Compare the2023 Toyota HighlanderVS 2022 Volvo XC90

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Highlander are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC90 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Highlander Limited/Platinum has a standard Parking Support Brake that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The XC90 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Highlander and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Highlander 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 84 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 18th.

The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (265 vs. 250) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 258) than the XC90 T5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 295) than the XC90 T6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better mileage than the XC90 running its gasoline engine:

Both the Highlander and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Highlanders have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC90 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The front and rear suspension of the Highlander uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XC90 w/19” wheels’ (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Highlander’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the XC90 w/22” wheels’ (37.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 650 pounds less than the Volvo XC90.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the XC90 can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more third row hip room than the XC90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander’s middle and third row seats recline. The XC90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (5000 vs. 4000 pounds).

The Highlander has a higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1330 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Highlander has a higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1390 vs. 1210 lbs.).

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Highlander to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Volvo doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the XC90.

The Highlander’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XC90 doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Highlander has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Volvo XC90 by almost seven to one during the 2021 model year.