KIA EV6 VS BMW i4: Price, Specs and More

Kia has already brought EV6 to the Indian domestic markets and hence the competition has become tight. Today, we will compare Kia EV6 with the BMW i4 given their pricing is roughly comparable.

Kia, a South Korean automaker, has recently unveiled the EV6 electric crossover in India. In terms of price, the new Kia EV6 will compete with the BMW i4. Let's compare the primary specifications of the top models in the BMW i4 and Kia EV6 lineups in India to discover who wins.

In India, the Kia EV6 comes with two engine options: a single motor rear-wheel-drive model and an all-wheel-drive twin motor configuration. For the purposes of this comparison, we'll pit the more powerful EV6 against the BMW i4 eDrive40 Sport (India's lone i4 variation), given their pricing is roughly comparable.

The Kia EV6 AWD has a twin-motor configuration (one for each wheel) that produces 321 horsepower and 605Nm of peak torque. The BMW i4, on the other hand, is powered by a single electric motor that produces 340bhp and 430Nm of peak torque and drives the rear wheels.

While the BMW i4 has 19 more horsepower, the Kia has 175 more Nm of peak torque, allowing it to accelerate faster. The Kia EV6 accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.2 seconds, half a second faster than the BMW i4 electric vehicle.

Furthermore, the Kia EV6 has a higher electronically-limited top speed of 192 km/h, which is 2 km/h faster than the BMW i4 (190 km/h).

Kia EV6 Vs BMW i4 - Battery Capacity, Range & Charging Speeds

The Kia EV6 is powered by a 77.4kWh battery pack, which allows it to go 506 kilometers on a single charge, according to WLTP testing regulations. The BMW i4 has an 83.9kWh battery pack (6.5kWh more), giving it a range of 590 kilometers (84 kilometers more) on a single charge, which is the longest of any EV currently on sale in India.

The BMW i4 has a maximum charging speed of 205kW, allowing it to charge its battery pack from 10% to 80% in approximately 31 minutes. The EV6, on the other hand, has a bespoke 800V electric architecture that enables charging speeds of up to 350kW, allowing for a charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.

The most prevalent fast DC chargers in India currently handle speeds of up to 50kW, yet when connected to them, the EV6 still has a faster top-up time between 10% and 80% charge. While the BMW i4 takes 83 minutes to complete this activity, the Kia EV6 is 10 minutes faster, taking only 73 minutes to charge its battery pack from 10% to 80%.

Kia EV6 Vs BMW i4 - Dimensions

The Kia EV6 measures 4,695mm in length, 1,890mm in width, and 1,550mm in height. The BMW i4 is 88mm longer than the Kia at 4,783mm, but it is 38mm narrower and 102mm shorter with a width of 1,852mm and a height of 1,448mm than the South Korean crossover.

Despite the BMW's greater length, the Kia has a 44mm longer wheelbase at 2,900mm, compared to 2,856mm for the Bavarian EV. This is owing to the fact that the employs a specific EV design, whilst the i4 uses the same setup as the ICE-powered BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

The expanded wheelbase, width, and height (albeit this latter factor can also be attributed to Kia's crossover SUV design) all contribute to the South Korean EV's more spacious interior.

The Kia EV6 provides a little more headroom, shoulder room, and leg room in both the front and back seats. The Kia has 991mm and 965mm of front and rear headroom, respectively, which is 21mm and 35mm greater than the i4.

The difference in leg room is much more noticeable at the back, especially. Leg room in the Kia is 1,077mm in the front and 991mm in the back. In comparison to the i4, the Kia EV6 has 23mm more front leg room and 122mm more rear leg room. The situation with shoulder room is similar, with the Kia EV6 giving 66mm more front (1,468mm) and 33mm more back (1,412mm) than the BMW i4.

The boot size is similar, with the Kia EV6 giving 520 litres and the BMW offering 470 litres. All of these figures indicate that the Kia is the more spacious option, particularly for individuals who are not vertically challenged and require additional boot room.

Kia EV6 Vs BMW i4 - Suspension & Tyres

Don't let the extra room fool you into thinking the BMW is less comfy to drive than the Kia. While the Kia EV6's sporty setup relies on coil over springs to handle bumps and ruts, the BMW i4 has air suspension with automatic levelling for a smooth ride over difficult terrain. In addition, the BMW has smaller 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 R17 tyres, but the Kia has larger 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/55 R19 tyres.

Thoughts On the Kia EV6 Vs BMW i4 Spec Battle

In terms of specifications, the Kia EV6 and the BMW i4 are nearly identical. While the BMW is more powerful and has a faster top speed, the Kia's torque output allows it to accelerate more quickly off the line. While the BMW has a longer range, the Kia's faster charging speeds mean you'll be on your way to your destination faster than the Bavarian EV if you're stuck at a charging station.

However, the Kia EV6 wins out in terms of interior space because to its EV-specific architecture, with most of the BMW's extra length sacrificed on the overhangs due to its ICE-first sharing platform.

With prices for the top-spec Kia EV6 projected to be similar to the BMW i4's ex-showroom price of Rs 69.9 lakh, this battle could unfortunately be won by the label on the bonnet.