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BMW i5 vs Kia EV9
Selected trimeDrive40 M SportChange trim357 mi · 83.9 kWh · £67,795
Selected trimAirChange trim349 mi · 99.8 kWh · £66,645
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW i5 leads on value for money, family practicality and running costs, while the Kia EV9 leads on motorway range and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW i5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the Kia EV9 if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BMW i5 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueBMW
BMW
5.6
Kia
4.6
Motorway RangeKia
BMW
5.4
Kia
6.2
FamilyBMW
BMW
7.6
Kia
6.1
ChargingKia
BMW
5.2
Kia
7.6
Cost Per MileBMW
BMW
6.4
Kia
2.2
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
Size Comparison
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BMW i5
Kia EV9
Length
BMW i55,060mm
Kia EV95,015mm-45mm
Width
BMW i51,900mm-80mm
Kia EV91,980mm
Height
BMW i51,515mm-265mm
Kia EV91,780mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BMW i5
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Kia EV9
- A 90 L frunk, one of 11 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 90 L or more.
- At 5,015 mm, longer than 90% of SUVs we track.
- 3,100 mm wheelbase, longer than 95% of SUVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport |  Kia EV9 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.06m | 5.01m-45mm |
| Width | 1.90m | 1.98m+80mm |
| Height | 1.51m | 1.78m+265mm |
| Wheelbase | 3.00m | 3.10m+105mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 490L (better) | 333L |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 828L |
| Frunk | Not available | 90L |
| Seats | 5 | 7 (better) |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.3m | 12.3m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,195kg (better) | 2,492kg |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 900kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 83.9kWh | 99.8kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 357 mi (better) | 349 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 205kW | 210kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £67,795 | £66,645 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | SUV |
| Available | 2023+ | 2023+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW i5eDrive40 M Sport | Kia EV9Air |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 357 miles (better) | 349 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 297 miles (better) | 291 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 24 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 205 kW | 210 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 22 kW (better) | 11 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 81.2 kWh | 99.8 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NCMA |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 800V (better) |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BMW i5
eDrive40 M Sport
Kia EV9
Air
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
BMW i5
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport
Tested 2023
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users86%
Safety Assist78%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Kia EV9 Air
Tested 2023
Adult Occupant84%
Child Occupant88%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BMW i5
eDrive40 M Sport
Owners love
- Owners describe it as superbly refined and stable on the motorway, and more relaxing than a Tesla Model 3.
- It feels like a proper 5 Series to drive, with a composed ride and good balance for its size.
- Owners report better real-world range than they expected: about 220-280 miles in winter and over 300 in summer on the eDrive40.
Watch out for
- Many owners point to cost-cutting inside: unlined door pockets, no sill plates, one wireless charging pad and cheaper stalks than the previous 5 Series.
- It is very long and wide, which makes parking and narrow roads awkward.
- Useful equipment such as adaptive cruise control, the surround cameras and rear heated seats came in expensive option packs.
Owner tips
- Choose 19-inch wheels rather than 20-inch for range and ride.
- Check which option packs a used car has: adaptive cruise and the surround cameras were not standard.
Kia EV9
Air
Owners love
- Owners love the space: seven proper seats, a big boot and a calm, comfortable cabin for long family trips.
- It charges quickly, holding high power to about 80% on an 800-volt rapid charger.
- Owners report about 300 miles in mild weather, enough to make long journeys easy.
Watch out for
- Several owners report early electrical faults, most often a 12V battery that drains overnight and leaves the car dead.
- When faults need parts, owners report long waits at dealers and poor after-sales support, including a few battery-module repairs that took months.
- Smaller niggles recur: tyre-pressure warnings, parking-sensor faults and software glitches.
Owner tips
- Ask whether the car has had any 12V battery, sensor or battery-module work, and see the invoices.
- Check every camera, parking sensor and the tyre-pressure display before you buy.
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW i5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Kia EV9
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW i5 worth the extra £1,150 over the Kia EV9?
The BMW i5 costs £1,150 more than the Kia EV9. For that premium it adds 157 litres more boot space, 100 kW more power and a 3.4s quicker 0-62mph time. The Kia EV9 is not just cheaper - it also offers 2 more seats (7 versus 5). On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BMW i5 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW i5 or the Kia EV9?
The Kia EV9 is £1,150 cheaper to buy. The BMW i5 is cheaper to charge, roughly £160 a year versus £192 for the Kia EV9, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Kia EV9 comes out roughly £990 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW i5 and Kia EV9 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 297 miles for the BMW i5 and 291 miles for the Kia EV9 - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 24-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW i5 or the Kia EV9?
The BMW i5 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 80 mm narrower than the Kia EV9. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 500 mm of total clearance for the BMW i5 and about 420 mm of total clearance for the Kia EV9.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW i5 or the Kia EV9?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW i5 and 89% for the Kia EV9. That gives the Kia EV9 a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. The BMW i5 has the longer battery warranty at 8 years, versus 7 for the Kia EV9.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BMW i5 comparisons
More Kia EV9 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BMW i5 and Kia EV9 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW i5 and Kia EV9 rank among long-range EVsWhere the BMW i5 and Kia EV9 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW i5 and Kia EV9 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW i5 and Kia EV9 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW i5 and Kia EV9 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used BMW i5 (2023 on): eDrive40 vs M60, Saloon vs Touring, Recalls & What to Pay
A used BMW i5 buyer’s guide: eDrive40 or M60, saloon or Touring, the option packs to check, the braking-system recall, battery warranty left, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Kia EV9 (2023 on): Which Version, Early Faults, Recalls & What to Pay
A used Kia EV9 buyer’s guide: Air, GT-Line or GT-Line S, six or seven seats, the seat-bolt and brake recalls, early electrical faults, the 7-year warranty, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .