Compare the2026 Volvo EX90VS 2026 BMW XM

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Volvo EX90 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW XM doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volvo EX90 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 BMW XM doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the EX90 and XM have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The EX90 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XM’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo EX90 (except 6-Passenger) offers an optional built in child booster seat. It’s more crash worthy than an added child seat because of its direct attachment to the seat. BMW doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the XM. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; EX90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The EX90 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The XM doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The EX90 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XM doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volvo EX90 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The BMW XM has not been tested.

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

The Volvo EX90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The XM has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

On the EPA test cycle the EX90 gets better mileage than the XM running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the EX90 gets better mileage than the XM running its gasoline engine:

The EX90 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 276 to 305 miles. The XM Label has to start its internal combustion engine after only 30 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volvo EX90 higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW XM (6). This means the EX90 produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XM every 15,000 miles.

The EX90 Ultra has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The EX90’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XM doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the EX90’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the XM’s (38.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Volvo EX90 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 550 pounds less than the BMW XM.

The EX90 has standard seating for 7 passengers; the XM can only carry 5.

The EX90 has 3.8 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the XM.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EX90’s middle row seats recline. The XM’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the EX90 easier. The EX90’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.8 inches, while the XM’s liftover is 32.8 inches.

The EX90’s cargo area is larger than the XM’s in almost every dimension:

The EX90’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The XM’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the EX90’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The XM doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The EX90’s standard Keyless Entry & Drive allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the XM doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EX90 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the XM only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The EX90 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The XM doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The EX90 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XM doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Volvo EX90/XC90 outsold the BMW XM by over 21 to one during 2025.