Compare the2023 Subaru OutbackVS 2021 Volvo V90

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 Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The V90 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outback (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The V90 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the V90.

Both the Outback and the V90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The V90 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the V90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’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 Outback’s reliability 67 points higher than the V90.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 65 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru 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 Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 30 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 10 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (260 vs. 250) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the V90 T5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the V90 T6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The V90 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the V90:

Both the Outback and the V90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Outback’s 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.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The V90 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 (18.5 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Outback higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Volvo V90 (5 to 7). This means the Outback produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the V90 every 15,000 miles.

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The V90 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the V90; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The front and rear suspension of the Outback uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V90, 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 maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the V90’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 2.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the V90 (8.7 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 3.4 inches higher than on the V90 (9.5 vs. 6.1 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Volvo V90.

The Outback Wilderness is 3.4 inches shorter than the V90, making the Outback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Outback a Mid-Size Station Wagon car, while the V90 is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The Outback has 11 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V90 (109 vs. 98).

The Outback has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the V90.

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

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the V90 with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 25.5 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the V90 with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 53.9 cubic feet).

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the V90’s (2700 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The V90 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 Outback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the V90’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 Outback has standard extendable sun visors. The V90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Outback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Volvo 90 Series by over 96 to one during the 2021 model year.