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BMW iX1 vs Kia Niro EV
Selected trim2 · 2022-26Change trim288 mi · 64.8 kWh · £34,995
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW iX1 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Kia Niro EV leads on city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW iX1 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.7p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the Kia Niro EV if...
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BMW iX1 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueBMW
BMW
6.4
Kia
4.9
Motorway RangeBMW
BMW
5.9
Kia
2.1
FamilyBMW
BMW
7.4
Kia
4.7
ChargingBMW
BMW
4.1
Kia
1.6
Cost Per MileBMW
BMW
9.3
Kia
3.5
City DrivingKia
BMW
4.6
Kia
6.4
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
BMW iX1
eDrive20 Sport
- 32 miles more WLTP range
- 80 kW faster rapid charging
- 1 more year of battery warranty
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Kia Niro EV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £37,065 | £34,995 (better) |
| Official range | 320 miles (better) | 288 miles |
| Boot space | 490 L (better) | 475 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 29 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 8.6 sec | 7.8 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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BMW iX1
Kia Niro EV
Length
BMW iX14,500mm
Kia Niro EV4,420mm-80mm
Width
BMW iX11,845mm
Kia Niro EV1,825mm-20mm
Height
BMW iX11,616mm
Kia Niro EV1,545mm-71mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Kia Niro EV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,500 mm | 4,420 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,845 mm | 1,825 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,104 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,616 mm | 1,545 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.9 m | 10.6 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 555 mm spare | 575 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Kia Niro EV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 490 L (better) | 475 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1495 L | Not available |
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW iX1 eDrive20 Sport |  Kia Niro EV 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.50m | 4.42m-80mm |
| Width | 1.84m | 1.82m-20mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.10m | Not available |
| Height | 1.62m | 1.54m-71mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.69m | 2.72m+28mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 490L (better) | 475L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1495L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.9m | 10.6m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | Not available | 1,739kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 64.7kWh | 64.8kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 320 mi (better) | 288 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 130kW (better) | 50kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £37,065 | £34,995 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £33,315 (-£3,750) | £34,995 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2023+ | 2022–2026 |
* BMW iX1: 11 kW AC is standard; 22 kW AC was an option.
* BMW iX1: Rating from the BMW X1 (2022), which covers the iX1. An extra pole test on the iX1 showed weak chest protection, without changing the stars.
* BMW iX1: Current figure, after a March 2026 efficiency update. Earlier cars: xDrive30 259-270 miles WLTP, eDrive20 268-296 miles WLTP.
* Kia Niro EV: Heat pump: an option on the 3 and 4, not available on the 2.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Kia Niro EV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 320 miles (better) | 288 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 267 miles (better) | 194 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 29 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 130 kW (better) | 50 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 164 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 64.7 kWh | 64.8 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Standard (better) | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Kia Niro EV2 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8.6 sec | 7.8 sec (better) |
| Power | 150 kW | 150 kW |
| Torque | 247 Nm | 255 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | FWD | fwd |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
BMW iX1
eDrive20 Sport
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Kia Niro EV
2
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Kia Niro EV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £23,250 | £16,530 |
| Average used price | £25,220 | £19,500 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 44 listings | 87 listings (better) |
| Recent used-price trend | Down 13.8% over ~6 months | Down 43.6% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
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.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BMW iX1 eDrive20 Sport
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant86%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist92%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Kia Niro EV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years (better) | 7 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 160,934 km |
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 iX1
eDrive20 Sport
Owners love
- Owners rate the cabin quality, design and technology highly, and find the BMW app reliable
- Agile and enjoyable to drive for its size, with good visibility from the raised seating position
- Real-world range of around 220-260 miles in mild weather is commonly reported with sensible driving
Watch out for
- Winter and fast motorway driving cut range noticeably, with some owners seeing under 200 miles
- Many features were in paid option packs, so two cars of the same trim can be very differently equipped
- Some owners find the ride firm and road noise intrusive, and the seats less comfortable than rivals
Owner tips
- The front-wheel-drive eDrive20 goes further on a charge; the xDrive30 is quicker but rarely needed
- Check which option packs a car has, especially Technology Plus for adaptive cruise
Kia Niro EV
2
Owners love
- Efficient, with owners commonly seeing 3.5-4.5 miles per kWh
- Quiet, comfortable and easy to drive, with a useful i-Pedal one-pedal mode
- A bigger boot than the e-Niro, plus a small front storage compartment
Watch out for
- Rapid charging peaks at around 80 kW, slow next to newer EVs
- Winter range falls well short of the official figure, around 220-230 miles in real use
- The heat pump was an extra-cost option, and cars without it lose more range in winter
Owner tips
- Check whether the car has the optional heat pump if you do a lot of winter driving
- Keep motorway speeds around 60-65 mph when range matters
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW iX1
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Kia Niro EV
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BMW iX1
- £23,7132023Car360View
- £25,4492023Browns of RichmondView
- £23,2502023Browns of RichmondView
Kia Niro EV
- £13,4052023Car360View
- £23,6502024Car360View
- £22,6412024Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW iX1 worth the extra £2,070 over the Kia Niro EV?
The BMW iX1 costs £2,070 more than the Kia Niro EV. For that premium it adds 32 miles more WLTP range and 80 kW faster peak rapid charging. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BMW iX1 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW iX1 or the Kia Niro EV?
The Kia Niro EV is £2,070 cheaper to buy. The BMW iX1 is cheaper to charge, roughly £136 a year versus £176 for the Kia Niro EV, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Kia Niro EV comes out roughly £1,870 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 iX1 and Kia Niro EV like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 267 miles for the BMW iX1 and 194 miles for the Kia Niro EV - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BMW iX1 goes roughly 72 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW iX1 or the Kia Niro EV?
The two are within 20 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 575 mm of total clearance for the Kia Niro EV and about 555 mm of total clearance for the BMW iX1. The Kia Niro EV also turns in a 1.3 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW iX1 or the Kia Niro EV?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW iX1 and 84% for the Kia Niro EV. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. The BMW iX1 has the longer battery warranty at 8 years, versus 7 for the Kia Niro EV.
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 iX1 comparisons
More Kia Niro EV 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 iX1 and Kia Niro EV rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Kia Niro EV rank among EVs under £40,000Where the BMW iX1 and Kia Niro EV rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Kia Niro EV rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Kia Niro EV rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Kia Niro EV rank among the cheapest EVs to run
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used BMW iX1 (2022 on): xDrive30 or eDrive20, Recalls, Range & What to Check
A used BMW iX1 buyer’s guide: xDrive30 vs eDrive20, the driveshaft recall, warranty left, real-world range, option packs, what to pay, when a new one with the grant is better value, and a printable checklist.
Guide
Buying a Used Kia e-Niro or Niro EV: Which Is Which, Range, Warranty & What to Check
A used Kia e-Niro (2019-2022) and Niro EV (2022-on) buyer’s guide: telling them apart, 39 vs 64 kWh, trims, Kia’s 7-year warranty, drivetrain noise, heat pump, recalls, 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 .