Compare the2023 Volvo S90VS 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The S90’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the S90 and Avalon Hybrid have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S90 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Avalon Hybrid’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo S90 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Toyota doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the Avalon Hybrid. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; S90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The S90 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The S90’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the S90 and the Avalon Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Volvo S90 weighs 601 to 1063 pounds more than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the S90 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 95 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The S90 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Avalon Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The S90’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Avalon Hybrid’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the S90 for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Avalon Hybrid (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the S90 has a standard 800-amp battery. The Avalon Hybrid’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The S90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (295 vs. 215) and 310 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. ) than the Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The S90 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 240 more horsepower (455 vs. 215) and 523 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. ) than the Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the S90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

	S90	Avalon Hybrid
Zero to 30 MPH	2.9 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	8.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.7 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the S90 running on electricity gets better mileage than the Avalon Hybrid:

			MPGe
S90
	AWD	T8 Electric Motor	66 city/67 hwy
Avalon Hybrid
			MPG
	FWD	XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/43 hwy

The S90 T8 can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The Avalon Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 1.6 miles.

The S90 has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon Hybrid (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The S90 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the S90’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon Hybrid:

	S90	Avalon Hybrid XSE Nightshade	Avalon Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	11.7 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	11 inches	11.1 inches

The S90’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Avalon Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The S90 stops shorter than the Avalon Hybrid:

	S90	Avalon Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the S90 has larger tires than the Avalon Hybrid (255/35R20 vs. 215/55R17). The S90’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Avalon Hybrid (255/35R20 vs. 235/40R19).

The S90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon Hybrid XLE’s standard 55 series tires. The S90’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Hybrid XSE Nightshade’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Avalon Hybrid XLE. The S90’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Avalon Hybrid XSE Nightshade.

Suspension and Handling

The S90 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Avalon Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The S90 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Avalon Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S90’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the Avalon Hybrid (120.5 inches vs. 113 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S90 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Avalon Hybrid.

Passenger Space

The S90 has .4 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear hip room than the Avalon Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers the S90’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the S90 offers cargo security. The Avalon Hybrid’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the S90. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the S90’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Ergonomics

The S90 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Avalon Hybrid Limited, the S90 Ultimate has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The S90’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon Hybrid’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The S90’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Avalon Hybrid’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S90 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S90 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Avalon Hybrid Limited’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The S90’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the S90 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The S90 Ultimate has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The S90 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Avalon Hybrid Limited.

The S90 Ultimate offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Avalon Hybrid.

The S90 has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

The S90 was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2017. The Avalon Hybrid has never been an “All Star.”

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