BMW vs. Honda
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of cars from BMW and Honda contrasts the two brands across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which one is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of vehicle models, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and projected lifetime recalls based on recall history. This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which brand represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both BMW and Honda cars.
When comparing the BMW brand to the Honda brand, BMW has the advantage in the areas of horsepower, towing capacity and variety of models offered. Honda has the advantage in the areas of new car pricing, used car pricing, depreciation, fuel efficiency, overall quality, reliability, safety and retained value.
BMW versus Honda: Pricing and Value: Analyzing BMW versus Honda pricing we see a lower new vehicle starting price for Honda in 12 out of 12 vehicle comparisons. Honda also has a lower used vehicle starting price in 10 out of 11 comparisons. Honda models depreciate at a lower (better) rate in 12 out of 12 comparisons. The lower overall prices for Honda, plus their lower depreciation rate, gives Honda the overall advantage over BMW.
BMW versus Honda: Horsepower, Fuel Efficiency and Towing Capacity: BMW vehicles offer higher maximum horsepower numbers in their base trim in 12 out of 12 model comparisons. Honda offers higher MPG for its vehicles in their base trim in 7 out of 8 comparisons. BMW offers a greater towing capacity in 5 out of 5 comparisons.
BMW versus Honda: Quality, Reliability, Safety, and Value Retention Ratings: A comparison of BMW versus Honda overall quality ratings shows Honda with higher quality ratings in 11 out of 11 model comparisons. In terms of reliability ratings, Honda has the advantage in 10 out of 11 comparisons. Honda has better safety ratings in 4 out of 6 comparisons. Honda shows higher ratings for retained value in 12 out of 12 comparisons.
Best Car Rankings:
Most Reliable Car Rankings:
Best Cars for the Money Rankings:
Available Body Styles: BMW offers 14 SUVs, 15 sedans, 6 coupes, and 5 convertibles. In comparison, Honda offers 6 SUVs, 3 sedans, 1 hatchback, and 1 minivan.
Drivetrain Options: BMW offers 23 gasoline vehicles, 5 plug-in hybrids, and 4 electric vehicles. Honda offers 8 gasoline vehicles, 2 hybrids, and 1 electric vehicle.
BMW offers 26 all-wheel-drive models, 1 front-wheel-drive model, and 15 rear-wheel-drive models. Honda offers 7 all-wheel-drive models and 9 front-wheel-drive models.
New Car Pricing
SUVs
BMW X1
$43,893 - $57,593
BMW X3
$51,062 - $68,409
BMW X5
$70,019 - $97,316
BMW X5
$70,019 - $97,316
Cars
BMW 2 Series
$41,827 - $55,972
BMW 3 Series
$47,938 - $68,399
BMW M3
$82,655 - $124,162
BMW 5 Series
$60,788 - $77,947
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
$49,241 - $58,975
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
$53,157 - $68,540
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
$75,515 - $90,742
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
$75,515 - $90,742
New Car Pricing
SUVs
Honda HR-V
$26,450 - $32,100
Honda CR-V
$31,804 - $37,965
Honda Pilot
$43,623 - $56,129
Honda Passport
$42,392 - $49,818
Cars
Honda Civic
$25,044 - $32,100
Honda Civic
$25,044 - $32,100
Honda Civic
$25,044 - $32,100
Honda Accord
$28,389 - $31,460
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
$25,044 - $32,100
Honda Accord
$28,389 - $31,460
Honda Pilot
