 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ariya has 11.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i4 (101.3 vs. 90).

The Ariya has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the i4.

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

Maximum trailer towing in the BMW i4 is limited to 0 pounds. The Ariya e-4ORCE AWD offers up to a 1500 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the i4, the Ariya Platinum+ has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Ariya has a standard rear wiper. The i4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Ariya Empower+/Platinum+’s ProPILOT Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The i4 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ariya first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The i4 was rated second in its category.