Compare the2023 Cadillac XT5VS 2022 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 XT5 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 XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 and the V90 Cross Country have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V90 Cross Country. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the V90 Cross Country ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac 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 Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the Volvo V90 Cross Country:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the XT5 and the V90 Cross Country have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All XT5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch costs extra on the V90 Cross Country.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The V90 Cross Country requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (19.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (21.7 vs. 15.9 gallons).

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the V90 Cross Country.

The XT5 stops much shorter than the V90 Cross Country:

The Cadillac XT5’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volvo V90 Cross Country only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The front and rear suspension of the XT5 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.

The Cadillac XT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Volvo V90 Cross Country.

The XT5 is 5.6 inches shorter than the V90 Cross Country, making the XT5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the XT5 2.0 Turbo 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.

The XT5 has 6.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V90 Cross Country (104.5 vs. 98).

The XT5 has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the V90 Cross Country.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the XT5’s rear seats recline. The V90 Cross Country’s rear seats don’t recline.

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the V90 Cross Country with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 25.5 cubic feet). The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the V90 Cross Country with its rear seat folded (63 vs. 53.9 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The XT5’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The V90 Cross Country does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the XT5 has standard extendable sun visors. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The V90 Cross Country’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The XT5 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT5 will cost $3200 to $3690 less than the V90 Cross Country over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac XT5 will be $3064 to $10453 less than for the Volvo V90 Cross Country.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Volvo 90 Series by over 20 to one during the 2021 model year.