BMW iX vs Hyundai Kona: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Hyundai Kona burns about $600 of fuel annually against $800 for the BMW iX. That $200 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,000 over five years and $1,600 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 and highway economy: the Hyundai Kona leads in both cycles — 134 mpg city and 108 mpg highway against 99 and 94 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the BMW iX is recorded with no distinct engine configurations, the Hyundai Kona with 4 (2.0, SIDI, with Stop-Start). Across 35 recorded BMW iX configurations and 58 for the Hyundai Kona, 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 iX is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Hyundai Kona with All-Wheel Drive, 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 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.