Head-to-head
2025 BMW i4 vs 2025 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf wins clearly, 95.3 to 73.5, on safety, tech & comfort. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range.
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2025 BMW i4
The 2025 BMW i4 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 8 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 …
vs
A2025 Nissan Leaf
The 2025 Nissan Leaf is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the LEAF SV, is EPA-rated …
Verdict · default weights
2025 Nissan Leaf
Clear winThe Nissan Leaf wins clearly, 95.3 to 73.5, on safety, tech & comfort. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range.
Safety 2025 Nissan Leaf leads by 36.7
Tech & comfort 2025 Nissan Leaf leads by 39.4
Fuel & range 2025 BMW i4 leads by 15.6
| Category · weight | 2025 BMW i4overall 73.5 | 2025 Nissan Leafoverall 95.3 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 84.4 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 63.3 | 100 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 60.6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 73.5 | 95.3 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 3 of 7 categories compared
BMW i4: base trim i4 eDrive35 RWD · Nissan Leaf: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Nissan Leaf wins
- It lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 1.
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (7 against 12 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (33 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2025 BMW i4 answers
- It goes 117 miles further on a charge (266 against 149 miles of EPA range).
- It costs $50 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($650 against $700).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
40 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $28,140 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Engine type (full description) | — | 110 kW AC synchronous electric motor (EM-57) |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 147 hp |
| Torque | — | 236 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 123 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 111 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 99 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 8.193 |
| Transmission speeds | — | 1 |
| Transmission type | — | Single-speed gear reducer |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.9 in |
| Overall height | — | 61.5 in |
| Overall length | — | 176 in |
| Overall width | — | 70.5 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 106 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 30 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 23.6 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 116 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 41.2 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 42.1 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 33.5 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 3,509 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 3,509 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 4,508 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Independent MacPherson strut with coil springs and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | — | Torsion beam with integrated stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Vehicle-speed-sensitive electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 34.8 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 283 mm |
| Front brake type | — | vented disc |
| Parking brake type | — | foot pedal |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 292 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | vented disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 16 in |
| Wheel material | — | steel |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 205/55R16 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 54.3 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 52.5 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
132 features · differences first, then sharedSafety33 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | — | std |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | — | std |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | — | std |
| RearView Monitor | — | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | — | std |
| Rear seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| 4-wheel anti-lock braking system | — | std |
| 4-wheel power-assisted disc brakes | — | std |
| Blind Spot Intervention | — | std |
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Child safety rear door locks | — | std |
| Child seat upper tether anchor | — | std |
| Cooperative regenerative brakes – Electrically driven intelligent brake | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Electronic brake force distribution | — | std |
| Energy-absorbing steering column | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| LATCH system | — | std |
| Power window lockout system | — | std |
| Rear Automatic Braking | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Remote 3D View and Remote Inside View via My BMW App (with Parking Assistant Plus) | opt | — |
| Side door guard beams | — | std |
| Traction control system | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | — | std |
| Vehicle security system | — | std |
| Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones | — | std |
| Nissan vehicle immobilizer system | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System – 4-corner pressure readout (center display) | — | std |
| High Beam Assist | std | std |
Infotainment21 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Head-Up Display (full-color, with BMW Live Cockpit Professional) | opt | — |
| BMW Maps cloud-based navigation system | std | — |
| Remote door lock/unlock via My BMW App | std | — |
| Smartphone Digital Key | std | — |
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| Vehicle location via My BMW App | std | — |
| 4 USB ports | — | std |
| AM/FM with MP3/WMA playback capability, 4 speakers | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ | — | std |
| Augmented View for BMW Maps navigation (with BMW Live Cockpit Professional) | opt | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | — | std |
| BMW Curved Display (12.3-inch instrument cluster + 14.9-inch control display) | std | — |
| BMW iDrive with QuickSelect based on BMW Operating System 8.5 | std | — |
| BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control | std | — |
| Hands-free text messaging assistant | — | std |
| NissanConnect® with 8.0-inch color display with multi-touch control | — | std |
| Personal eSIM with 5G mobile communications standard | std | — |
| Siri® Eyes Free | — | std |
