Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 2026 Volvo EX40

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 EX40 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 EX40.

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 EX40 lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the iX and the EX40 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 944 to 1442 pounds more than the Volvo EX40. 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 EX40 (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

There are over 25 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 2026 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 10 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The iX has more powerful engines than the EX40:

On the EPA test cycle the iX xDrive60 20" Wheels gets better mileage than the EX40 Twin Motor (99 city/94 hwy vs. 103 city/85 hwy MPGe).

The iX can travel longer on a full charge than the EX40 on a full charge:

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 EX40 doesn’t offer launch control.

The iX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the EX40 are solid, not vented.

The iX stops much shorter than the EX40:

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EX40 (275/40R22 vs. 235/50R19).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EX40’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX xDrive45/60 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the EX40. The iX’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the EX40.

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 EX40’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 EX40 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 EX40 (118.1 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the EX40.

The iX xDrive60 handles at .88 G’s, while the EX40 AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the EX40 Ultra (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the EX40 (8.8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 EX40 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The iX has 3.9 inches more front headroom, 7 inches more front hip room, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 5.5 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the EX40.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EX40 with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 18.9 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EX40 with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 57.5 cubic feet).

The iX’s cargo area is larger than the EX40’s in almost every dimension:

The iX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the EX40’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo EX40 is only 2000 pounds. The iX offers up to a 6834 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Stabilization Control is standard on the iX, using the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the EX40.

The iX has a higher standard payload capacity than the EX40 (1003 vs. 960 lbs.).

The iX has a higher maximum payload capacity than the EX40 (1054 vs. 960 lbs.).

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The EX40 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The iX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The EX40 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 EX40’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 EX40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 EX40 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 EX40.

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 EX40.

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 EX40 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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