Compare the2023 Volvo XC90VS 2023 Genesis GV80

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC90 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Genesis GV80 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The XC90’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The GV80 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC90 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Genesis GV80 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The Volvo XC90 offers an optional built in child booster seat. It’s more crash worthy than an added child seat because of its direct attachment to the seat. Genesis doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the GV80. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC90 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC90’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The GV80’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XC90 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The GV80 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The XC90 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GV80 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Compared to metal, the XC90’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Genesis GV80 has a metal gas tank.

Both the XC90 and the GV80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volvo XC90 is safer than the Genesis GV80:

	XC90	GV80
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	137	328
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	25 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	217	263
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	34%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	228 lbs.
Neck Compression	25 lbs.	65 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	383/334 lbs.	388/497 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volvo XC90 is safer than the Genesis GV80:

	XC90	GV80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	255 lbs.	293 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	209	290
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	383 lbs.	640 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC90 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GV80 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The XC90’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the GV80’s (12 vs. 7 years).

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the XC90 has a standard 210-amp alternator. The GV80’s standard 150-amp alternator and largest (3.5T) 180-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

The battery on the XC90 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the XC90’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The GV80’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The XC90 has more powerful engines than the GV80:

	Horsepower	Torque
XC90 T8 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid	455 HP	523 lbs.-ft.
GV80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	300 HP	311 lbs.-ft.
GV80 3.5T 3.5 turbo V6	375 HP	391 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder is faster than the GV80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

	XC90	GV80
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	6.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15.5 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	96 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XC90 running on electricity gets better mileage than the GV80:

			MPGe
XC90
	AWD	Extended Range Electric Motor	64 city/68 hwy
		T8 Electric Motor	58 city/53 hwy
GV80
			MPG
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/23 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the XC90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GV80:

			MPG
XC90
	AWD	2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/28 hwy
		Extended Range 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/27 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
GV80
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/23 hwy

The XC90 can travel with zero emissions for 18 to 36 miles (dependent on model). The GV80 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the XC90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GV80 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The XC90 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 GV80 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The XC90 stops shorter than the GV80:

	XC90	GV80
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	170 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	117 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XC90’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GV80 (275/45R20 vs. 265/40R22).

The XC90’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GV80’s optional 40 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XC90’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the GV80 (117.5 inches vs. 116.3 inches).

The XC90 B6 Core handles at .84 G’s, while the GV80 ADVANCED pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XC90 B6 Core executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GV80 Standard (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the XC90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GV80 (8.8 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the XC90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The XC90 w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.8 inches higher than on the GV80 (9.9 vs. 8.1 inches).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the XC90 B6 Core is quieter than the GV80 ADVANCED (71 vs. 72 dB).

Passenger Space

The XC90 has .1 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more third row headroom and 1.6 inches more third row legroom than the GV80.

Cargo Capacity

The XC90’s cargo area provides more volume than the GV80.

	XC90	GV80
Behind Third Seat	12.6 cubic feet	11.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	35.6 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	34.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	85.7 cubic feet	84 cubic feet

The XC90’s cargo area is larger than the GV80’s in every dimension:

	XC90	GV80
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.8”/49.6”/80.3”	15.9”/44.7”/79”
Max Width	54.7”	53”
Min Width	44.5”	41.7”
Height	35”	31.1”

The XC90 has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The GV80 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the XC90 uses the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GV80 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GV80, the XC90 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.

If the windows are left open on the XC90 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GV80 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the XC90 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GV80 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 XC90 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GV80 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XC90 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The GV80 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The XC90 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Recommendations

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Volvo XC90, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.

Motor Trend selected the XC90 as their 2016 Sport Utility of the Year. The GV80 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC90 as the 2016 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The GV80 has never been chosen.

The Volvo XC90 outsold the Genesis GV80 by almost two to one during 2022.