| SiriusXM® Radio (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately) | — | std |
| Steering wheel paddle shifters | std | — |
| Wireless Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates | std | — |
Convenience8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key™ with push-button start and charge port door release | — | std |
| 12-volt power outlet | — | std |
| Charging timer – set desired charge time | — | std |
| Cruise control | — | std |
| Parking brake – Manual, foot pedal | — | std |
| Power door locks with auto locking system | — | std |
| Power windows with driver's side one-touch auto up/down | — | std |
| Remote charge door release | — | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Temperature Control (includes passive ventilation logic) | — | std |
| Heater, AC timer | — | std |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 folding rear seats | — | std |
| Heated front seats | std | — |
| 6-way manual driver's seat | — | std |
| 4-way manual front passenger seat | — | std |
| Bio Suede PET material | — | std |
| Sport seats in perforated Sensatec (standard) | std | — |
| Vernasca leather trim with decorative quilting (optional, five colors including Black with Red Highlight) | opt | — |
Interior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | std | — |
| Bottle holders – 4 (door panels) | — | std |
| Center console storage | — | std |
| Cup holders – 2 in center console | — | std |
| Digital meter cluster | — | std |
| Fineline Light open-pored fine wood trim | opt | — |
| Front and rear assist grips | — | std |
| Galvanic finish for gear selector, BMW iDrive Controller, and Start/Stop button | opt | — |
| Glove compartment | — | std |
| Grey Blue Ash open-pored fine wood trim | opt | — |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | std | — |
| M Fine Brushed Aluminum interior trim | opt | — |
| M leather steering wheel, three-spoke, flat-bottomed rim with black center stripe (M Sport Package) | opt | — |
| Passenger seat pockets | — | std |
| Room lamp | — | std |
| Sun visors with extension | — | std |
| Two-spoke steering wheel with polygonal rim and illuminated multifunction buttons (standard) | std | — |
| Manual tilt / Manual telescopic steering wheel | — | std |
| Trip computer (State of Charge percentage, instant and average energy consumption, driving time, outside temperature and autonomy range) | — | std |
Exterior27 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power-folding outside mirrors | std | — |
| 16-inch steel with full wheel covers | — | std |
| 19-inch M Aero bi-color wheels (with M Sport Package) | opt | — |
| 20-inch BMW Individual Aero bi-color wheels in double-spoke design | opt | — |
| Adaptive Full LED Headlights | std | — |
| Aerodynamic halogen headlights | — | std |
| Aerodynamic underbody cover and rear diffuser | — | std |
| All-season 205/55R16 Bridgestone Ecopia | — | std |
| Center high-mounted stop light | — | std |
| Charge port light and lock | — | std |
| Chrome outside door handles | — | std |
| Dual power remote-controlled outside mirrors | — | std |
| Energy-absorbing body-color front and rear bumpers | — | std |
| Fixed roof antenna | — | std |
| Headlight Welcome Light animation | std | — |
| Heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Laserlight taillights (with Adaptive Full LED Headlights) | std | — |
| LED daytime running lights | std | — |
| LED tail lights | — | std |
| M high-gloss Shadowline with extended elements (optional) | opt | — |
| M Sport Package (includes M leather steering wheel, M front apron with large side air intakes, diffuser element in Black high-gloss, 19-inch M Aero bi-color wheels) | opt | — |
| Rain-sensing windshield wipers | std | — |
| Tire repair kit – mounted in trunk | — | std |
| Variable intermittent windshield wipers | — | std |
| Automatic on/off headlights | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | — | std |
| Rear spoiler | — | std |
Powertrain14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel drive | — | std |
| 110 kW AC synchronous electric motor (EM-57) | — | std |
| 147 horsepower | — | std |
| 236 lb-ft of torque @ 0~3,283 rpm | — | std |
| 40 kWh lithium-ion battery, 192 cells | — | std |
| 6.6 kW onboard charger (6.0 kW output) | — | std |
| B-mode – Engages regenerative braking more aggressively while decelerating | — | std |
| Drive mode select | std | — |
| e-Pedal | — | std |
| Eco-Mode – Increased regenerative braking, assists in limiting motor output and reduces HVAC power output | — | std |
| High output quick charge port | — | std |
| Li-ion battery pack warranty – 8 years or 100,000 miles against defects; 8 years or 100,000 miles against excessive capacity loss | — | std |
| Portable charge cable (120V / 240V EVSE) | — | std |
| Shift-by-wire drive selector | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW i4
Safety Signal 85 B
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 2
Owner complaints 12 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Power Train (2), Forward Collision Avoidance (2), Steering (2)
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 25V906000 · 1 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V395000 · 71,286 vehicles
Nissan Leaf
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 7 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (3), Vehicle Speed Control (2), Unspecified (2)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | Nissan LeafS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $28,140 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 6 trims | $28,140 – $36,190 2 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels) | LEAF |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 116 | 111 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $650 | $700 |
| EV range | 266 mi | 149 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 BMW i4 or the 2025 Nissan Leaf?
The Nissan Leaf wins clearly, 95.3 to 73.5, on safety, tech & comfort. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Nissan Leaf scores 95.3 and the 2025 BMW i4 73.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 BMW i4 or the 2025 Nissan Leaf?
2025 BMW i4: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 2 recalls. 2025 Nissan Leaf: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 BMW i4 and the 2025 Nissan Leaf?
Where the 2025 Nissan Leaf wins: it lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 1, has drawn fewer owner complaints (7 against 12 filed with NHTSA), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (33 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2025 BMW i4 answers: it goes 117 miles further on a charge (266 against 149 miles of EPA range) and costs $50 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($650 against $700).