Compare the2023 Volvo XC60VS 2023 BMW X4

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 X4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its 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 X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the XC60 and X4 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC60 Plus/Ultimate/Polestar 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 X4’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 X4. 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.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC60 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC60’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The X4’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the XC60 and the X4 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.

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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X4 has not been tested, yet.

The X4’s redline is at 7000 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The XC60 has a 6000 RPM redline.

The XC60 has more powerful engines than the X4:

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the X4:

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X4:

The XC60 can travel with zero emissions for 19 to 36 miles (dependent on model). The X4 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The XC60 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 (18.8 vs. 17.2 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 X4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the XC60’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X4:

For better traction, the XC60’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (265/35R22 vs. 245/44R20).

The XC60’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 X4’s optional 40 series front tires.

The XC60 Ultimate 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 X4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XC60 is 1.6 inches wider in the front than the average track on the X4.

For better maneuverability, the XC60’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the X4’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XC60 w/Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 (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 X4 (8.5 vs. 8 inches).

The XC60 has 5.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X4 (103 vs. 97.8).

The XC60 has .8 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4.

The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 with its rear seat up (24.4 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 with its rear seat folded (63.3 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

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 X4 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X4, the XC60 Ultimate/Polestar 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 X4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC60 has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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 X4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XC60 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC60 as the 2018 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The X4 has never been chosen.

The Volvo XC60 outsold the BMW X4 by almost four to one during 2022.