2027 BMW i3 vs 2027 Nissan Kicks
The BMW i3 wins clearly, 100 to 69.3, on fuel & range.
2027 BMW i3
The 2027 BMW i3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 4 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i3 50 xDrive Sedan (20 inch…
2027 Nissan Kicks
The 2027 Nissan Kicks is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Kicks FWD, is EPA-rated a…
2027 BMW i3
Clear winThe BMW i3 wins clearly, 100 to 69.3, on fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2027 Nissan Kicksoverall 69.3 | 2027 BMW i3overall 100 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 28.3 | 100 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 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 | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Overall | 69.3 | 100 | |||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for BMW i3
Nissan Kicks: base trim S FWD · BMW i3: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). 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 2027 BMW i3 wins
- It is rated 124 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($600 against $2,000).
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
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
47 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $22,790 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 1,997 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder inline | — |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder with Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 141 hp | — |
| Torque | 140 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 28 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 31 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 35 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 5.341 | — |
| Transmission type | cvt | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.4 in | — |
| Overall height | 64.2 in | — |
| Overall length | 172 in | — |
| Overall width | 70.9 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 105 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 55.7 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 30 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 126 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.7 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 38.5 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.7 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 34.5 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 2,994 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 2,994 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 3,902 lbs | — |
| Payload capacity | 908 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
45 features · differences first, then sharedSafety22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection | std | — |
| Intelligent Cruise Control with steering wheel-mounted controls | 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Driver and passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| RearView Monitor | std | — |
| Rollover sensor (curtain airbag) | 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 i3 |
|---|---|---|
| NissanConnect™ Services powered by Sirius XM, Wi-Fi Hotspot, myQ Connected Garage Door Opener | opt | — |
| 12.3-inch touchscreen | std | — |
| AM/FM with 4 speakers, USB input, satellite radio, Bluetooth, smartphone connectivity | 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® | std | — |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with push-button start | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual climate control | std | — |
Seating2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's seat 6-way manual adjustable | std | — |
| Cloth front seats | std | — |
Interior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch digital dashboard | std | — |
| Manual tilt-telescope steering wheel | std | — |
| Drive computer with mpg, distance to empty, average speed, elapsed time, outside temp, TPMS | std | — |
Exterior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| LED daytime running lights | std | — |
| LED rear combination lights | std | — |
| Center high-mounted stop light (CHMSL), spoiler-mounted | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Front-wheel drive | std | — |
| Drive Mode Selector | std | — |
| Idle Stop/Start | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Kicks
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
BMW i3
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan KicksS FWD | BMW i3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22,790 (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | $22,790 – $28,840 7 trims | — |
| Powertrains | GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Kicks FWD | i3 50 xDrive Sedan (20 inch Summer Tires) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 31 | 124 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,000 | $600 |
| EV range | — | 468 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Nissan Kicks or the 2027 BMW i3?
The BMW i3 wins clearly, 100 to 69.3, on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 BMW i3 scores 100 and the 2027 Nissan Kicks 69.3. 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 2027 Nissan Kicks or the 2027 BMW i3?
2027 Nissan Kicks: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 BMW i3: 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 2027 Nissan Kicks and the 2027 BMW i3?
Where the 2027 BMW i3 wins: it is rated 124 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $1,400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($600 against $2,000). What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.