Compare the2025 Toyota Prius Plug-In HybridVS 2025 BMW i5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW i5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid 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 i5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Prius Plug-In Hybrid and the i5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Prius Plug-In Hybrid achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The i5 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Prius Plug-In Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the i5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the i5 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 Prius Plug-In Hybrid’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’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 9th.

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the i5:

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid SE’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 606 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The i5’s range is only 239 to 295 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 30 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 8 hours.

For better maneuverability, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the i5 eDrive40’s (34.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1450 to 1700 pounds less than the BMW i5.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is 1 foot, 6.1 inches shorter than the i5, making the Prius Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Prius Plug-In Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The i5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The i5 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the i5.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The i5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Prius/Prius Prime was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 1 more times in the last 22 years. The i5 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Prius Plug-In Hybrid as their 2024 Car of the Year. The i5 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Prius as the 2024 North American Car of the Year. The i5 has never been chosen.