Large battery pack and 500+km range:
Both BMW i4 And the Kia EV6 AWD are the EVs that are offering potential buyers a range of 500+km on a full charge. On this benchmark, both cars have enough juice to be considered as a complete replacement for an ICE vehicle. While BMW gets its 590 km range (WLTP) from an 80.7kWh battery pack, Kia claims that the EV6’s 77.5 kWh battery is good for over 500 kms. During our review, we set a real-life range of over 400 kilometers from the Kia and we’ll confirm the same for the BMW i4 after our first drive.
Reasonable performance figures:
Sporting 300hp+ power figures, both the EVs are super-quick, claiming 0-100 km/h in less than 6 seconds. The rear axle-mounted motor of BMW produces 340 PS and 430 Nm, while the Kia EV6 AWD dual-motor produces 325 PS and 605 Nm. The added torque could mean the difference between the EV6’s 5.5 second 0-100 km/h time comparison For BMW’s 5.7 seconds on paper. The maximum speed for both the electric vehicles has been electronically capped at 190 km/h.
Dimensions:
At 4,783 mm the BMW i4 is longer than the Kia EV6, but the Korean EV is bigger in every other department on paper. The EV6 has a 38mm wider, 102mm longer and 44mm longer wheelbase than the i4. Unlike the coupe-like sloping roofline of the i4, the EV6 has a sleek crossover roofline that goes straight.
Interior and Features:
From the inside, both the luxury EVs are well appointed in terms of ambience and amenities. The BMW i4 sports a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display. On the UI front, the system runs BMW’s latest iDrive8 interface that supports OTA updates. It also gets a 360-degree camera, 3-zone climate control, a sunroof, powered front seats, all LED lighting and more. On the other hand, the Kia EV6 has a very modern cabin that also has an eclectic edge. The EV6 dashboard makes use of a lot of recyclable materials without compromising on luxury. The digital cockpit includes two 12.3-inch screens, which provide 24-inch curved display real estate for driver information and entertainment. It also gets 360-degree cameras, a sunroof and powered front seats. But Kia takes it a step further with integrated ventilation in the front seats.
Safety Features and Price:
Both Expensive Car Offer a suite of active and passive security features. While the i4 is expected to be offered with BMW’s standard driving assistance package along with a camera and radar based system. The Kia EV6 also comes with several ADAS features that help in collision avoidance such as blind spot detection, lane change assist, park assist and more. Adaptive cruise control will also make driving on highways much easier.
At an estimated launch price of close to Rs 69.9 lakh for the BMW i4 and Rs 65 lakh for the Kia EV6, these vehicles may be from different segments but are definitely catering to the luxury buyer of India. Both the EVs are coming to India via the CBU route, however, Kia could be the choice for those looking for more exclusivity as only 100 units are being sold in the first batch.