BMW iX3 vs Volvo EX60 - my next car?
Discussion
It's time to replace my i4 M50 and Mrs Deuce is keen to return to a SUV (we used to have an iPace which we both loved), and these two seem the finest of the current EV SUV crop.
I can order either right now, but can't test drive either, which is annoying!
On paper the Volvo has slightly better range and is more powerful. The range of both cars is so good as to not be a factor tbh, but I do like the sound of nearly 700hp in the Volvo. Also I assume that part way through my time with the iX3, it's inevitable a hotter version will release and I'll be annoyed I missed out on that
One concern is that the Volvo simply won't drive as well as the BMW... Has anyone any experience of recent Volvo cars regarding driver satisfaction Vs BMW??
I can order either right now, but can't test drive either, which is annoying!
On paper the Volvo has slightly better range and is more powerful. The range of both cars is so good as to not be a factor tbh, but I do like the sound of nearly 700hp in the Volvo. Also I assume that part way through my time with the iX3, it's inevitable a hotter version will release and I'll be annoyed I missed out on that
One concern is that the Volvo simply won't drive as well as the BMW... Has anyone any experience of recent Volvo cars regarding driver satisfaction Vs BMW??
Maybe worth a test drive of an XC60 and an EX90. It might tell you nothing because the XC60 is such an old platform and unrelated to the new, and the EX90 is also a different platform, but it might give you a feel for how they like to set up their cars.
I quite like how our XC60 drives, even though it’s definitely not going to compete with an i4. It’s not the wobbly SUV blob it could be, and they do a superb job of putting 300bhp through the front wheels without it being a torque steering nightmare. The air suspension drops the ride and adaptive dampers stiffen it up nicely in Power mode, and I find it quite tidy handling and entertaining to hustle. The controls are well weighted, which not everyone seems to manage nowadays when it comes to brakes. I like the narrow rim steering wheel compared to the absurd fat rims BMW fit, and the steering is accurate enough, but numb.
Caveat is the regular EX60 doesn’t have air springs. Don’t know if it has adaptive dampers. The XC60 ADAC software does a good job of not being too intrusive, but not sure what that tells you as the EX60 likely uses totally different software - a drive in the EX90 might help with that.
I quite like how our XC60 drives, even though it’s definitely not going to compete with an i4. It’s not the wobbly SUV blob it could be, and they do a superb job of putting 300bhp through the front wheels without it being a torque steering nightmare. The air suspension drops the ride and adaptive dampers stiffen it up nicely in Power mode, and I find it quite tidy handling and entertaining to hustle. The controls are well weighted, which not everyone seems to manage nowadays when it comes to brakes. I like the narrow rim steering wheel compared to the absurd fat rims BMW fit, and the steering is accurate enough, but numb.
Caveat is the regular EX60 doesn’t have air springs. Don’t know if it has adaptive dampers. The XC60 ADAC software does a good job of not being too intrusive, but not sure what that tells you as the EX60 likely uses totally different software - a drive in the EX90 might help with that.
MrTrilby said:
Maybe worth a test drive of an XC60 and an EX90. It might tell you nothing because the XC60 is such an old platform and unrelated to the new, and the EX90 is also a different platform, but it might give you a feel for how they like to set up their cars.
I quite like how our XC60 drives, even though it s definitely not going to compete with an i4. It s not the wobbly SUV blob it could be, and they do a superb job of putting 300bhp through the front wheels without it being a torque steering nightmare. The air suspension drops the ride and adaptive dampers stiffen it up nicely in Power mode, and I find it quite tidy handling and entertaining to hustle. The controls are well weighted, which not everyone seems to manage nowadays when it comes to brakes. I like the narrow rim steering wheel compared to the absurd fat rims BMW fit, and the steering is accurate enough, but numb.
Caveat is the regular EX60 doesn t have air springs. Don t know if it has adaptive dampers. The XC60 ADAC software does a good job of not being too intrusive, but not sure what that tells you as the EX60 likely uses totally different software - a drive in the EX90 might help with that.
Thanks. Weirdly the BMW ix3 has no option for air springs either, which is a shames as they make a lot of sense in such heavy cars.I quite like how our XC60 drives, even though it s definitely not going to compete with an i4. It s not the wobbly SUV blob it could be, and they do a superb job of putting 300bhp through the front wheels without it being a torque steering nightmare. The air suspension drops the ride and adaptive dampers stiffen it up nicely in Power mode, and I find it quite tidy handling and entertaining to hustle. The controls are well weighted, which not everyone seems to manage nowadays when it comes to brakes. I like the narrow rim steering wheel compared to the absurd fat rims BMW fit, and the steering is accurate enough, but numb.
Caveat is the regular EX60 doesn t have air springs. Don t know if it has adaptive dampers. The XC60 ADAC software does a good job of not being too intrusive, but not sure what that tells you as the EX60 likely uses totally different software - a drive in the EX90 might help with that.
Glad to know the Volvo adaptive damping is good, that's also a big selling point for me when it comes to making heavy cars compliant and also sporty, with no awkward compromise due to fixed rate damping.
Not sure I can really help but I have just ordered an iX3. (Replacing an iX50). Ordered it a few days before the EX60 launch. No remorse here at all
To get the same range from the Volvo you have to have the P12 option. Add the ultra pack and the cost is £5k more than I am spending.
I suspect the bmw will drive better but don’t really know that for sure. I hated the way my wife’s c40 went and the xc90 t8 was disappointing too. But those are not up to date Volvos and so not representative of current / new models.
I didn’t want to wait until I could drive both to make a decision and test drives in my recent history have been unhelpful anyway. Jaguar iPace I didn’t like after a test drive. But went on a Jaguar performance day and loved it. Drove a bmw iX 40 and didn’t like it. 18 months later got an iX50 and it was so much better than I remembered the 40. I am taking a bit of a risk but reviews are universally positive of the iX3 so I don’t think it’s much of a risk
Also a factor to me is Volvos behaviour over a few things when the c40 went back after three years. Volvo were v annoying and I swore never to have another. So there’s that. Gotta make a decision somehow
To get the same range from the Volvo you have to have the P12 option. Add the ultra pack and the cost is £5k more than I am spending.
I suspect the bmw will drive better but don’t really know that for sure. I hated the way my wife’s c40 went and the xc90 t8 was disappointing too. But those are not up to date Volvos and so not representative of current / new models.
I didn’t want to wait until I could drive both to make a decision and test drives in my recent history have been unhelpful anyway. Jaguar iPace I didn’t like after a test drive. But went on a Jaguar performance day and loved it. Drove a bmw iX 40 and didn’t like it. 18 months later got an iX50 and it was so much better than I remembered the 40. I am taking a bit of a risk but reviews are universally positive of the iX3 so I don’t think it’s much of a risk
Also a factor to me is Volvos behaviour over a few things when the c40 went back after three years. Volvo were v annoying and I swore never to have another. So there’s that. Gotta make a decision somehow
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