Comparing the Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500 feels like balancing features but there is an important difference to keep in mind.
The main differences between the Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500 are that the P4500i has slightly more running watts, lower noise levels, a somewhat longer run time, and an electric start.
On the other side, customers are a lot more positive about the Champion 4500 and its price is a nice amount more budget-friendly.
If you dig through the customer reviews, it becomes clear that people tend to have a good amount more technical issues with the Cummins ONAN P4500i.
Likely to the extent where you just want to choose the Champion 4500 instead.
However, you do want to know there is also the Westinghouse iGen4500 which is basically the Cummins ONAN P4500i but higher-quality and more budget-friendly.
Unless you really want all the reliability you can get, you will likely prefer the third option, the Westinghouse iGen4500.
Important differences Cummins ONAN P4500i vs Champion 4500
The Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500 vary in small and big ways.
In this first table, you can find the differences that are most likely to play a role in your decision.
| Feature | Cummins ONAN P4500i | Champion 4500 |
|---|---|---|
| Running Watts | 3700 Running Watts | 3500 Running Watts |
| Noise Levels | As Low As 52 dBA | 61 dBA |
| Run Time @25% Load | 18 Hours | 14 Hours |
| Customer Reviews | Not That Positive | Very Positive |
| Electric Start | Yes | No |
| Price Category* | $$$ | $$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Other features Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500
Before investing in the Cummins ONAN P4500i or Champion 4500, you may also want to know about their smaller differences and common features.
| Feature | Cummins ONAN P4500i | Champion 4500 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Watts | 4500 Starting Watts | 4500 Starting Watts |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Dual Fuel Version Available | No | Yes |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 3.4 Gallons | 2.3 Gallons |
| Fuel Efficiency (kWh Per Gallon) | 4.897 | 5.33 |
| Voltage | 120 Volts | 120 Volts |
| Outlets | (1) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (1) 120V 30A (TT-30R), (2) USB Ports | (1) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (1) 120V 30A (TT-30R), (1) 12VDC |
| Outlet Covers | Yes | Yes |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Recoil Pull Start | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Start | Yes | Optional |
| Low Oil Shutdown | Yes | Yes |
| Fully Enclosed Design | Yes | Yes |
| AC Frequency | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Engine Displacement | 224cc | 224cc |
| Built-In Digital Smart LED Display | Yes | Yes |
| Hour Meter | Yes | Yes |
| Fuel Gauge | Yes | Yes |
| Wattage Meter | Yes | Simplified Version |
| Run Time Remaining | Yes | No |
| Engine Type | 4 Stroke | 4 Stroke |
| Low THD | Less Than 3% | Less Than 3% |
| Remote Generator Operation | Yes | Optional |
| CO-Minder | No | Optional |
| Outlet Covers | Yes | Yes |
| Parallel Ready | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Country Of Origin | Not Mentioned | China |
| Weight | 98 lbs (44.5 kg) | 95 lbs (43.1 kg) |
| Dimensions | 24.5″ L x 18.25″ W x 20.5″ H | 23.2″ L x 17.7″ W x 20.1″ H |
| Warranties* | 3 Years Limited Residential And 1 Year Limited Commercial | 3 Year Limited Residential And 270 Days Limited Commercial |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Cummins ONAN P4500i vs Champion 4500 explained
People who are more experienced with generators can likely make a decision between the Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500 with the tables above.
At the same time, it is also possible that a bit more information about certain differences makes it easier for you to make a choice.
Running watts
The main reason to even invest in either the Cummins ONAN P4500i or Champion 4500 is because you want to power certain appliances or tools.
What these 4500 watt generators will run is very similar but they do vary slightly in terms of running watts.
The 4500 peak watts both the Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500 have is the burst of power they can generate.
After that, you need the running watts capacity to keep your devices going.
While the difference is not that big, it is worth noting that the 3700 running watts of the Cummins ONAN P4500i will be able to handle just a bit more than the 3500 running watts of the Champion 4500.
Whether this amount really makes a difference in your decision depends on what devices you want to run and what their power needs are.
Winner: Cummins ONAN P4500i
Run time
While most people will understand what run time on a full tank means, it is worth briefly mentioning in what ways this influences your experience.
Before going into that, the Cummins ONAN P4500i has a run time of 18 hours at 25% load whereas the Champion 4500 “only” has a run time of 14 hours at 25% load.
This mainly matters in the sense that you will have to do refueling sessions just a bit more often for the Champion 4500.
Refueling sessions are not the end of the world but it is fair to say that most people will prefer enjoying their power for camping, backup power, food trucks, etc. with fewer of these.
Winner: Cummins ONAN P4500i
Electric start
Generators work with the same principles behind them but different models can implement different ways to get the machine started.
There is for example an electric start where you just push a button to get going.
This can be helpful for elderly individuals who find recoil starts challenging but can make generators more convenient to use for everyone.
The difference between the Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500 is relatively straightforward in this area.
You do get an electric start function with the Cummins ONAN P4500i but not with the Champion 4500.
Winner: Cummins ONAN P4500i
Price
A generator has to be good enough in terms of features to satisfy your needs and preferences but at some point, the investment required will play a role in your decision too.
This can vary over time but the Cummins ONAN P4500i tends to be a nice amount pricier than the Champion 4500.
How much this matters depends on details like your budget and how much you value the differences.
Winner: Champion 4500
User reviews Cummins ONAN P4500i vs Champion 4500
Looking at the price and feature differences is a great start when you compare generators like the Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500.
That being said, you also need to know that generators sometimes come with unexpected downsides or issues that are not on the sales page.
To make sure you avoid cases like this, the customer reviews of the Cummins ONAN P4500i and Champion 4500 can be helpful.
There is a clear difference in this comparison with customers being a lot more positive about the Champion 4500.
The Cummins ONAN P4500i has a decent number of technical challenges and customers seem to find it hard to get these issues resolved.
Even when they are technically still within the warranty period.
The Champion 4500 is not perfect with a few reviews with cases of technical issues but these are a lot less common in this generator.
Is the Cummins ONAN P4500i or Champion 4500 right for you?
Overall, the Cummins ONAN P4500i has 200 more running watts, lower noise levels, a somewhat longer run time, and an electric start.
On the other side, the Champion 4500 has customer reviews that are a lot more positive and a price that is a nice amount lower.
The features of the Cummins ONAN P4500i do look slightly better but with the number of technical issues, you likely just want to go for the Champion 4500 instead.
However, it is also worth mentioning that the Westinghouse iGen4500 exists which is basically the more budget-friendly and higher version of the Cummins ONAN P4500i.
As you can see in the Westinghouse iGen4500 vs Champion 4500 comparison, many people will prefer the Westinghouse iGen4500 instead.
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