Compare the2022 Honda PilotVS 2022 Volvo XC90

Both the Pilot and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

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

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

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Pilot 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 almost 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

The engine in the Pilot has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the XC90 have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

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 Pilot’s reliability 36 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 Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 46 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Honda higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 26 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Honda higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 13 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (280 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 Motor Trend the Honda Pilot is faster than the XC90 T6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The XC90 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Pilot and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Pilots 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 Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC90 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Pilot has a gallon more fuel capacity than the XC90 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the XC90.

The Pilot stops shorter than the XC90:

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

The Pilot has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The XC90 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The front and rear suspension of the Pilot 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.

The Pilot (except LX)’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The XC90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Pilot Elite 4WD handles at .80 G’s, while the XC90 T6 AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 750 pounds less than the Volvo XC90.

The Pilot uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Pilot Elite 4WD is quieter than the XC90 T6 AWD:

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

The Pilot has .6 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, 4.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more rear hip room, 5.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row headroom and 10.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

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

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

A Maintenance Minder is standard on the Pilot to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, spark plug replacement, air filter replacement, tire rotation, radiator flush, brake pad replacement and transmission fluid replacement based on actual driving conditions. 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 Pilot 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 Pilot’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” 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 Pilot has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Pilot is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because it costs $527 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Pilot than the XC90, including $455 less for a water pump, $85 less for front brake pads, $130 less for a starter, $142 less for fuel injection, $84 less for a fuel pump, $107 less for front struts, $116 less for a timing belt/chain and $420 less for a power steering pump.

The Honda Pilot has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Honda Pilot outsold the Volvo XC90 by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.