Compare the2024 BMW i4VS 2024 Fiat 500e

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 500e 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 500e doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The i4 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 500e doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The i4 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 500e doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The i4 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The 500e doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The i4 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 500e only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the i4 and the 500e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The BMW i4 weighs 1601 to 2066 pounds more than the Fiat 500e. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Warranty

The i4’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the 500e’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i4 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500e.

Engine

The i4 eDrive35’s standard electric motor produces 164 more horsepower (282 vs. 118) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor. The i4 eDrive40’s standard electric motor produces 217 more horsepower (335 vs. 118) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor. The i4 xDrive40’s standard electric motors produces 278 more horsepower (396 vs. 118) and 281 lbs.-ft. more torque (443 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor. The i4 M50’s standard electric motors produces 418 more horsepower (536 vs. 118) and 424 lbs.-ft. more torque (586 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

The i4 can travel longer on a full charge than the 500e on a full charge:

			Miles
i4
	RWD	eDrive40 18" Wheels Electric Motor	301 miles
		eDrive40 19" Wheels Electric Motor	283 miles
		i4 eDrive35 18" Wheels Electric Motor	276 miles
		eDrive35 19" Wheels Electric Motor	235 miles
	AWD	xDrive40 18" Wheels Electric Motors	307 miles
		xDrive40 19" Wheels Electric Motors	279 miles
		M50 19" Wheels Electric Motors	269 miles
		M50 20" Wheels Electric Motors	227 miles
500e
	FWD	Electric Motor	149 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the i4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 500e:

	i4 eDrive40	i4 M50	500e
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	14.7 inches	11.06 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	7.99” drums

The BMW i4 has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the 500e. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the i4 has larger standard tires than the 500e (225/50R18 vs. 205/45R17). The i4 M50’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 500e (F:255/35R20 & R:285/30R20 vs. 205/45R17).

The i4 M50’s optional 255/35R20 front and 285/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 500e’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i4 has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the 500e. The i4 M50 offers optional 20-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the BMW i4 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Fiat 500e has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The rear suspension of the i4 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the 500e, 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 500e’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 500e doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The i4 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The 500e doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i4’s wheelbase is 21 inches longer than on the 500e (112.4 inches vs. 91.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the i4 is 4.6 inches wider in the front and 5.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 500e.

The i4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (48.7% to 51.3%) than the 500e’s (58.9% to 41.1%). This gives the i4 more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The i4 is 9.5 inches shorter in height than the 500e, making the i4 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The front grille of the i4 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 500e doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The i4 has standard seating for 5 passengers; the 500e can only carry 4.

The i4 has 4.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 6.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500e.

Cargo Capacity

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 500e doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the i4, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The 500e doesn’t offer a memory 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 500e doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The i4’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Fiat does not offer a locking feature on the 500e’s standard power windows.

The i4’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The 500e’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The i4 has two rear doors to provide better access for cargo and rear passengers. The 500e doesn’t offer rear doors.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the i4 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The 500e 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.

The i4 offers optional heated front and rear seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the 500e.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the i4 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 500e doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the i4’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The 500e doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The i4 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500e doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the i4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500e doesn’t offer rear vents.

The i4’s available Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The 500e’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

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 500e has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.