Compare the2023 Cadillac XT5VS 2022 Volvo XC90

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 XC90 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 XC90 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 XC90 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Volvo XC90:

	XT5	XC90
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	27%
Neck Stress	188 lbs.	252 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	18 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	213/542 lbs.	567/631 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	177 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	22/17 lbs.	383/334 lbs.

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 Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Volvo XC90:

	XT5	XC90
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	151 lbs.	153 lbs.
Hip Force	184 lbs.	255 lbs.

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

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 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.

Reliability

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 XT5’s reliability 72 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 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.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the XC90 T6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

	XT5	XC90
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.4 MPH	90.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder AWD gets better fuel mileage than the XC90 T6 running its gasoline engine (21 city/27 hwy vs. 19 city/27 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The XC90 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the XT5 and the XC90 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. The XC90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

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 XC90 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the XC90 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 18.8 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT5 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC90 (5 to 7). This means the XT5 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC90 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

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 XC90.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT5 stops much shorter than the XC90:

	XT5	XC90
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	113 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Cadillac XT5’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volvo XC90 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the XT5 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 XT5 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the XC90 T6 AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Cadillac XT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 750 pounds less than the Volvo XC90.

The XT5 is 5.4 inches shorter than the XC90, 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 XC90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the XT5 AWD is quieter than the XC90 T6 AWD (44 vs. 48 dB).

Passenger Space

The XT5 has .8 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room and 2 inches more rear legroom than the XC90.

Cargo Capacity

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume than the XC90 with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 11.2 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

An Oil Life Monitor is standard on the XT5 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and air filter 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.

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.

Ergonomics

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 XC90 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The XT5’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

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 XC90 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 XC90 R-Design/Inscription’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT5 will cost $405 to $4010 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT5 is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the XT5 than the XC90, including $471 less for a water pump, $42 less for front brake pads, $227 less for a starter, $354 less for a fuel pump, $157 less for front struts and $300 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC90 isn't recommended.

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Volvo XC90 by 972 units during 2020.