Compare the2023 BMW iXVS 2022 Volvo XC90

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XC90 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The iX has standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The XC90 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the iX. But it costs extra on the XC90.

Both the iX and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and available around view monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 574 to 1382 pounds more than the Volvo XC90. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 24 percent more BMW dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 91 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 6 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The iX has more powerful engines than the XC90:

As tested in Car and Driver the iX xDrive50 is faster than the Volvo XC90:

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the XC90 running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the XC90 running its gasoline engine:

The iX can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 274 to 324 miles. The XC90 T8 has to start its internal combustion engine after only 18 miles.

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the iX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Volvo only offers a regenerative brake system on the XC90 T8.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Volvo XC90 (5 to 7). This means the iX produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC90 every 15,000 miles.

The iX stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the XC90.

The front and rear suspension of the iX uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the iX is .2 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC90.

The iX xDrive50 handles at .88 G’s, while the XC90 T6 AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The design of the BMW iX amounts to more than styling. The iX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .25 Cd. That is significantly lower than the XC90 (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the iX get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the iX uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XC90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The iX has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC90.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC90 with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 11.2 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC90 with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 64.1 cubic feet).

A Condition-Based Service Display is standard on the iX to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspection based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Volvo doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the XC90.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 12% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The iX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the XC90’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The iX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the XC90.

The iX’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC90 R-Design/Inscription’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.