2026 BMW i4 vs 2026 Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks wins clearly, 72.4 to 61.7, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and performance. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and it flips.
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 Nissan Kicks
The 2026 Nissan Kicks is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Kicks, is EPA-rated at 31 …
2026 Nissan Kicks
Clear winThe Nissan Kicks wins clearly, 72.4 to 61.7, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and performance. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Kicksoverall 72.4 | 2026 BMW i4overall 61.7 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 39.3 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 28.9 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 71.5 | 80 | ||||||||||||
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 | 42.8 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 3.2 | ||||||||||||
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 | 72.4 | 61.7 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Kicks: base trim S FWD · BMW i4: base trim i4 eDrive40 RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Kicks wins
- It lists 25 standard driver-assist features against 0.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (15.5 points against 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $35,170 lower ($22,730 against $57,900 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 7 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 118 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
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
49 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $22,730 | $57,900 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 1,997 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | MR20DD 2.0L DOHC inline 4-cylinder | Single all-electric motor |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder with Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 141 hp | 335 hp |
| Torque | 140 lb-ft | 317 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 28 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 31 mpg | 118 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 35 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 5.341 | — |
| Transmission speeds | — | 1 |
| Transmission type | cvt | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.4 in | — |
| Overall height | 64.2 in | — |
| Overall length | 172 in | — |
| Overall width | 70.9 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 105 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 55.7 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 30 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 95.7 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.7 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 38.5 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | — | 36.6 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.7 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 34.5 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,002 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,002 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 3,902 lbs | — |
| Payload capacity | 900 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut with coil springs | — |
| Rear suspension type | Twist beam | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric power-assisted | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 295 mm | — |
| Front brake type | Vented disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Electric with auto hold | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 279 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | steel | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 215/65R16 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 11.9 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | NissanConnect | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 54.7 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 54.7 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
54 features · differences first, then sharedSafety26 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection | std | — |
| Predictive Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Front seat mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning | 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 with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | std | — |
| Driver Attention Alert | std | — |
| Rear seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | — |
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Drive Recorder (added to Parking Assistant Professional package) | — | opt |
| Driver and passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent Cruise Control with steering wheel-mounted controls | std | — |
| Nissan Safety Shield® 360 | std | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Rear sonar | std | — |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (direct sensor type) | std | — |
| Vehicle Security System Immobilizer | std | — |
Infotainment9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| NissanConnect™ Services powered by Sirius XM, Wi-Fi Hotspot, myQ Connected Garage Door Opener | opt | — |
| 12.3-inch color touchscreen display | std | — |
| Audio and Bluetooth® switches on steering wheel | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System | std | — |
| Front USB ports – 2, USB-C | std | — |
| NissanConnect® featuring wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Siri® Eyes Free | std | — |
| SiriusXM® (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately) | std | — |
| Streaming audio via Bluetooth® | std | — |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with push-button start | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual climate control | std | — |
Seating2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's seat 6-way manual adjustable | std | — |
| Cloth front seats | std | — |
Interior4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch color meter | std | — |
| Glass Controls | — | opt |
| Manual tilt-telescope steering wheel | std | — |
| Drive computer with mpg, distance to empty, average speed, elapsed time, outside temp, TPMS | std | — |
Exterior5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | — |
| LED rear combination lights | std | — |
| Seal & Drive Tire Kit | — | std |
| Shadowline package (Black mirror caps and M Sport brakes with blue callipers) | — | opt |
| Center high-mounted stop light (CHMSL), spoiler-mounted | std | — |
Powertrain5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| xDrive all-wheel-drive | std | — |
| Front Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Drive Mode Selector – Normal, Eco, Sport (FWD) / Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow (AWD) | std | — |
| Idle Stop/Start | std | — |
| Silicon carbide (SiC) inverters | — | std |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed floor with underfloor storage system | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Kicks
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V145000 · 15 vehicles
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V023000 · 26,432 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V331000 · 51,598 vehicles
BMW i4
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22,730 (base trim) | $57,900 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $22,730 – $28,460 6 trims | $57,900 – $70,700 3 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Kicks | i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 31 | 118 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,150 | $650 |
| EV range | — | 333 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Kicks or the 2026 BMW i4?
The Nissan Kicks wins clearly, 72.4 to 61.7, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and performance. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Kicks scores 72.4 and the 2026 BMW i4 61.7. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Nissan Kicks or the 2026 BMW i4?
The 2026 Nissan Kicks starts lower — $22,730 against $57,900, a gap of $35,170 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Nissan Kicks or the 2026 BMW i4?
2026 Nissan Kicks: 4 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 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 Nissan Kicks and the 2026 BMW i4?
Where the 2026 Nissan Kicks wins: it lists 25 standard driver-assist features against 0, lists more comfort and tech equipment (15.5 points against 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $35,170 lower ($22,730 against $57,900 base MSRP). Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 7 filed with NHTSA) and is rated 118 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe).