Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 2026 Volvo XC90

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 XC90 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The BMW iX’s optional Surround View offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Volvo XC90 lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the iX and the XC90 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 iX weighs 514 to 1407 pounds more than the Volvo XC90. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volvo pays for maintenance for the XC90 (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

There are over 24 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’ 2025 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 62 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 13 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’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 7 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The iX has more powerful engines than the XC90:

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the XC90 running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the XC90 running its gasoline engine:

The iX can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 312 to 364 miles. The XC90 T8 Extended Range has to start its internal combustion engine after only 32 miles.

The iX has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XC90. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage; a locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Volvo XC90 (6). This means the iX produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC90 every 15,000 miles.

The iX M70’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 XC90 doesn’t offer launch control.

The iX stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX offers optional 23-inch wheels. The XC90’s largest wheels are only 22-inches.

The front and rear suspension of the iX uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, 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 average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is .1 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC90.

The iX xDrive60 handles at .88 G’s, while the XC90 T8 Ultra pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the XC90 B6 Ultra (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The front grille of the iX uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XC90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The iX has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 5.7 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom, 3.6 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC90.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume than the XC90 with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC90 is limited to 5000 pounds. The iX offers up to a 6834 lbs. towing capacity.

The iX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 XC90’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the iX has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 XC90.

The iX’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. 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 XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.