Compare the2022 Volvo XC60VS 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC60 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC60 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the XC60 and X3 xDrive30e have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC60 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X3 xDrive30e’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo XC60 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. BMW doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the X3 xDrive30e. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC60 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Both the XC60 and the X3 xDrive30e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volvo XC60 is safer than the BMW X3 xDrive30e:

	XC60	X3 xDrive30e
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	198 lbs.	202 lbs.
Neck Compression	15 lbs.	64 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28%	38%
Neck Compression	55 lbs.	72 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volvo XC60 is safer than the BMW X3 xDrive30e:

	XC60	X3 xDrive30e
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	153 lbs.
Hip Force	190 lbs.	275 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	237	281
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	410 lbs.	624 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC60 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 xDrive30e has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

The battery on the XC60 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the XC60’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The X3 xDrive30e’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The XC60 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (316 vs. 288) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The XC60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 112 more horsepower (400 vs. 288) and 162 lbs.-ft. more torque (472 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 127 more horsepower (415 vs. 288) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (494 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
XC60
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/27 hwy
X3 xDrive30e
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/27 hwy

The XC60 has 5.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 xDrive30e (18.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The XC60 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X3 xDrive30e:

	XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered	X3 xDrive30e	X3 xDrive30e
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13 inches	13.7 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XC60 has larger standard tires than the X3 xDrive30e (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R18). The XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 xDrive30e (265/35R22 vs. 245/45R20).

The XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X3 xDrive30e’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XC60 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The X3 xDrive30e’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The XC60 T5/T6 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Recharge) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the X3 xDrive30e; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The XC60 T6/T8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XC60’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the XC60 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the X3 xDrive30e.

For better maneuverability, the XC60’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the X3 xDrive30e’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XC60 w/Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 xDrive30e (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the XC60 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The XC60’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the X3 xDrive30e (8.5 vs. 8 inches).

Chassis

The Volvo XC60 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 700 pounds less than the BMW X3 xDrive30e.

Passenger Space

The XC60 has 1.2 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3 xDrive30e.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the XC60 easier. The XC60’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the X3 xDrive30e’s liftover is 28.5 inches.

Towing

Optional Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the XC60 uses the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The XC60 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X3 xDrive30e, the XC60 R-Design/Inscription has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the XC60 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC60 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 xDrive30e only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC60 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XC60 Inscription offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X3 xDrive30e.

Model Availability

The XC60 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

The XC60 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the XC60 will retain 48.51% to 51.28% of its original price after five years, while the X3 xDrive30e only retains 47.2%.

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