Verdict
At RM250,800 versus RM268,888, the BMW iX1 is the cheaper buy and the cleaner break from petrol, with a 66.5 kWh battery, 475 km EV range, 11 kW AC and 130 kW DC charging. It also gives you the larger boot at 490 litres. The Volvo XC40 hits back hard on pace and traction: 263 hp, 390 Nm, AWD and 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds against the iX1’s 8.6. For Malaysia, the BMW asks you to plan charging; the Volvo asks you to accept fuel use and RM428 road tax.
iX1
Pick the BMW iX1 if you want the lower price, full-electric running, bigger boot and RM160 annual road tax.
XC40
Pick the Volvo XC40 if you want stronger acceleration, all-wheel drive and a longer five-year manufacturer warranty as standard.
Key differences
- Price: BMW iX1 RM250,800; Volvo XC40 RM268,888
- Powertrain: BMW iX1 204 hp/250 Nm electric motor; Volvo XC40 263 hp/390 Nm petrol hybrid
- Acceleration: BMW iX1 0-100 km/h in 8.6 sec; Volvo XC40 6.4 sec
- Boot space: BMW iX1 490 litres; Volvo XC40 460 litres
- Driveline: BMW iX1 front-wheel drive; Volvo XC40 all-wheel drive
- Road tax: BMW iX1 RM160/year; Volvo XC40 RM428/year
iX1
- Full EV with 475 km range from a 66.5 kWh battery
- Lower RM250,800 price and lower RM160 road tax
- Larger 490-litre boot, plus head-up display and 360-view camera
- Slower 8.6-second 0-100 km/h time versus the Volvo’s 6.4 seconds
- Front-wheel drive only, while the Volvo has all-wheel drive
- Standard manufacturer warranty is 2 years unless you pay RM13,430 for the 5-year warranty and service package
XC40
- Quicker 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- All-wheel drive with 263 hp and 390 Nm
- Five-year manufacturer warranty as standard
- Costs RM18,088 more than the BMW
- Uses 7.7 L/100 km and has higher RM428 annual road tax
- Smaller 460-litre boot
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 250,800✓ | RM 268,888 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | — | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | — | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 263 hp |
| Torque | — | 390 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline |
| 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 Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Battery Capacity | 66.5 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 475 km | — |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 2 | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Charger Type (DC) | CCS2 | — |
| 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) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| 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 |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Discs | Solid Discs |
| 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 |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 160✓ | RM 428 |
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.
iX1 vs XC40 FAQ
Is the BMW iX1 or Volvo XC40 better?
The BMW iX1 is better for EV running costs, boot space and price. The Volvo XC40 is better for performance, all-wheel-drive traction and standard warranty cover.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo XC40 costs RM18,088 more than the BMW iX1. The BMW is RM250,800, while the Volvo is RM268,888.
Which one is quicker?
The Volvo XC40 is quicker, doing 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. The BMW iX1 takes 8.6 seconds, so the Volvo has a clear 2.2-second advantage.