BMW i4 vs Kia EV9

The BMW i4 starts from $88,900 before on-road costs, while the Kia EV9 opens at $97,000. That makes the BMW i4 the more affordable entry point by $8,100.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $97,790 and $106,700 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the BMW i4 and Kia EV9 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the BMW i4 and 84% for the Kia EV9.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW i4 and 7 in the Kia EV9.

The BMW i4 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Kia EV9 gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW i4 stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof, ventilated seats and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Kia EV9. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW i4 uses a Electric producing 210kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.5 seconds.

The Kia EV9 responds with a Electric making 160kW and 350Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.

The BMW i4 has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 160kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW i4 is 3.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 64kWh (BMW i4) vs 76.1kWh (Kia EV9), giving WLTP ranges of 527km and 519km. DC fast charging peaks at 205kW (BMW i4) vs 240kW (Kia EV9).

The BMW i4 measures 4,783mm long on a 2,856mm wheelbase, 227mm shorter than the Kia EV9 at 5,010mm (3,100mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia EV9 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 390L in the BMW i4 and 333L in the Kia EV9, giving the BMW i4 a 57L advantage. The Kia EV9 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Kia EV9 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,600kg. That 900kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i4) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV9). The Kia EV9 has longer coverage.