$43,623 - $56,129
Honda Passport
$42,392 - $49,818
Used Car Pricing
SUVs
BMW X1
$40,467 - $56,873
BMW X3
$45,645 - $62,947
BMW X5
$60,732 - $92,996
BMW X5
$60,732 - $92,996
Cars
BMW 2 Series
$36,901 - $55,030
BMW 3 Series
$42,839 - $64,993
BMW M3
$78,841 - $140,275
BMW 5 Series
$56,935 - $71,330
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
$13,900 - $54,595
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
$41,911 - $61,960
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
$69,977 - $84,728
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
$69,977 - $84,728
Used Car Pricing
SUVs
Honda HR-V
Not Yet Available
Honda CR-V
$30,000 - $37,944
Honda Pilot
$41,454 - $54,880
Honda Passport
$40,964 - $49,820
Cars
Honda Civic
$24,951 - $32,094
Honda Civic
$24,951 - $32,094
Honda Civic
$24,951 - $32,094
Honda Accord
$26,542 - $31,457
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
$24,951 - $32,094
Honda Accord
$26,542 - $31,457
Honda Pilot
$41,454 - $54,880
Honda Passport
$40,964 - $49,820
5-Year Depreciation (Lower is better)
SUVs
BMW X1
44.6%
BMW X3
48.6%
BMW X5
55%
BMW X5
55%
Cars
BMW 2 Series
49.2%
BMW 3 Series
50.1%
BMW M3
42.3%
BMW 5 Series
57.1%
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
54.2%
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
61.2%
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
59.1%
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
59.1%
5-Year Depreciation (Lower is better)
SUVs
Honda HR-V
28.9%
Honda CR-V
31.1%
Honda Pilot
43.6%
Honda Passport
41.7%
Cars
Honda Civic
23.5%
Honda Civic
23.5%
Honda Civic
23.5%
Honda Accord
31.5%
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
23.5%
Honda Accord
31.5%
Honda Pilot
43.6%
Honda Passport
41.7%
Horsepower / Torque
SUVs
BMW X1
241 hp / 295 foot-lbs
BMW X3
248 hp / 258 foot-lbs
BMW X5
375 hp / 398 foot-lbs
BMW X5
375 hp / 398 foot-lbs
Cars
BMW 2 Series
228 hp / 258 foot-lbs
BMW 3 Series
255 hp / 295 foot-lbs
BMW M3
473 hp / 406 foot-lbs
BMW 5 Series
255 hp / 295 foot-lbs
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
288 hp / 310 foot-lbs
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
288 hp / 310 foot-lbs
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
483 hp / 516 foot-lbs
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
483 hp / 516 foot-lbs
Horsepower / Torque
SUVs
Honda HR-V
158 hp / 138 foot-lbs
Honda CR-V
190 hp / 179 foot-lbs
Honda Pilot
285 hp / 262 foot-lbs
Honda Passport
280 hp / 262 foot-lbs
Cars
Honda Civic
158 hp / 138 foot-lbs
Honda Civic
158 hp / 138 foot-lbs
Honda Civic
158 hp / 138 foot-lbs
Honda Accord
192 hp / 192 foot-lbs
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
158 hp / 138 foot-lbs
Honda Accord
192 hp / 192 foot-lbs
Honda Pilot
285 hp / 262 foot-lbs
Honda Passport
280 hp / 262 foot-lbs
MPG (city/highway/combined)
SUVs
BMW X1
25 / 34 / 28
BMW X3
23 / 29 / 25
BMW X5
23 / 27 / 25
BMW X5
23 / 27 / 25
Cars
BMW 2 Series
24 / 34 / 28
BMW 3 Series
25 / 34 / 29
BMW M3
16 / 23 / 19
BMW 5 Series
27 / 35 / 30
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
24 / 32 / 27
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
24 / 29 / 26
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
Not Yet Available
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
Not Yet Available
MPG (city/highway/combined)
SUVs
Honda HR-V
Not Yet Available
Honda CR-V
28 / 34 / 30
Honda Pilot
Not Yet Available
Honda Passport
19 / 24 / 21
Cars
Honda Civic
31 / 40 / 35
Honda Civic
31 / 40 / 35
Honda Civic
31 / 40 / 35
