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BMW iX3 vs Volvo EC40
Selected trim40Change trim395 mi · 82.6 kWh · £53,250
Selected trimSingle MotorChange trim300 mi · 70 kWh · £46,860
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW iX3 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Volvo EC40 leads on city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW iX3 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the Volvo EC40 if...
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BMW iX3 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueBMW
BMW
6.2
Volvo
5.4
Motorway RangeBMW
BMW
7.8
Volvo
3.7
FamilyBMW
BMW
8
Volvo
6.8
ChargingBMW
BMW
8.3
Volvo
7.1
Cost Per MileBMW
BMW
6.4
Volvo
3.3
City DrivingVolvo
BMW
3.3
Volvo
4.9
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
BMW iX3
40
- 95 miles more WLTP range
- 116 litres more boot space
- 100 kW faster rapid charging
- 60 kW more power
- 1.3s quicker 0-62 mph
- 21 Wh/km more efficient
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX340 | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £53,250 | £46,860 (better) |
| Official range | 395 miles (better) | 300 miles |
| Boot space | 520 L (better) | 404 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 21 min (better) | 26 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6 sec (better) | 7.3 sec |
Size Comparison
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BMW iX3
Volvo EC40
Length
BMW iX34,782mm
Volvo EC404,440mm-342mm
Width
BMW iX31,895mm
Volvo EC401,873mm-22mm
Height
BMW iX31,635mm
Volvo EC401,591mm-44mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW iX340 | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,782 mm | 4,440 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,895 mm | 1,873 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,093 mm | 2,034 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,635 mm | 1,591 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.1 m | 11 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 505 mm spare | 527 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BMW iX340 | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | Not available | 5 |
| Rear legroom | Not available | 917 mm |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 4 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 520 L (better) | 404 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1750 L (better) | 1310 L |
| Frunk | 58 L (better) | 31 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 1,500 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BMW iX3
- 395 mile WLTP range, longer than 95% of SUVs we track.
- Peak DC charging of 300 kW, faster than 90% of SUVs in our catalogue.
- Uses 146 Wh/km on the WLTP cycle, more efficient than 95% of SUVs we track.
Volvo EC40
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW iX3 40 |  Volvo EC40 Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.78m | 4.44m-342mm |
| Width | 1.90m | 1.87m-22mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.09m | 2.03m-59mm |
| Height | 1.64m | 1.59m-44mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.90m | 2.70m-194mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 520L (better) | 404L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1750L (better) | 1310L |
| Frunk | 58L (better) | 31L |
| Seats | Not available | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | Not available | 917mm |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.1m | 11m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,200kg | 2,065kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 82.6kWh (better) | 70kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 395 mi (better) | 300 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 300kW (better) | 200kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £53,250 | £46,860 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2026+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW iX340 | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 395 miles (better) | 300 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 293 miles (better) | 206 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 21 min (better) | 26 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 300 kW (better) | 200 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 146 Wh/km (better) | 167 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 82.6 kWh (better) | 70 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | Not available | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 800V | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX340 | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6 sec (better) | 7.3 sec |
| Power | 235 kW (better) | 175 kW |
| Torque | 500 Nm (better) | 420 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BMW iX3
40
Volvo EC40
Single Motor
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BMW iX3 40
Tested 2026
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Volvo EC40 Single Motor
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant92%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users70%
Safety Assist89%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BMW iX340 | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | Not available | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW iX3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Volvo EC40
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW iX3 worth the extra £6,390 over the Volvo EC40?
The BMW iX3 costs £6,390 more than the Volvo EC40. For that premium it adds 95 miles more WLTP range, 100 kW faster peak rapid charging and 116 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BMW iX3 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW iX3 or the Volvo EC40?
The Volvo EC40 is £6,390 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £160 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Volvo EC40 comes out roughly £6,270 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW iX3 and Volvo EC40 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 293 miles for the BMW iX3 and 206 miles for the Volvo EC40 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BMW iX3 goes roughly 86 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 21-26 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW iX3 or the Volvo EC40?
The two are within 22 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 527 mm of total clearance for the Volvo EC40 and about 505 mm of total clearance for the BMW iX3. The Volvo EC40 also turns in a 1.1 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BMW iX3 comparisons
More Volvo EC40 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BMW iX3 and Volvo EC40 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Volvo EC40 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Volvo EC40 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Volvo EC40 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW iX3 and Volvo EC40 rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the BMW iX3 and Volvo EC40 rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .