Verdict
At RM470,800, the BMW X5 costs RM51,912 more than the RM418,888 Volvo XC90, then adds 59 hp, 190 Nm and a 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time against 7.7 seconds. It is also 110 kg lighter and has a 650-litre boot. But the Volvo brings seven seats rather than five, costs RM428 a year in road tax versus RM1,637, and has a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty. For a Malaysian family needing the third row, the XC90 makes the stronger case; the X5 is for performance and luggage capacity.
X5
Pick the BMW X5 if you want 308 hp, 540 Nm, a 5.4-second sprint and a 650-litre boot in a five-seat SUV.
XC90
Pick the Volvo XC90 if you need seven seats, far lower RM428 annual road tax and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW X5 RM470,800; Volvo XC90 RM418,888.
- Performance: BMW X5 308 hp, 540 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds; Volvo XC90 249 hp, 350 Nm and 7.7 seconds.
- Seating and boot: BMW X5 has 5 seats and 650 litres; Volvo XC90 has 7 seats and 451 litres.
- Road tax: BMW X5 RM1,637 per year; Volvo XC90 RM428 per year.
- Warranty: BMW X5 2 years unlimited mileage; Volvo XC90 5 years unlimited mileage.
- Kerb weight: BMW X5 2,240 kg; Volvo XC90 2,350 kg.
X5
- 308 hp and 540 Nm
- 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- 650-litre boot and 360-degree camera
- RM51,912 more expensive
- RM1,209 higher annual road tax
- Only five seats versus seven
XC90
- Seven seats with 50:50 third row
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty
- Integrated booster seats for the outer second-row seats
- 59 hp and 190 Nm down on the X5
- 7.7-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.3 seconds slower
- 451-litre boot is 199 litres smaller
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM470,800 | RM418,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,637 | RM428✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, Turbochaged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with MHEV Assistance |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | 308 hp✓ | 249 hp |
| Torque | 540 Nm✓ | 350 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82 mm | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | 10.3 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 14 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 40 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Eight-speed Steptronic | 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 | 5.4 seconds✓ | 7.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,935 mm | 4,950 mm |
| Width | 2,004 mm | 1,958 mm |
| Height | 1,765 mm | 1,776 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,975 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 2,240 kg | 2,350 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 83 litres | 71 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 650 litres✓ | 451 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/40R21 | 275/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 315/35R21 | 275/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR Run-flats | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels | 20" 5-spoke Black Diamond Cut Black Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels | 20" 5-spoke Black Diamond Cut Black Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Air Suspension with Adaptive Dampers | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, 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 | 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 |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED headlights with Auto High Beam | Dynamic LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats | 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 | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sliding Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C Front, 4 USB-C Rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Powered Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades | Manual Rear Door Window Shades, Powered Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 17-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (525W) | 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 & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Knob Twist |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered Boot, Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360 Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | 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 | — | 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 X5 & XC90 for sale
X5 vs XC90 FAQ
Is the BMW X5 or Volvo XC90 better?
The BMW X5 is better for outright performance and luggage capacity, with 308 hp, 540 Nm and a 650-litre boot. The Volvo XC90 is better for carrying more people, with seven seats, lower annual road tax and a longer manufacturer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW X5 costs RM51,912 more than the Volvo XC90.
Which SUV is better for a large family?
The Volvo XC90 is the clear choice for a larger family because it has seven three-point seat belts, a 50:50 third row and integrated booster seats on the outer second-row seats. The BMW X5 has five seats.