2026 BMW i4 vs 2026 Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 wins clearly, 93.6 to 66.6, on tech & comfort, price, safety. The BMW i4 is ahead on performance and fuel & range.
2026 BMW i4
The 2026 BMW i4 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 7 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 …
2026 Kia EV6
The 2026 Kia EV6 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the EV6 Long Range RWD, is EPA…
2026 Kia EV6
Clear winThe Kia EV6 wins clearly, 93.6 to 66.6, on tech & comfort, price, safety. The BMW i4 is ahead on performance and fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2026 Kia EV6overall 93.6 | 2026 BMW i4overall 66.6 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 65.5 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 92.2 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 75 | ||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 60.4 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||
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 | 93.6 | 66.6 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Kia EV6: base trim Light RWD · BMW i4: base trim i4 eDrive40 RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Kia EV6 wins
- It lists 32 standard driver-assist features against 0.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (45 points against 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $20,000 lower ($37,900 against $57,900 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers
- It makes 335 hp against 167.
- It goes 96 miles further on a charge (333 against 237 miles of EPA range).
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
- The same EPA fuel cost ($650 a year).
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.
Specifications side by side
38 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $37,900 | $57,900 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Engine type (full description) | AC Synchronous Permanent Magnet Motor | Single all-electric motor |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 167 hp | 335 hp |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft | 317 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 128 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 115 mpg | 118 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 103 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 10.65:1 | — |
| Transmission speeds | — | 1 |
| Transmission type | Gear Reduction Unit | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 6.1 in | — |
| Overall height | 60.8 in | — |
| Overall length | 185 in | — |
| Overall width | 74 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 114 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 24.4 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 103 cu-ft | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 38 in | 36.6 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.4 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 39 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,132 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,114 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson type suspension with inclined strut bearing and Single Lower Arm Type | — |
| Rear suspension type | 5 Multi-link | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack-Mounted Electric Power Steering (R-MDPS) | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19.1 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 325 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | epb | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 325 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | — |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 7.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/55R19 | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.8 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 55.6 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
120 features · differences first, then sharedSafety33 differ · 33 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance (FCA) with Car / Pedestrian / Cyclist detection (Fusion-type with sensor) - Junction Turning | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist System (LFA) | std | — |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance (RCCA) | std | — |
| Dual front advanced airbags | std | — |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | std | — |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | — |
| Highway Driving Assist (HDA) | std | — |
| Lane Keep Assist System (LKA) | std | — |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control - Curve with Stop and Go (NSCC-C) | std | — |
| Rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | — |
| Dual rear seat-mounted side airbags | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning - Front and Rear | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning - Front and Rear | std | — |
| Antilock Brakes System (ABS) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA) | std | — |
| Drive Recorder (added to Parking Assistant Professional package) | — | opt |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with auto hold | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | — |
| Front and rear 3-point seat belts | std | — |
| Front seat-belt pretensioners | std | — |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | std | — |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Impact sensing auto door unlock | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) door-logic based | std | — |
| Speed sensing auto door locks | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - high line | std | — |
Infotainment8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| 12.3-inch navigation display unit with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, Voice Recognition, with integrated Modem (AVN 5.0 with TMU) | std | — |
| Front and rear door speakers (x4) | std | — |
| Front tweeter (x2) | std | — |
| Second-row USB-C charge ports (x2) | std | — |
| Shark fin antenna | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio, Bluetooth®, voice recognition and cruise controls | std | — |
