The VehiclePlannerPlus New Entrant Watchlist
The New Entrant Watchlist analysis uses vehicles that have recently been added to VehiclePlannerPlus to seek out and gather market changes and progression points for OEMs. The analysis uses the pricing ladder query tool on VehiclePlannerPlus to find and establish important and influential differences between different vehicle generations.
This analysis focuses on vehicles that have been added to VehiclePlannerPlus since the beginning of 2022, establishing, and highlighting key fitment differences when compared to other similar vehicles from that OEM. The vehicles being questioned this quarter are as follows:
- BMW i4
- BMW iX
- Mercedes-Benz EQS
- Hyundai IONIQ 5
2022 BMW i4
The BMW i4 is a premium electric sedan that is based on the 4 series vehicle platform. Because of its similarities to other BMW ICE vehicles, the comparison will be made against the following models from the BMW range:
- 2022 BMW 3 Series
- 2022 BMW 4 Series
- 2022 BMW 5 Series
- 2022 BMW X4
Key Differences
Auxiliary Media Input
The BMW i4 is the only one of the five vehicles to not feature an auxiliary media input for the infotainment system. This difference could be hinting at a move away from wired media connections and the growing reliance on built-in media streaming, screen duplication, and Bluetooth systems within vehicles.
Air Suspension
Similarly, the BMW i4 is the only model out of the five to feature air suspension – being a standard fitment on all model trims. With the mass of the vehicle being greater due to battery packaging, air suspension could be BMW’s solution to maintaining a smooth and adjustable suspension system comparable to the conventional adjustable dampers seen in other BMW vehicles.
Laminated Glass
The BMW i4 is also the only one of the five vehicles to feature laminated glass windows. This can be assumed to reduce road and tire noise in the cabin, which is far more noticeable in an electric vehicle.
2022 BMW iX
The BMW iX is a premium electric SUV that is featured on BMW’s bespoke electric vehicle platform. The iX fits into the BMW range alongside other mid-large luxury SUVs, including:
- 2022 BMW X4
- 2022 BMW X5
- 2022 BMW X6
- 2022 BMW X7
Key Differences
Auxiliary Media Input
Across this line-up, the BMW iX is the only vehicle to not feature an auxiliary media input for the infotainment system. This appears to be highlighting a trend in new BMW models, with both the i4 and iX seen in this analysis to be skipping out on the widely used wired media input - opting instead for wireless and screen duplication solutions.
Wireless Charging
Out of the five vehicles analyzed, the BMW iX is the only one to feature wireless charging as a standard fitment on all trims. This could be linked to the now standard fitment of wireless screen duplication services in premium BMW vehicles, allowing consumers to charge their phone whilst using the new wireless solutions.
HD Radio
The BMW iX is the only one of the vehicles to not feature HD radio at any fitment level. This could be hinting at a move towards internet radio streaming through the vehicle’s 5G connectivity.
Moonroof / Sunroof
The BMW iX is the only BMW vehicle to feature a fixed electrochromic panoramic glass roof, allowing certain portions of the glass to be ‘shaded’ at the owner’s discretion.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the first electric vehicle from Hyundai to be developed on the E-GMP electric vehicle platform. To see the changes that development on this platform have made, it will be compared against the cars below:
- 2022 Hyundai Elantra
- 2022 Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid
- 2022 Hyundai Kona
- 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric
Key Differences
Navigation System
The IONIQ 5 is the only vehicle to feature a navigation system as standard across all trim levels. This is because Hyundai’s base trim vehicles all feature an infotainment system that excludes a navigation system but includes smartphone duplication as standard.
Wireless Screen Duplication
The IONIQ 5 is the only vehicle to not feature wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. In fact, the vehicle doesn’t feature it at all on any trim levels. This ties in with the navigation system fitment, with vehicles that have wireless screen duplication not being able to have a built-in navigation system and vice-versa.
LED Exterior Lighting
The IONIQ 5 is the only one of the five vehicles analyzed to feature both front and rear LED exterior lighting as standard fitment. This is likely down to the design and pricing strategy of the vehicle when compared to the other analyzed models.
Moonroof / Sunroof
The IONIQ 5 is the only one of the 5 vehicles to feature a fixed glass roof as opposed to a moveable sunroof / moonroof. This follows a trend with other electric vehicles, with a fixed glass panoramic roof offered as the only option for a moonroof / sunroof.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is a premium electric saloon released as the EV variant of the popular S-Class model range. This similarity allows a close comparison between the EQS and the following Mercedes-Benz vehicles:
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GLS
- Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
Key Differences
4-Wheel Steering
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the only vehicle to feature four-wheel steering as a standard fitment, with the S-Class offering it as an optional extra.
Rear Seats
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the only vehicle from the above list to have the option of rear ventilated seats. The rear seats are also configured differently to the other vehicles, with the EQS having a 60-40 split bench and the others featuring a 40-20-40 split. The reason for these differences is unknown, but the ventilated rear seats are a feature only seen on the EQS – so this appears to be a new feature implementation for Mercedes-Benz luxury saloons.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed edition 1 of the VehiclePlannerPlus N.E.W analysis, please let us know if you have any throughts or recommendations for future analyses or newsletters.