Compare the2025 BMW iXVS 2025 Volvo EC40

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 EC40 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 EC40.

Both the iX and the EC40 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 900 to 1048 pounds more than the Volvo EC40. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 23 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’ 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 iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produces 268 more horsepower (516 vs. 248) and 254 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 310) than the EC40’s standard electric motor. The iX xDrive50’s electric motors produces 114 more horsepower (516 vs. 402) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 494) than the EC40’s optional electric motors. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produces 208 more horsepower (610 vs. 402) and 317 lbs.-ft. more torque (811 vs. 494) than the EC40’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW iX is faster than the Volvo EC40 electric motors:

The iX can travel longer on a full charge than the EC40 on a full charge:

The iX has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The EC40 doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The iX’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s at 60 in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The EC40 doesn’t offer launch control.

The iX stops much shorter than the EC40:

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EC40 (275/40R22 vs. 235/45R20).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EC40’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX xDrive50 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the EC40 Core. The iX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the EC40.

The iX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The EC40’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The iX has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’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 EC40 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 11.7 inches longer than on the EC40 (118.1 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the EC40.

The iX xDrive50 handles at .88 G’s, while the EC40 Ultimate pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the iX has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the EC40 (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The iX has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the EC40.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EC40 with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 15 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EC40 with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 48.7 cubic feet).

The iX’s cargo area is larger than the EC40’s in every dimension:

The iX has a higher standard payload capacity than the EC40 (1003 vs. 960 lbs.).

The iX has a higher maximum payload capacity than the EC40 (1054 vs. 960 lbs.).

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The EC40 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The iX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The EC40 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 EC40’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the iX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The EC40 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 EC40.

The iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the EC40.

The BMW iX has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the EC40 Plus/Ultimate.

The iX’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Parking Assistant Professional will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The EC40 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW iX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the iX first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The EC40 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The BMW iX outsold the Volvo EC40 by almost three to one during 2023.