Verdict
At RM406,800, the BMW X4 costs RM12,088 less than the Volvo XC90 and suits the Malaysian buyer who values pace and luggage room: its 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time beats the Volvo’s 7.7 seconds, while its 525-litre boot is 74 litres larger. The XC90 counters with seven seats, a 2,984 mm wheelbase and mild-hybrid assistance from a 14 hp, 40 Nm motor. Its 451-litre boot is the trade-off, but the five-year vehicle warranty and 360-degree camera matter for family use.
X4
Pick the BMW X4 if five seats are enough and you want the quicker 6.3-second sprint, 525-litre boot and lower RM406,800 price.
XC90
Pick the Volvo XC90 if you need seven seats, active cruise control, a 360-degree camera and five years of manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW X4 RM406,800; Volvo XC90 RM418,888.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW X4 6.3 seconds; Volvo XC90 7.7 seconds.
- Seats: BMW X4 five; Volvo XC90 seven.
- Boot space: BMW X4 525 litres; Volvo XC90 451 litres.
- Manufacturer warranty: BMW X4 two years; Volvo XC90 five years.
- Length: BMW X4 4,751 mm; Volvo XC90 4,950 mm.
X4
- RM12,088 cheaper at RM406,800.
- Quicker 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 525-litre boot, 74 litres larger.
- Five seats versus the XC90’s seven.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years.
- No active cruise control or 360-degree surround-view camera.
XC90
- Seven-seat cabin with third-row 50:50 folding seats.
- Five-year manufacturer warranty plus an eight-year/160,000 km hybrid battery warranty.
- Active cruise control and 360-degree surround-view camera.
- RM12,088 more expensive at RM418,888.
- Slower 7.7-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 451-litre boot is 74 litres smaller.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM406,800✓ | RM418,888 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439 | RM428✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Twin-Scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with MHEV Assistance |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | 249 hp | 249 hp |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 350 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82 mm | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | 10.3 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 14 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 40 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8 Speed Steptronic Sport Automatic | 8-Speed Automatic Transmission with Geartronic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Volvo |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.3 seconds✓ | 7.7 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 8.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Co2 | 192 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,751 mm | 4,950 mm |
| Width | 1,918 mm | 1,958 mm |
| Height | 1,621 mm | 1,776 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,864 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 1,890 kg | 2,350 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 65 litres | 71 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 525 litres✓ | 451 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R21 | 275/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R21 | 275/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero Run-flat | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Style 726 M 2-tone Multi-spoke Alloy | 20" 5-spoke Black Diamond Cut Black Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Style 726 M 2-tone Multi-spoke Alloy | 20" 5-spoke Black Diamond Cut Black Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Suspension | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | 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 for Rear Doors | Electric for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats, with Integrated Boosters |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 60 km/h) | Yes, with Full Auto Brake, Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Collision Prevention | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projector with Automatic High Beam | Dynamic LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | Second row 40:20:40 Split Folding with integrated booster child seat for the outer seats, Third Row 50:50 |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Boot, 1 Front USB, 1 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting (6 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Manual Rear Door Window Shades, Powered Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen BMW Operating System 7.0 with iDrive Touch Controller, Voice Control and 16-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (464 Watts) | 11.2" Central Display with Android Automotive OS, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Connectivity, Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity Audio System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Knob Twist |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot, Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360 Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Auto-dimming Mirrors | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 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 X4 & XC90 for sale
X4 vs XC90 FAQ
Is the BMW X4 or Volvo XC90 better?
The BMW X4 is better for a five-seat buyer prioritising acceleration, price and boot capacity. The Volvo XC90 is the better choice for a family needing seven seats, active cruise control, a 360-degree camera and longer warranty cover.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo XC90 costs RM12,088 more than the BMW X4: RM418,888 against RM406,800.
Which SUV has more seats and luggage space?
The Volvo XC90 has seven seats to the BMW X4’s five, but the BMW has the larger boot at 525 litres. The XC90’s boot capacity is 451 litres.