Compare the2025 Toyota bZ4XVS 2025 BMW i4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota bZ4X are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW i4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the bZ4X are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The i4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the bZ4X AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The i4 doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the bZ4X and i4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the bZ4X has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The i4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the bZ4X and the i4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Toyota bZ4X has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The i4 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the bZ4X 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the i4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the i4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the bZ4X’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 8th.

On the EPA test cycle the bZ4X gets better mileage than the i4:

The bZ4X can travel longer on a full charge than the i4 on a full charge:

For better traction, the bZ4X has larger tires than the i4 (235/60R18 vs. 225/50R18).

For better maneuverability, the bZ4X’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the i4’s (40 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Toyota bZ4X may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the BMW i4.

The bZ4X is 3.9 inches shorter than the i4, making the bZ4X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The bZ4X has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i4 (94.4 vs. 90).

The bZ4X has .4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the i4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the bZ4X’s rear seats recline. The i4’s rear seats don’t recline.