Compare the2026 BMW X7VS 2025 Volvo EX90

For enhanced safety, the middle seat shoulder belts of the BMW X7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Volvo EX90 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Both the X7 and the EX90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volvo pays for maintenance for the EX90 (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

There are over 24 percent more BMW dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X7’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 first among large premium SUVs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The EX90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 62 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 7 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The X7 has more powerful engines than the EX90:

The X7’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the EX90 are solid, not vented.

The X7 stops shorter than the EX90:

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the EX90 (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. F:255/50R20 & R:285/45R20). The Alpina XB7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EX90 (F:285/35R23 & R:325/30R23 vs. F:265/45R21 & R:295/45R21).

The X7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EX90’s standard 50 series front tires. The X7’s optional 275/35R23 front and 315/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the EX90’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the EX90. The X7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the EX90.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The EX90 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X7 offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the EX90; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The X7 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The EX90 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the EX90, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The X7 offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the EX90.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X7’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the EX90 (122.2 inches vs. 117.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X7 is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the EX90.

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the EX90 (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X7’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the EX90 (8.7 vs. 8.5 inches).

The BMW X7 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 750 pounds less than the Volvo EX90.

The X7 has 5.4 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, 3.6 inches more rear hip room, .3 inches more rear shoulder room, .8 inches more third row headroom, 1.4 inches more third row legroom, 4.9 inches more third row hip room and 1.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the EX90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X7’s middle and third row seats recline. The EX90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The X7’s cargo area provides more volume than the EX90.

The X7’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The EX90’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the EX90’s (5952 vs. 4850 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo EX90 is only 4850 pounds. The X7 offers up to a 7507 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the EX90, the X7 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X7 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The EX90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The X7’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The EX90’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

The X7 has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Volvo doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the EX90.

The X7’s Parking Assistant Professional can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The EX90’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 second among large premium SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The EX90 isn’t in the top three.

The BMW X7 outsold the Volvo EX90 by over 11 to one during 2024.