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BMW i4 vs Volvo EC40
Selected trimSingle MotorChange trim300 mi · 70 kWh · £46,860
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW i4 leads on value for money and running costs, while the Volvo EC40 leads on charging speed and city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW i4 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.2p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the Volvo EC40 if...
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Volvo EC40 edges ahead overall, but it's close - check which categories matter most to you.
ValueBMW
BMW
5.9
Volvo
5.4
Motorway Range
BMW
4.1
Volvo
3.7
Too close to call
Family
BMW
6.4
Volvo
6.8
Too close to call
ChargingVolvo
BMW
3.7
Volvo
7.1
Cost Per MileBMW
BMW
4.1
Volvo
3.3
City DrivingVolvo
BMW
3.2
Volvo
4.9
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
BMW i4
eDrive40 M Sport
- 67 miles more WLTP range
- 66 litres more boot space
- 75 kW more power
- 1.6s quicker 0-62 mph
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £53,405 | £46,860 (better) |
| Official range | 367 miles (better) | 300 miles |
| Boot space | 470 L (better) | 404 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 31 min | 26 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 5.7 sec (better) | 7.3 sec |
Size Comparison
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BMW i4
Volvo EC40
Length
BMW i44,783mm
Volvo EC404,440mm-343mm
Width
BMW i41,852mm-21mm
Volvo EC401,873mm
Height
BMW i41,448mm-143mm
Volvo EC401,591mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,783 mm | 4,440 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,852 mm (better) | 1,873 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,073 mm | 2,034 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,448 mm | 1,591 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.5 m | 11 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 548 mm spare (better) | 527 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear legroom | Not available | 917 mm |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 4 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 470 L (better) | 404 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1290 L | 1310 L (better) |
| Frunk | 0 L | 31 L (better) |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,600 kg (better) | 1,500 kg |
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport |  Volvo EC40 Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.78m | 4.44m-343mm |
| Width | 1.85m | 1.87m+21mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.07m | 2.03m-39mm |
| Height | 1.45m | 1.59m+143mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.86m | 2.70m-154mm |
| Ground Clearance | 125mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 470L (better) | 404L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1290L | 1310L (better) |
| Frunk | Not available | 31L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | Not available | 917mm |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.5m | 11m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,125kg | 2,065kg (better) |
| Towing Capacity | 1,600kg (better) | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 83.9kWh (better) | 70kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 367 mi (better) | 300 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 200kW | 200kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £53,405 | £46,860 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | SUV |
| Available | 2021–2026 | 2024+ |
* BMW i4: Launch figures. Cars built from July 2024 (facelift) have 81.3 kWh usable, 205 kW DC charging and up to 373 miles WLTP.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 367 miles (better) | 300 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 261 miles (better) | 206 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 31 min | 26 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 200 kW | 200 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 160 Wh/km (better) | 167 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 80.7 kWh (better) | 70 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 5.7 sec (better) | 7.3 sec |
| Power | 250 kW (better) | 175 kW |
| Torque | 430 Nm (better) | 420 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BMW i4
eDrive40 M Sport
8.8/10
average across 6 reviews
- Electrifying.com10/10
- DrivingElectric4.5/5
- Auto Express4.5/5
Volvo EC40
Single Motor
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
BMW i4
All 3 videos
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 i4 eDrive40 M Sport
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant87%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist64%
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 i4eDrive40 M Sport | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW i4
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Volvo EC40
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BMW i4
- £28,9502023Car360View
- £25,6992024Car360View
- £24,5582023Car360View
Volvo EC40
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW i4 worth the extra £6,545 over the Volvo EC40?
The BMW i4 costs £6,545 more than the Volvo EC40. For that premium it adds 67 miles more WLTP range, 66 litres more boot space and 75 kW more power. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Volvo EC40 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW i4 or the Volvo EC40?
The Volvo EC40 is £6,545 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £176 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 £6,505 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 i4 and Volvo EC40 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 261 miles for the BMW i4 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 i4 goes roughly 55 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 26-31 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW i4 or the Volvo EC40?
The two are within 21 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the BMW i4 and about 527 mm of total clearance for the Volvo EC40. The Volvo EC40 also turns in a 1.5 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW i4 or the Volvo EC40?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW i4 and 84% for the Volvo EC40. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
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.
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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 i4 and Volvo EC40 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW i4 and Volvo EC40 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW i4 and Volvo EC40 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW i4 and Volvo EC40 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW i4 and Volvo EC40 rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the BMW i4 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.
GuideBuying a Used BMW i4 (2021 on): eDrive35, eDrive40 or M50, Battery Recalls, Range & What to Check
A used BMW i4 buyer’s guide: eDrive35, eDrive40, M50 and M60 compared, the battery recalls on early cars, warranty left, real-world and winter range, rear space, tyres, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Volvo EX40 or EC40 (2024-on): Versions, the Braking Recall & What to Pay
A used Volvo EX40 and EC40 buyer’s guide: Single Motor, Extended Range and Twin Motor compared, real-world range, warranty left, the B-mode braking recall, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .