Compare the2024 BMW iXVS 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric

The iX’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the iX and Kona Electric have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The iX has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Kona Electric’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The iX has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The iX has a standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The iX offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The iX offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kona Electric only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the iX and the Kona Electric have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 1823 to 2054 pounds more than the Hyundai Kona Electric. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The iX’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Kona Electric’s (12 vs. 7 years).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the iX’s reliability 45 points higher than the Kona Electric.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 13th.

The iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produces 315 more horsepower (516 vs. 201) and 273 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 291) than the Kona Electric’s electric motor. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produces 409 more horsepower (610 vs. 201) and 458 lbs.-ft. more torque (749 vs. 291) than the Kona Electric’s electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW iX is faster than the Hyundai Kona Electric:

	iX xDrive50	iX M60	Kona Electric
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	3.2 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	12.3 sec	11.5 sec	15.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	115.8 MPH	121.6 MPH	95.9 MPH

The iX can travel longer on a full charge than the Kona Electric on a full charge:

			Miles
iX
	AWD	xDrive50 Electric Motors	307 miles
		M60 Electric Motors	274 miles
Kona Electric
	FWD	Electric Motor	258 miles

The iX’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s at 60 in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the iX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona Electric:

	iX	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	11.8 inches

The iX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

The iX stops much shorter than the Kona Electric:

	iX	Kona Electric
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the iX has larger standard tires than the Kona Electric (235/60R20 vs. 215/55R17). The iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona Electric (275/40R22 vs. 215/55R17).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona Electric’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Kona Electric. The iX offers optional 22-inch wheels.

The iX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Kona Electric’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The iX M60 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 15.7 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (118.1 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 4.4 inches wider in the front and 5.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Kona Electric.

The iX’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (48.2% to 51.8%) than the Kona Electric’s (54% to 46%). This gives the iX more stable handling and braking.

The iX xDrive50 handles at .88 G’s, while the Kona Electric Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M60 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Kona Electric Limited (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the iX M60 is quieter than the Kona Electric Limited:

	iX	Kona Electric
At idle	29 dB	31 dB
Full-Throttle	67 dB	68 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	66 dB

The iX has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 5.5 inches more rear legroom and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona Electric with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the iX’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 35% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

When two different drivers share the iX, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a memory system.

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The iX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The iX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona Electric’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the iX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The iX’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kona Electric’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The iX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kona Electric’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The iX’s standard LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kona Electric SE/SEL’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Kona Electric’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

Consumer Reports rated the iX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Kona Electric’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the iX has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer cornering lights. The iX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the iX is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Kona Electric’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The iX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Kona Electric offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the iX and the Kona Electric have standard heated front seats. The iX also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The iX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Kona Electric Limited.

The iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The iX’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the iX and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the iX has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW iX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Kona Electric SEL/Limited offers wireless charging.

The iX’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Parking Assistant Professional will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW iX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Kona Electric isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the iX first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Kona Electric isn’t in the top three.