Compare the2025 Volvo S90VS 2024 BMW i4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volvo S90 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 i4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the S90 and i4 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S90 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 i4’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.

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 S90 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The i4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Volvo S90 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 i4. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; S90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The S90 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The i4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the S90. But it costs extra on the i4.

Both the S90 and i4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the S90 has Braking Intervention (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The i4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the S90 and the i4 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 and driver alert monitors.

The S90 has more powerful engines than the i4:

The S90 T8’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 563 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The i4’s range is only 227 to 307 miles, after which

For better traction, the S90 has larger tires than the i4 (255/35R20 vs. 225/50R18).

The S90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the i4’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the i4.

The S90 B6 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on T8) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the i4; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S90’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the i4 (120.5 inches vs. 112.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S90 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the i4.

The S90 handles at .90 G’s, while the i4 xDrive40 pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the S90’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the i4’s (38.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Volvo S90 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 400 pounds less than the BMW i4.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the S90 a Mid-size car, while the i4 is rated a Compact.

The S90 has 12 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i4 (102 vs. 90).

The S90 has .7 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 6.2 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the i4.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the S90 easier. The S90’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the i4’s liftover is 28.3 inches.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the S90’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The i4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the S90 offers cargo security. The i4’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The S90 has a 1650 lbs. towing capacity. The i4 has no towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the i4, the S90 Ultra 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 standard on the S90 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The i4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S90 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The i4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the S90 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The i4 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The S90 Ultra has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The i4 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The S90 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the i4.

The S90 Ultra offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the i4.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volvo S90 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the i4.

The S90 has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The i4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.