Compare the2024 BMW i5VS 2023 Chevrolet Bolt

The i5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Bolt doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The i5 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 Bolt 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 i5 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 Bolt doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The i5 M60 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Bolt doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The i5 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Bolt’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the i5 has standard Cross Traffic Warning and Brake Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Bolt and the Bolt’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The i5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Bolt doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the i5 and the Bolt have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The BMW i5 weighs 1292 to 1650 pounds more than the Chevrolet Bolt. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The i5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bolt’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The i5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Bolt’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Bolt.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 20th.

The i5 eDrive40’s standard electric motor produces 135 more horsepower (335 vs. 200) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 266) than the Bolt’s electric motor. The i5 M60’s standard electric motors produces 393 more horsepower (593 vs. 200) and 320 lbs.-ft. more torque (586 vs. 266) than the Bolt’s electric motor.

The i5 can travel longer on a full charge than the Bolt on a full charge:

			Miles
i5
	RWD	19" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	295 miles
		20" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	278 miles
		21" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	270 miles
Bolt
	FWD	Electric Motor	259 miles

The i5 has a standard locking charge port with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The Bolt doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The i5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Bolt doesn’t offer launch control.

The i5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Bolt are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the i5 has larger standard tires than the Bolt (245/45R19 vs. 215/50R17). The i5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bolt (F:245/40R20 & R:275/35R20 vs. 215/50R17).

The i5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bolt’s standard 50 series tires. The i5’s optional 245/35R21 front and 275/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Bolt’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Bolt. The i5 offers optional 21-inch wheels.

The i5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Bolt; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For superior ride and handling, the BMW i5 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Bolt has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The i5 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Bolt’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The i5 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the i5 flat and controlled during cornering. The Bolt’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The i5 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Bolt doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The i5 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Chevrolet doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Bolt.

The i5 offers an optional 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. The Bolt’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i5’s wheelbase is 15.5 inches longer than on the Bolt (117.9 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the i5 is 5.1 inches wider in the front and 4.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Bolt.

The i5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Bolt’s (55.9% to 44.1%). This gives the i5 more stable handling and braking.

The i5 has 4.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Bolt (98 vs. 93.9).

The i5 has 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear legroom and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bolt.

The i5 has a larger trunk than the Bolt with its rear seat up (17.3 vs. 16.6 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the i5 offers cargo security. The Bolt’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the i5. The Bolt doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the i5’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Bolt doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The i5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Bolt uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 14% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

When two different drivers share the i5, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Bolt doesn’t offer a memory system.

The i5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bolt doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The i5 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Bolt doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The i5’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Bolt’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the i5 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 Bolt can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The i5’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 Bolt’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the i5 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Bolt doesn’t offer cornering lights. The i5 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the i5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Bolt doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

When the i5 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 Bolt’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The i5’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 Bolt offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the i5 and the Bolt offer optional heated front seats. The i5 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bolt.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the i5 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bolt doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The i5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Bolt.

The i5’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 Bolt doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the i5 and the Bolt offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the i5 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Bolt 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 i5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Bolt.

The i5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Bolt doesn’t offer an automated parking system.