Compare the2022 Subaru OutbackVS 2021 Volvo V90 Cross Country

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 Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outback (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Outback and the V90 Cross Country have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 102 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The V90 Cross Country is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V90 Cross Country. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the V90 Cross Country ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 27th in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 31st.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 10 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

As tested in Motor Trend the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Volvo V90 Cross Country:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Outback 2.5i CVT gets better fuel mileage than the V90 Cross Country T6 (26 city/33 hwy vs. 20 city/30 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The V90 Cross Country requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (18.5 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx Edition XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the V90 Cross Country; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The front and rear suspension of the Outback uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V90 Cross Country, 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 Outback’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the V90 Cross Country’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the V90 Cross Country (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the V90 Cross Country (9.5 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 750 pounds less than the Volvo V90 Cross Country.

The Outback is 3.9 inches shorter than the V90 Cross Country, making the Outback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Outback a Mid-Size Station Wagon car, while the V90 Cross Country is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The Outback has 11 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V90 Cross Country (109 vs. 98).

The Outback has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the V90 Cross Country.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outback’s rear seats recline. The V90 Cross Country’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the V90 Cross Country with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 25.5 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the V90 Cross Country with its rear seat folded (75.7 vs. 53.9 cubic feet).

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the V90 Cross Country’s (2700 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V90 Cross Country. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Outback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the V90 Cross Country’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Outback has standard extendable sun visors. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $5500 to $6280 less than the V90 Cross Country over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 54.13% to 56.37% of its original price after five years, while the V90 Cross Country only retains 39.3%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $25190 to $34191 less than for the Volvo V90 Cross Country.

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Outback as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.