Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 2026 Volvo XC60

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 XC60 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 XC60 lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the iX and the XC60 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 903 to 1804 pounds more than the Volvo XC60. 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 XC60 (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 XC60:

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the XC60 running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the XC60 running its gasoline engine:

The iX can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 312 to 364 miles. The XC60 T8 Extended Range has to start its internal combustion engine after only 35 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Volvo XC60 (6). This means the iX produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC60 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 XC60 doesn’t offer launch control.

The iX stops much shorter than the XC60:

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC60 (275/40R22 vs. 265/35R22).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX xDrive45/60 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC60. The iX’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the XC60.

The front and rear suspension of the iX uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, 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.

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 XC60’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 XC60 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the XC60 (118.1 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC60.

The iX xDrive60 handles at .88 G’s, while the XC60 T8 Ultra pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the XC60 B5 Core (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC60 (8.8 vs. 8.5 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 XC60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The iX has 3.5 inches more front headroom, 5.3 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 4.7 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

The front step up height for the iX is 1.6 inches lower than the XC60 (17.4” vs. 19”). The iX’s rear step up height is 2.2 inches lower than the XC60’s (17.3” vs. 19.5”).

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC60 with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 22.4 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC60 with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

The iX’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in every dimension:

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC60 is limited to 3500 pounds. The iX offers up to a 6834 lbs. towing capacity.

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 XC60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 XC60’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 XC60 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 XC60.

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. Volvo charges extra for Homelink® on the XC60.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW iX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the XC60.

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 XC60 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.