BMW i4 vs Lexus ES: Specs Compared
Also searched as Lexus ES vs BMW i4 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Lexus ES is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 127 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the BMW i4, a 7 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Lexus ES leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW i4 | Lexus ES |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 120 mpg | 127 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 122 mpg | 135 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 119 mpg ✓ | 118 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 | $600 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | 191 g/mi |
| Engines offered | Not available | SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, 2.5, 3.5 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (A1), Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Premium, Electricity, Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Years covered | 2022–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 33 | 40 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
BMW i4 vs Lexus ES: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Lexus ES burns about $600 of fuel annually against $650 for the BMW i4. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Lexus ES is the stronger commuter at 135 mpg city, while the BMW i4 pulls ahead on the interstate at 119 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the BMW i4 is recorded with no distinct engine configurations, the Lexus ES with 4 (SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, 2.5). Across 33 recorded BMW i4 configurations and 40 for the Lexus ES, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the BMW i4 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Lexus ES with Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Subcompact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
i4 vs ES: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW i4 or the Lexus ES?
The Lexus ES is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 127 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the BMW i4, a 7 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Lexus ES runs about $600 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the BMW i4 — a difference of roughly $50 per year.
What engines do the i4 and ES offer?
BMW i4: no engine data on record. Lexus ES: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, 2.5, 3.5.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the BMW i4 as Subcompact Cars and the Lexus ES as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More i4 comparisons
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Comparison id: bmw-i4-vs-lexus-es