Compare the2022 Land Rover Range Rover SportVS 2022 Volvo XC90

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Range Rover Sport. But it costs extra on the XC90.

Both the Range Rover Sport and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Land Rover vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Land Rover 26th in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 29th.

The Range Rover Sport has more powerful engines than the XC90:

As tested in Car and Driver the Land Rover Range Rover Sport is faster than the XC90 T8 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid:

As tested in Motor Trend the Range Rover Sport SVR 5.0 supercharged V8 is faster than the XC90 T6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Range Rover Sport’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Volvo only offers a regenerative brake system on the XC90 T8.

The Range Rover Sport has 9 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (27.5 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Range Rover Sport has 8.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90’s standard fuel tank (27.5 vs. 18.8 gallons).

For better stopping power the Range Rover Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The Range Rover Sport stops much shorter than the XC90:

The Range Rover Sport has a standard full size spare (not available on 7-Passenger/P400e) so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the XC90; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Range Rover Sport V8 has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The XC90 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Range Rover Sport uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XC90, which uses coil springs in front and transverse leafs springs in the rear. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Range Rover Sport SVR handles at .87 G’s, while the XC90 T6 AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Range Rover Sport SVR executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the XC90 T6 AWD (25.2 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Sport SVR has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XC90 (10.8 vs. 8.8 inches), allowing the Range Rover Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Range Rover Sport’s minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the XC90 w/Air Suspension (10.9 vs. 9.9 inches).

The Range Rover Sport has .6 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC90.

The Range Rover Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (7716 vs. 4000 pounds).

The Range Rover Sport has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1631 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The engine in the Range Rover Sport is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

A Service Interval Indicator is standard on the Range Rover Sport 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 Range Rover Sport’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 Range Rover Sport 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.

Optional air conditioned the front and second row seats keep the Range Rover Sport’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The XC90 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Insurance will cost less for the Range Rover Sport owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Range Rover Sport with a number “1” insurance rate while the XC90 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Range Rover Sport is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the Range Rover Sport than the XC90, including $612 less for a water pump, $105 less for a muffler, $73 less for a fuel pump and $994 less for a power steering pump.

The Range Rover Sport was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2014 4x4 of the Year. The XC90 has never been chosen.