Verdict
The RM41,912 cheaper Volvo EX90 brings seven seats, 671 hp, 870 Nm and a 4.2-second 0-100 km/h time, against the BMW X5’s five seats, 308 hp, 540 Nm and 5.4 seconds. Its 106 kWh battery, 617 km range and 350 kW DC charging suit buyers able to charge regularly, though annual road tax is RM1,940 versus RM1,637. The X5 is the more practical five-seater for luggage: its 650-litre boot beats the EX90’s 310 litres, and its 250 km/h top speed is 70 km/h higher. But the Volvo’s five-year warranty is a meaningful advantage over two years.
X5
Pick the BMW X5 if you need a 650-litre boot, prefer its 83-litre petrol tank and want 250 km/h performance.
EX90
Pick the Volvo EX90 if you want seven seats, EV charging capability, a 617 km range and much stronger 671 hp output for less money.
Key differences
- Price: BMW X5 RM470,800; Volvo EX90 RM428,888.
- Power and torque: BMW X5 308 hp and 540 Nm; Volvo EX90 671 hp and 870 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW X5 5.4 seconds; Volvo EX90 4.2 seconds.
- Seating and boot space: BMW X5 five seats and 650 litres; Volvo EX90 seven seats and 310 litres.
- Energy storage and range: BMW X5 83-litre fuel tank; Volvo EX90 106 kWh battery and 617 km EV range.
- Warranty and road tax: BMW X5 two years and RM1,637/year; Volvo EX90 five years and RM1,940/year.
X5
- 650-litre boot is 340 litres larger.
- 250 km/h top speed versus 180 km/h.
- Auto parking is fitted.
- Only five seats versus the EX90’s seven.
- Slower 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years.
EX90
- Seven-seat cabin with third-row USB-C ports.
- 617 km EV range and up to 350 kW DC charging.
- Powered, ventilated Nappa leather front seats with massage.
- 310-litre boot is far smaller than the X5’s 650 litres.
- 2,704 kg kerb weight is 464 kg higher.
- Annual road tax is RM303 higher.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM470,800 | RM428,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,637✓ | RM1,940 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, Turbochaged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 308 hp at 5,000 rpm | — |
| Torque | 540 Nm at 1,750 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 671 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 870 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 106 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 617 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 350 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Eight-speed Steptronic | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.4 seconds | 4.2 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,935 mm | 5,037 mm |
| Width | 2,004 mm | 1,964 mm |
| Height | 1,765 mm | 1,747 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,975 mm | 2,985 mm |
| Weight | 2,240 kg | 2,704 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 83 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 650 litres✓ | 310 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/40R21 | 265/45R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 315/35R21 | 295/40R21 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR Run-flats | Michelin Pilot Sport EV VOL |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Active Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Active Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels | 21" 8-spoke Glossy Black Diamond-cut Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels | 21" 8-spoke Glossy Black Diamond-cut Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Air Suspension with Adaptive Dampers | Active Chassis with Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, Front Center Airbag, 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 outer rear seats, with Integrated Booster Cushions |
| 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 |
| Safety Notes | — | Roof-mounted LiDAR removed on the CKD model (driver assistance functionality largely unchanged); dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin processors |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED headlights with Auto High Beam | LED Reflector 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 | Powered and Ventilated Nappa Leather Seats with Massage |
| 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 |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sliding Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C Front, 4 USB-C Rear | 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger Front, 2 USB-C Middle Row, 2 USB-C Third Row |
| 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 | — |
| 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) | 14.5" Touchscreen with Android Automotive OS, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System (1,600 watt) |
| 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 (Depress Brake to Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Steering Assist |
| 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 | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Yes |
| 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 | — | 8-year/160,000 km 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 & EX90 for sale
X5 vs EX90 FAQ
Is the BMW X5 or Volvo EX90 better?
The EX90 is the stronger family and performance choice: it has seven seats, 671 hp, 870 Nm and reaches 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. Choose the X5 if its 650-litre boot and 83-litre fuel tank better fit your use.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo EX90 costs RM428,888 and the BMW X5 costs RM470,800, so the EX90 is RM41,912 cheaper.
Which is better for long-distance travel in Malaysia?
The EX90 has a claimed 617 km EV range, a 106 kWh battery and 350 kW DC charging, provided charging stops suit your route. The X5 instead carries 83 litres of fuel and has a larger 650-litre boot.
