Compare the2023 BMW i7VS 2023 Volvo S90

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the i7 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S90 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW i7 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 S90 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the i7 and the S90 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, all wheel drive, 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 i7 weighs 1244 to 1621 pounds more than the Volvo S90. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars 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 i7’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 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 14th.

The i7’s electric motors produces 241 more horsepower (536 vs. 295) and 239 lbs.-ft. more torque (549 vs. 310) than the S90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid. The i7’s electric motors produces 81 more horsepower (536 vs. 455) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (549 vs. 523) than the S90 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW i7 is faster than the S90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the i7 gets better mileage than the S90 running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the i7 gets better mileage than the S90 running its gasoline engine:

The i7 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 296 to 318 miles. The S90 T8 has to start its internal combustion engine after only 38 miles.

The i7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The S90 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the i7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S90:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i7 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The S90’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The i7 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The S90 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the i7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the S90, which uses coil springs in front and transverse leafs springs in the rear. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The i7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the S90.

The i7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The i7’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 S90 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i7’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the S90 (126.6 inches vs. 120.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the i7 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than on the S90.

The i7 xDrive60 handles at .95 G’s, while the S90 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The i7 xDrive60 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the S90 (24.5 seconds @ .78 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

The front grille of the i7 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The i7 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The S90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the i7 a Large car, while the S90 is rated a Mid-size.

The i7 has 10 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S90 (112 vs. 102).

The i7 has 2 inches more front headroom, 3.5 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the S90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the i7’s available rear seats recline. The S90’s rear seats don’t recline.

A Condition-Based Service Display is standard on the i7 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals 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 S90.

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 i7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the i7 has standard extendable sun visors. The S90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the i7 and the S90 offer available massaging front seats. The i7 also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the S90.

The i7’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The S90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.