Honda Accord
29 / 37 / 32
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
31 / 40 / 35
Honda Accord
29 / 37 / 32
Honda Pilot
Not Yet Available
Honda Passport
19 / 24 / 21
Max Towing Capacity
SUVs
BMW X1
3500 lbs
BMW X3
4400 lbs
BMW X5
7200 lbs
BMW X5
7200 lbs
Other Comparisons
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
5952 lbs
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
5952 lbs
Max Towing Capacity
SUVs
Honda HR-V
Not yet available
Honda CR-V
1500 lbs
Honda Pilot
5000 lbs
Honda Passport
5000 lbs
Other Comparisons
Honda Pilot
5000 lbs
Honda Passport
5000 lbs
iSeeCars Overall Quality Ratings
SUVs
BMW X1
7.9 / 10
BMW X3
8.6 / 10
BMW X5
7.8 / 10
BMW X5
7.8 / 10
Cars
BMW 2 Series
Not available
BMW 3 Series
8.6 / 10
BMW M3
7.7 / 10
BMW 5 Series
7.7 / 10
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.3 / 10
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.0 / 10
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.1 / 10
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.1 / 10
iSeeCars Overall Quality Ratings
SUVs
Honda HR-V
8.1 / 10
Honda CR-V
8.9 / 10
Honda Pilot
8.7 / 10
Honda Passport
8.9 / 10
Cars
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Accord
9.3 / 10
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Accord
9.3 / 10
Honda Pilot
8.7 / 10
Honda Passport
8.9 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Ratings
SUVs
BMW X1
7.2 / 10
BMW X3
8.4 / 10
BMW X5
8.4 / 10
BMW X5
8.4 / 10
Cars
BMW 2 Series
Not available
BMW 3 Series
8.4 / 10
BMW M3
7.5 / 10
BMW 5 Series
8.2 / 10
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.5 / 10
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.4 / 10
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.4 / 10
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.4 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Ratings
SUVs
Honda HR-V
5.6 / 10
Honda CR-V
9.0 / 10
Honda Pilot
9.2 / 10
Honda Passport
8.7 / 10
Cars
Honda Civic
8.8 / 10
Honda Civic
8.8 / 10
Honda Civic
8.8 / 10
Honda Accord
9.3 / 10
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
8.8 / 10
Honda Accord
9.3 / 10
Honda Pilot
9.2 / 10
Honda Passport
8.7 / 10
iSeeCars Safety Ratings
SUVs
BMW X1
8.9 / 10
BMW X3
10 / 10
BMW X5
8.0 / 10
BMW X5
8.0 / 10
Cars
BMW 2 Series
Not available
BMW 3 Series
10 / 10
BMW M3
Not available
BMW 5 Series
8.0 / 10
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
Not available
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
Not available
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
Not available
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
Not available
iSeeCars Safety Ratings
SUVs
Honda HR-V
10 / 10
Honda CR-V
9.0 / 10
Honda Pilot
9.0 / 10
Honda Passport
10 / 10
Cars
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Accord
10 / 10
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Accord
10 / 10
Honda Pilot
9.0 / 10
Honda Passport
10 / 10
iSeeCars Resale Value Ratings
SUVs
BMW X1
7.7 / 10
BMW X3
7.5 / 10
BMW X5
7.1 / 10
BMW X5
7.1 / 10
Cars
BMW 2 Series
7.4 / 10
BMW 3 Series
7.4 / 10
BMW M3
7.9 / 10
BMW 5 Series
6.9 / 10
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
7.1 / 10
BMW 5 Series (Plug-in Hybrid)
6.7 / 10
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
6.8 / 10
BMW X5 (Plug-in Hybrid)
6.8 / 10
iSeeCars Resale Value Ratings
SUVs
Honda HR-V
8.7 / 10
Honda CR-V
8.6 / 10
Honda Pilot
7.8 / 10
Honda Passport
7.9 / 10
Cars
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Accord
8.5 / 10
