Illustrative example comparison — not a market ranking

BMW X3 vs Volvo XC40 (2019) — example ownership cost comparison

This page compares the estimated total cost of ownership for a BMW X3 2019 and a Volvo XC40 2019, using two real 73 Auto example reports. It breaks the same cost categories — depreciation, fuel/energy, insurance, servicing, tax and more — down side by side, so you can see exactly where the two figures agree or diverge. An illustrative side-by-side comparison of two real 73 Auto example scenarios — a 2019 BMW X3 diesel and a 2019 Volvo XC40 petrol — showing how the same cost categories are broken down and compared. This is not a market-wide claim that one model is cheaper than the other; the two examples differ in fuel type.

BMW X3 2019

£6,407

per year, this example

£534 per month

Volvo XC40 2019

£5,809

per year, this example

£484 per month

Difference: £598 per year (£50 per month) BMW X3 2019 costs 10.3% more than Volvo XC40 2019.

Which costs less to own?

Volvo XC40 2019 is estimated to cost less to own than BMW X3 2019 in these two examples, by £598 per year — 9.3% less than BMW X3 2019.

Category comparison

CategoryBMW X3 2019Volvo XC40 2019Difference
Depreciation£1,690(26%)£1,401(24%)£289
Fuel / Energy£1,084(17%)£1,002(17%)£82
Insurance£750(12%)£690(12%)£60
Service & MOT£1,006(16%)£1,006(17%)£0
Maintenance & Repairs£572(9%)£522(9%)£50
Urban Costs (CC / ULEZ / Parking)£240(4%)£240(4%)£0
VED / Road Tax£180(3%)£180(3%)£0
Tyres£135(2%)£135(2%)£0
Roadside Assistance£130(2%)£130(2%)£0
Finance / Leasing£620(10%)£504(9%)£116
Total per year£6,407£5,809£598

Figures shown are each category's annual cost as printed in the source report. A percentage in brackets is that category's share of the vehicle's own total, only where the source report states one.

What the numbers show

Both figures are indicative estimates for these two specific example vehicles and scenarios — not quotations, not financial advice, and not a claim that either model is generally cheaper to own. Actual costs vary by exact registration, condition, location, driving pattern, insurance profile, finance agreement and market changes. See the full BMW X3 2019 report and Volvo XC40 2019 report, plus the methodology and data sources behind these figures.
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