| Wireless phone charger | std | — |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key with Push-button start, burglar alarm, escort headlamp, immobilizer, panic | std | — |
| Floor console tray with 12V power outlet (x1), USB-A data port (x1) and USB-C charge ports (x2) | std | — |
| Vehicle to load (V2L) connector | opt | — |
| Central door locks | std | — |
| Power driver's window with auto up/down and pinch protection | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air filter | std | — |
| Dual-zone automatic air-conditioner, front and rear vents with auto-defog | std | — |
| Front and rear air conditioning vents | std | — |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-way power driver's seat | std | — |
| Heated front seats (3-levels) | std | — |
| 2nd row reclining | std | — |
| Combination recycled fabric / SynTex seat material | std | — |
| Front and rear adjustable headrests | std | — |
| Manual passenger seat, sliding and reclining | std | — |
| 2nd row side seats armrest with cupholder (x2) | std | — |
Interior24 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electric chromic inside rear-view mirror | std | — |
| 12.3-inch Color TFT LCD panoramic curved display cluster | std | — |
| Artificial leather steering wheel | std | — |
| Cloth trim roof | std | — |
| Coat hook (x1) | std | — |
| Door courtesy reflector | std | — |
| Front and rear door map pockets with bottle holder | std | — |
| Front console arm rest with storage box and cup holders (x2) | std | — |
| Front passenger seat back pocket | std | — |
| Glass Controls | — | opt |
| Glove box with illumination | std | — |
| LED center room lamp | std | — |
| LED map lamp | std | — |
| LED puddle lamps | std | — |
| Matte silver metallic paint inside door handles | std | — |
| Recycled fabric crashpad | std | — |
| Illuminated sunvisor vanity mirrors, extendable | std | — |
| Manual tilt and telescoping steering column | std | — |
| Carpeted floor mats | opt | — |
| LED rear cargo light | std | — |
| Trip computer | std | — |
| Carpet flooring | std | — |
| Plastic scuff plates | std | — |
| Rheostat (Dimmer Switch) | std | — |
Exterior23 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Full Projection LED headlamps | std | — |
| Power folding outside mirrors with integrated side-repeater lamps | std | — |
| 19-inch Alloy wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic film windshield | std | — |
| Auto pop-out aero flush outside door handles | std | — |
| Black-painted wheel arches | std | — |
| Body-color outside door handles | std | — |
| Heated (Defroster) tailgate | std | — |
| High-gloss black front grille (Digital Tiger Face Design) | std | — |
| High-Gloss black lower fascia bumper | std | — |
| High-gloss black outside mirrors | std | — |
| High-gloss black side sills | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) | std | — |
| Power adjustable heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Rear (left) charge port door | std | — |
| Rear LED combination lamps | std | — |
| Rear spoiler (integrated into rear taillamp) | std | — |
| Roof spoiler (located at leading edge of backlight) | std | — |
| Shadowline package (Black mirror caps and M Sport brakes with blue callipers) | — | opt |
| Windshield wiper blade | std | — |
| Auto Light Control headlights | std | — |
| Privacy glass (rear doors, tailgate, quarter glass) | std | — |
| LED High Mounted Stop lamp | std | — |
| Seal & Drive Tire Kit | std | std |
Powertrain7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 125 kW Electric Motor Output | std | — |
| 63.0 kWh | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select (DMS) with Eco, Comfort, Sport and Snow modes | std | — |
| In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) | std | — |
| Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) | std | — |
| Shift-by-Wire gear selector | std | — |
| Silicon carbide (SiC) inverters | — | std |
Chassis5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front Selective Damping Control Valve and Hydraulic Rebound Stop (HRS) shock absorber | std | — |
| McPherson Strut Single Lower Arm Type front suspension | std | — |
| Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) | std | — |
| Multi-link rear suspension | std | — |
| Rear Selective Damping Control Valve shock absorber | std | — |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo cover | opt | — |
| Cargo power outlet | std | — |
| Hidden storage tray in cargo area | std | — |
| Luggage board | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPKia EV6
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
BMW i4
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia EV6Light RWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $37,900 (base trim) | $57,900 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $37,900 – $53,000 8 trims | $57,900 – $70,700 3 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | EV6 Standard Range RWD | i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 115 | 118 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $650 | $650 |
| EV range | 237 mi | 333 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Kia EV6 or the 2026 BMW i4?
The Kia EV6 wins clearly, 93.6 to 66.6, on tech & comfort, price, safety. The BMW i4 is ahead on performance and fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Kia EV6 scores 93.6 and the 2026 BMW i4 66.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Kia EV6 or the 2026 BMW i4?
The 2026 Kia EV6 starts lower — $37,900 against $57,900, a gap of $20,000 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Kia EV6 or the 2026 BMW i4?
2026 Kia EV6: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 BMW i4: no NHTSA rating yet, 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 2026 Kia EV6 and the 2026 BMW i4?
Where the 2026 Kia EV6 wins: it lists 32 standard driver-assist features against 0, lists more comfort and tech equipment (45 points against 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $20,000 lower ($37,900 against $57,900 base MSRP). Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers: it makes 335 hp against 167 and goes 96 miles further on a charge (333 against 237 miles of EPA range). What they share: a Safety Signal of 100 and the same EPA fuel cost ($650 a year).