Verdict
At RM250,800, the BMW iX1 costs RM18,088 less than the RM268,888 Volvo XC40 and cuts annual road tax from RM428 to RM160. Its 66.5-kWh battery, 475-km claimed range and 130-kW DC charging make it the clear choice for buyers with dependable charging. The Volvo counters with all-wheel drive and a much quicker 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time, against 8.6 seconds, while its 49-litre petrol-hybrid/REV setup suits those who cannot rely on charging. The BMW is 75 mm longer and has a 490-litre boot, 30 litres up on the Volvo.
Pick the BMW iX1 if you can charge regularly and want 475 km of EV range, lower RM160 road tax and a 490-litre boot for less money.
Pick the Volvo XC40 if all-wheel drive, a 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time and petrol-backed travel flexibility matter more than pure-electric running.
Key differences
- Price: BMW iX1 RM250,800; Volvo XC40 RM268,888.
- Annual road tax: BMW iX1 RM160; Volvo XC40 RM428.
- Powertrain: BMW iX1 has one 204-hp, 250-Nm motor and a 66.5-kWh battery; Volvo XC40 has a 263-hp, 390-Nm 1,969-cc petrol hybrid/REV powertrain.
- Performance: BMW iX1 reaches 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and tops out at 170 km/h; Volvo XC40 does 6.4 seconds and 180 km/h.
- Driveline: BMW iX1 is front-wheel drive; Volvo XC40 is all-wheel drive.
- Cargo space: BMW iX1 has a 490-litre boot; Volvo XC40 has 460 litres.
iX1
- RM18,088 cheaper with RM268 lower annual road tax.
- 66.5-kWh battery, 475-km EV range and 130-kW DC charging.
- 490-litre boot, 360-degree camera and head-up display.
- Front-wheel drive versus the Volvo XC40's all-wheel drive.
- Slower 8.6-second 0-100 km/h time versus 6.4 seconds.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years.
XC40
- All-wheel drive and a 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty.
- Five-star Euro NCAP and ANCAP ratings, plus a space-saver spare tyre.
- Costs RM18,088 more and annual road tax is RM268 higher.
- 460-litre boot is 30 litres smaller.
- No stated EV range, battery capacity or AC/DC charging rate.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM250,800✓ | RM268,888 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM160✓ | RM428 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | — | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 263 hp |
| Torque | — | 390 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | — | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 204 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 250 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 66.5 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 475 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 130 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | Geartronic Automatic Transmission |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.6 seconds | 6.4 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 7.7 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 170 km/h | 180 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 50 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,500 mm | 4,425 mm |
| Width | 1,845 mm | 1,863 mm |
| Height | 1,642 mm | 1,658 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,692 mm | 2,702 mm |
| Weight | 2,085 kg | 1,875 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 49 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres✓ | 460 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | 235/50R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45R19 | 235/50R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Doublespoke 871 Bicolour | 19" 5-Y Spoke Matt Graphite Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Doublespoke 871 Bicolour | 19" 5-Y Spoke Matt Graphite Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension | Sport Chassis |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Front, front-side, rear | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual rear doors | Power safety lock for rear door |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | 2 on outer rear seats | Available on two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Front Collision Warning | Yes, City Safety with Full Auto Brake, Pedestrian, Cyclist and Large Animal Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Yes | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Driving Assistant Plus | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Electric Seat Adjustment with Memory for Driver | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60/40 split | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | Front 12V, Qi Wireless charging tray | 2 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | Dual front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Yes | — |
| Audio | BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 10.25" Touchscreen, iDrive Controller, Voice Control, Apple CarPlay and 16-speaker, 464W Harman Kardon Sound System | 9" Portrait Android Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push button |
| Locks | Yes | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function | Active Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Electric | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes with 360 view | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Parking Assistant Plus | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | Add RM13,430 for 5 year warranty and service package, 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | 8-year/160,000 km hybrid battery warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used iX1 & XC40 for sale
iX1 vs XC40 FAQ
Is the BMW iX1 or Volvo XC40 better?
The BMW iX1 is the better fit for regular home or workplace charging: it costs less, has 475 km of stated EV range and a larger 490-litre boot. Choose the Volvo XC40 for all-wheel drive, stronger acceleration and petrol-hybrid/REV travel flexibility.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo XC40 costs RM268,888, which is RM18,088 more than the BMW iX1 at RM250,800. Its annual road tax is also RM428, compared with RM160 for the iX1.
Which is quicker, the BMW iX1 or Volvo XC40?
The Volvo XC40 is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and 180 km/h. The BMW iX1 takes 8.6 seconds to 100 km/h and has a 170-km/h top speed.