Compare the2025 BMW 5 SeriesVS 2024 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 5 Series 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 5 Series 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 5 Series and the S90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 BMW 5 Series achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The S90 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

There are over 23 percent more BMW dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 5 Series’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 5 Series second among upper midsize premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The S90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 55 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 16 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The 550e xDrive’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 28 more horsepower (483 vs. 455) than the S90 T8’s optional 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the 530i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the S90 B6:

On the EPA test cycle the 5 Series running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the S90 running its gasoline engine:

Both the 5 Series and the S90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All 5 Series’ have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The S90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the BMW 5 Series uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The S90 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The 5 Series’ 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.

The 5 Series stops shorter than the S90:

The 5 Series’ optional 285/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S90’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 5 Series offers optional 21-inch wheels. The S90’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The front and rear suspension of the 5 Series uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S90, 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 5 Series is .2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the S90.

The 530i xDrive handles at .95 G’s, while the S90 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 530i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S90 (25.8 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

The BMW 5 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Volvo S90.

The front grille of the 5 Series 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 5 Series has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the S90.

The 5 Series has a much larger trunk than the S90 (18.4 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The 5 Series’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The S90 Luxury Package doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The engine in the 5 Series is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

A Condition-Based Service Display is standard on the 5 Series to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, spark plug replacement, brake fluid replacement, and vehicle inspections, 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.

The 5 Series’ 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The 5 Series’ headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the S90’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The 5 Series’ Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking 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.

The 5 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Volvo 90 Series by over 11 to one during 2023.