The Bentayga offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The XC90 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.
The front and rear suspension of the Bentayga uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XC90, which uses coil springs in front and transverse leafs springs in the rear. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.
The Bentayga offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XC90.
For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Bentayga V8’s wheelbase is .4 inches longer than on the XC90 (117.9 inches vs. 117.5 inches). The Bentayga EWB’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the XC90 (125 inches vs. 117.5 inches).
For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Bentayga is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC90.
The Bentayga S handles at .88 G’s, while the XC90 B6 Core pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.
The Bentayga SPEED executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the XC90 B6 Core (24.6 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).
For better maneuverability, the Bentayga EWB’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the XC90’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet).
For greater off-road capability the Bentayga has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC90 (9.7 vs. 8.8 inches), allowing the Bentayga to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.