BMW i4 vs Kia EV6 GT Line spec comparo reveals how closely both the EVs match in all aspects
The much-awaited BMW i4 vs Kia EV6 GT Line EV battle is here. We have pitted BMW’s latest conventional IC inspired EV, the i4, against the upcoming Kia EV6 GT Line that’s built on a pure EV platform from grounds up.
Interestingly both the cars are nearly neck-to-neck in almost all the aspects and it would surely be difficult for you to choose between the 2.
If we were to necessarily differentiate the 2, all we can say is that the BMW excels more on overall range and performance while the EV6 GT Line takes the crown in the safety department.
| Specification | BMW i4 eDrive40 | Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD | Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Type | Luxury Sedan | Crossover | Crossover |
| Platform | CLAR | E-GMP | E-GMP |
| Range (WLTP) | 590 km | 528 km | 441 km |
| Battery Capacity | 83.9 kWh | 77.4 kWh | 77.4 kWh |
| Emergency Charge Range | 164 km in 10 minutes | 100 km in 4.5 minutes | 100 km in 4.5 minutes |
| Fast Charging Time (10-80%) | 31 minutes at 205 kW supply | 18 minutes at 350 kW supply | 18 minutes at 350 kW supply |
| Power | 335 HP | 225 HP | 320 HP |
| Torque | 430 Nm | 350 Nm | 605 Nm |
| Acceleration (0-100 km/hr) | 5.7 seconds | 7.3 seconds | 5.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 190 km/hr | 183 km/hr | 187 km/hr |
| Tires | 225/55 R17 | 235/55 R19 | 235/55 R19 |
| Boot Space | 470 litres | 520 litres | 520 litres |
| Ground Clearance | 125 mm | 155 mm | 155 mm |
| Dimensions (L,W,H) | 4783, 1852, 1448 mm | 4694, 1890, 1544 mm | 4694, 1890, 1544 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2856 mm | 2901 mm | 2901 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 2125 kg | 1930 kg | 2042 kg |
| Turning Radius | 6.25 metres | 5.8 metres | 5.8 metres |
| Front Suspension | Double Joint Spring Strut Axle | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | 5-link Axle | Multi-link Axle | Multi-link Axle |
| Brakes | All-wheel Disc | 325 mm All-wheel Disc | 325 mm All-wheel Disc |
| Airbag Count | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Instrument Cluster | 12.3 inch | 12.3 inch Curved | 12.3 inch Curved |
| Infotainment System | HD 14.9 inch Curved | 12.3 inch Curved | 12.3 inch Curved |
| Music System | 17-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound | 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio | 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio |
| Ex-showroom Price | Rs. 69.90 lakhs | Rs. 65 lakhs | Rs. 70 lakhs |
Exteriors – While the i4 is a limousine kind of luxury sedan, the EV6 GT Line is a new age crossover that’s first-of-its-kind in the world and takes no inspiration from an IC vehicle.
However, both the cars get all round LED treatment, auto-folding heated ORVMs, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlamps, and auto boot opening mechanism.
The i4 gets 3 colours – Black Sapphire, Skyscraper Grey, and Mineral White while the EV6 GT Line gets 4 colours – Moonscape, Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, Aurora Black Pearl, and Yacht Blue.
Both the cars have poor ground clearances and it must be seen how they perform in our road conditions. The Kia rides on bigger wheels and tires though.
Interiors – Both the cars fight tough when it comes to the inside. The EVs get large 12.3-inch instrument clusters but the BMW gets a bigger infotainment system.
While both the cars gets ambient mood lights, the Kia gets the option to choose from a huge collection of 64 colours. Kia’s seats are made of Suede leather with vegan bolsters too.
The i4 can be had with a choice of 2 kinds of seats – Sensatec perforated Canberra Beige Black or Cognac Black.
The EV6 features an augmented reality head up display and 64-colour ambient mood lighting while i4 gets the luxurious auto parking assistant.
Powertrain – While the BMW comes only with a lone motor and a rear wheel drive system, the Kia also gets a dual motor variant, e-AWD, with a 4-wheel drive system.
When it comes to outright power, it’s the BMW which sits on top with 335 HP that’s even higher than the combined output of the EV6’s dual motors. But on torque numbers, Kia’s dual motors put a massive 605 Nm and lead comfortably.
BMW posts a higher top speed, but it’s the 4-wheel drive EV6 that’s faster off the start line. Kia’s faster acceleration could also be due to its slightly lower kerb weight.
Battery Pack and Range – The BMW i4 gets a slightly bigger battery pack than the Kia EV6 and that shows up in its slightly improved range of 590 km against Kia’s 528 km and 441 km range of the RWD and e-AWD variants.
While the BMW can run 164 km in 10 minutes of emergency fast charging, the EV6 slightly betters it as the Korean EV can run 100 km in just 4.5 minutes of charging.
The Kia even accepts a higher charge wattage of 350 kW against BMW’s 205 kW. Because of this, the BMW takes 13 minutes extra time to charge to 80 percent from 10 percent than the Kia’s super fast 18 minutes.
Safety – Safety is the area where the EV6 surpasses the BMW by a huge margin with its long list of ADAS functionalities.
The BMW’s safety features include 8 airbags with crash sensor, ABS with brake assist, dynamic brake lights, Dynamic Stability Control (DAC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Dynamic Traction Control, and ISOFIX child anchor.
On the other hand, the EV6 offers 8 different ADAS functions namely forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear-cross traffic avoidance assist, safe exit assist, lane follow assist, and driver attention warning.
Additionally, the Kia gets 8 airbags, ABS, ESC, hill start assist control, multi collision brake assist, vehicle stability management, emergency stop signal, front and rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child anchor.
Features – Both the cars are evenly matched in features. While they get all the basic features a buyer would expect at their price points, there are some unique and cool ones too. The EV6 gets an onboard power supply which can be used to charge another EV as well as home appliances.
It further sports dual zone remote control AC, UV cut solar glass sun roof, 14-speaker Meridian sound system, range preserving heat pump, Kia Connect with more than 60 features, surround view monitor, and paddle shifters for regenerative braking.
The i4 makes to do with drive modes, 3 zone auto AC, interior mirror with automatic anti-dazzle function, glass sunroof with integrated wind deflector, voice control with personal assistant – Hey BMW, 17-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system, reversing assistant, and adaptive recuperation system.
Price – The BMW i4 currently retails at Rs. 69.90 lakhs (ex-showroom) for its lone eDrive40 variant. The Kia EV6 GT Line’s prices will be announced on 2nd June but our sources have mentioned that the RWD will be priced at Rs. 65 lakhs and the AWD will cost Rs. 70 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Verdict – The latest BMW i4 and Kia EV6 GT Line are so evenly matched that we simple can’t choose a winner. While i4 is a typical BMW with a ton of features and amazing performance on offer, the EV6 is the best yet from Kia with breath-taking ADAS features and a radical pure EV design.
Still, if we have to choose a winner, we will go with the BMW for the German engineering, vehicle’s driving dynamics and the brand’s snob value in India and that’s what most customers will root for too.