BMW i4 vs Nissan LEAF: Specs Compared
Also searched as Nissan LEAF vs BMW i4 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Nissan LEAF is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 121 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the BMW i4, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.
Across 3 measured categories, the Nissan LEAF leads in 2. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW i4 | Nissan LEAF |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 120 mpg | 121 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 122 mpg | 131 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 119 mpg ✓ | 111 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 | $650 |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Years covered | 2022–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 33 | 26 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
BMW i4 vs Nissan LEAF: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW i4 burns about $650 of fuel annually against $650 for the Nissan LEAF. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 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 Nissan LEAF is the stronger commuter at 131 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.
Drivetrain and class: the BMW i4 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Nissan LEAF with Front-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 LEAF: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW i4 or the Nissan LEAF?
The Nissan LEAF is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 121 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the BMW i4, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Nissan LEAF runs about $650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the BMW i4 — a difference of roughly $0 per year.
What engines do the i4 and LEAF offer?
BMW i4: no engine data on record. Nissan LEAF: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the BMW i4 as Subcompact Cars and the Nissan LEAF as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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