Compare the2022 Hyundai PalisadeVS 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 Palisade 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.

Both the Palisade and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Volvo XC90:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Palisade is safer than the Volvo XC90:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Palisade its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 114 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC90 is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

The Palisade comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC90’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Palisade 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Palisade’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Palisade’s reliability 39 points higher than the XC90.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 42 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 12 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 41 more horsepower (291 vs. 250) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the XC90 T5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Palisade is faster than the XC90 T6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

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

The Palisade stops shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the Palisade has larger tires than the XC90 (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R19).

The Palisade has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC90’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Palisade 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 handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Palisade is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC90.

The Palisade Limited AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the XC90 T6 AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Palisade Limited AWD is quieter than the XC90 T6 AWD:

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

The Palisade has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 3.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 5.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room, 4.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.5 inches more third row headroom and 8.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

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

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Palisade easier. The Palisade’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.6 inches, while the XC90’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Palisade’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC90 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

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

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Palisade to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals 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 Palisade 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.

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 Palisade’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XC90’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 Palisade has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and second seat rows keep the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy’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 Palisade owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Palisade will cost $260 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Palisade is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the Palisade than the XC90, including $484 less for a water pump, $218 less for a starter, $33 less for fuel injection, $131 less for a fuel pump and $45 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Palisade will be $10734 to $12745 less than for the Volvo XC90.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Palisade, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC90 isn't recommended.

The Hyundai Palisade outsold the Volvo XC90 by over two to one during the 2021 model year.