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
9.0 / 10
Honda Accord
8.5 / 10
Honda Pilot
7.8 / 10
Honda Passport
7.9 / 10
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings
SUVs
BMW X1
#3 of 13 in
Best Luxury Subcompact SUVs
BMW X3
#1 of 61 in
Best Luxury 5-seater SUVs
BMW X5
#7 of 20 in
Best Luxury Midsize SUVs
BMW X5
#7 of 20 in
Best Luxury Midsize SUVs
Cars
BMW 3 Series
#3 of 36 in
Best Luxury Small Cars
BMW M3
#15 of 30 in
Best Luxury Compact Cars
BMW 5 Series
#11 of 29 in
Best Luxury Midsize Cars
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series
#2 of 20 in
Best Luxury Plug-in Hybrid Cars (PHEV)
BMW 5 Series
#4 of 6 in
Best Hybrid Luxury Midsize Cars
BMW X5
#5 of 7 in
Best Hybrid Luxury SUVs with 3 Rows
BMW X5
#5 of 7 in
Best Hybrid Luxury SUVs with 3 Rows
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings
SUVs
Honda HR-V
#3 of 20 in
Best Subcompact SUVs
Honda CR-V
#1 of 67 in
Best Crossover SUVs
Honda Pilot
#5 of 18 in
Best 8-seater SUVs
Honda Passport
#1 of 32 in
Best Midsize SUVs
Cars
Honda Civic
#3 of 26 in
Best Compact Cars
Honda Civic
#3 of 26 in
Best Compact Cars
Honda Accord
#1 of 13 in
Best Midsize Cars
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
#3 of 26 in
Best Compact Cars
Honda Accord
#1 of 13 in
Best Midsize Cars
Honda Pilot
#5 of 18 in
Best 8-seater SUVs
Honda Passport
#1 of 32 in
Best Midsize SUVs
iSeeCars Most Reliable Car Rankings
SUVs
BMW X1
#2 of 13 in
Most Reliable Luxury Subcompact SUVs
BMW X3
#2 of 29 in
Most Reliable Luxury Small SUVs
BMW X5
#5 of 20 in
Most Reliable Luxury Midsize SUVs
BMW X5
#5 of 20 in
Most Reliable Luxury Midsize SUVs
Cars
BMW 3 Series
#3 of 36 in
Most Reliable Luxury Small Cars
BMW M3
#12 of 36 in
Most Reliable Luxury Small Cars
BMW 5 Series
#8 of 29 in
Most Reliable Luxury Midsize Cars
Other Comparisons
BMW 3 Series
#4 of 20 in
Most Reliable Luxury Plug-in Hybrid Cars (PHEV)
BMW 5 Series
#6 of 20 in
Most Reliable Luxury Plug-in Hybrid Cars (PHEV)
BMW X5
#10 of 18 in
Most Reliable Luxury Plug-in Hybrid SUVs (PHEV)
BMW X5
#10 of 18 in
Most Reliable Luxury Plug-in Hybrid SUVs (PHEV)
iSeeCars Most Reliable Car Rankings
SUVs
Honda HR-V
#12 of 20 in
Most Reliable Subcompact SUVs
Honda CR-V
#1 of 19 in
Most Reliable Small SUVs
Honda Pilot
#1 of 67 in
Most Reliable Crossover SUVs
Honda Passport
#6 of 32 in
Most Reliable Midsize SUVs
Cars
Honda Civic
#2 of 43 in
Most Reliable Small Cars
Honda Civic
#2 of 43 in
Most Reliable Small Cars
Honda Accord
#1 of 13 in
Most Reliable Midsize Cars
Other Comparisons
Honda Civic
#2 of 43 in
Most Reliable Small Cars
Honda Accord
#1 of 13 in
Most Reliable Midsize Cars
Honda Pilot
#1 of 67 in
Most Reliable Crossover SUVs
Honda Passport
#6 of 32 in
Most Reliable Midsize SUVs
iSeeCars Best Cars for the Money Rankings
SUVs
BMW X3
#3 of 4 in
Best Luxury Small SUVs for the Money
BMW X5
#6 of 10 in
Best Luxury Midsize SUVs for the Money
BMW X5
#6 of 10 in
Best Luxury Midsize SUVs for the Money
Cars
BMW 3 Series
#6 of 12 in
Best Luxury Small Cars for the Money
BMW M3
#12 of 12 in
Best Luxury Small Cars for the Money
BMW 5 Series
#5 of 9 in
Best Luxury Midsize Cars for the Money
iSeeCars Best Cars for the Money Rankings
SUVs
Honda CR-V
#1 of 13 in
Best Small SUVs for the Money
Honda Pilot
#6 of 16 in
Best Midsize SUVs for the Money
Honda Passport
#11 of 16 in
Best Midsize SUVs for the Money
Cars
Honda Civic
#7 of 13 in
Best Small Cars for the Money
Honda Civic
#7 of 13 in
Best Small Cars for the Money
Honda Accord
#1 of 6 in
Best Midsize Cars for the Money