Compare the2025 Volvo EX90VS 2026 BMW X7

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volvo EX90 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 X7 doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Volvo EX90 (except 6-Passenger) offers an optional built in child booster seat. It’s more crash worthy than an added child seat because of its direct attachment to the seat. BMW doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the X7. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; EX90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The EX90 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The X7 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volvo EX90 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The BMW X7 has not been tested.

Both the EX90 and the X7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Volvo EX90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The X7 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The EX90 has more powerful engines than the X7:

As tested in Motor Trend the Volvo EX90 (510 HP engine) is faster than the X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the EX90 gets better mileage than the X7:

The EX90 can travel with zero emissions for 300 to 310 miles (dependent on model). The X7 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volvo EX90 higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW X7 (4 to 6). This means the EX90 produces up to 25 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X7 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the EX90’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X7:

For better maneuverability, the EX90’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the X7 w/Integral Active Steering’s (38.8 feet vs. 40.7 feet). The EX90’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the X7 xDrive40i’s (38.8 feet vs. 42.7 feet).

The EX90 is 5.3 inches shorter than the X7, making the EX90 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Volvo EX90 amounts to more than styling. The EX90 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is lower than the X7 (.32 to .34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the EX90 get better fuel mileage.

The EX90 has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear headroom than the X7.

The EX90 has a much larger cargo volume than the X7 with its rear seat up (67.6 vs. 12.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the EX90 easier. The EX90’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.8 inches, while the X7’s liftover is 32.5 inches.

The EX90’s cargo area is larger than the X7’s in every dimension:

The EX90 has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The X7 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The EX90’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X7’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EX90 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The EX90 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X7 doesn’t offer headlight washers.