Verdict
The BMW iX1 costs RM250,800, undercutting the Volvo XC40 by RM18,088, and its 66.5-kWh battery brings a quoted 475 km range with 11-kW AC and 130-kW DC charging. That makes it the more natural fit for an owner with dependable charging, while its 490-litre boot adds 30 litres. The XC40 counters with 263 hp, 390 Nm and all-wheel drive; its 6.4-second century sprint is 2.2 seconds quicker. It also gets a five-year warranty, but its RM428 annual road tax is RM268 more than the iX1’s.
iX1
Pick the BMW iX1 if you can charge regularly and want 475 km of quoted EV range, a bigger 490-litre boot and lower annual road tax.
XC40
Pick the Volvo XC40 if quicker 6.4-second acceleration, all-wheel drive, seven airbags and a five-year warranty matter more than EV driving.
Key differences
- Power and torque: BMW iX1 has 204 hp and 250 Nm; Volvo XC40 has 263 hp and 390 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW iX1 takes 8.6 seconds; Volvo XC40 takes 6.4 seconds.
- Driveline: BMW iX1 is front-wheel drive; Volvo XC40 is all-wheel drive.
- Annual road tax: BMW iX1 is RM160; Volvo XC40 is RM428.
- Boot space: BMW iX1 has 490 litres; Volvo XC40 has 460 litres.
- Manufacturer warranty: BMW iX1 has two years; Volvo XC40 has five years.
iX1
- 66.5-kWh battery with 475 km quoted range and 130-kW DC charging
- 490-litre boot, 30 litres larger than the XC40’s
- Head-up display and 360-degree reverse camera
- 8.6-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.2 seconds slower
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
- Front-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive
XC40
- 263 hp, 390 Nm and a 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- All-wheel drive and seven airbags
- Five-star EuroNCAP and ANCAP ratings
- RM428 annual road tax versus RM160
- 460-litre boot is 30 litres smaller
- No head-up display or 360-degree camera
| 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 at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | — | 390 Nm at 1,800 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 82 mm × 93.2 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 | 6 (Front, front-side, rear) | 7 (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 | 3 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 choice for regular charging, quoted 475 km EV range and more boot space. The Volvo XC40 is better for buyers prioritising faster acceleration, all-wheel drive, seven airbags and a five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo XC40 costs RM18,088 more than the BMW iX1.
Which is quicker, the BMW iX1 or Volvo XC40?
The Volvo XC40 is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. The BMW iX1 takes 8.6 seconds, a 2.2-second gap.
