Compare the2023 Porsche PanameraVS 2023 Volvo V90 Cross Country

The Porsche Panamera has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Panamera 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 and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Panamera and the V90 Cross Country have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Panamera has a standard 850-amp battery. The V90 Cross Country’s 800-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Panamera’s reliability 17 points higher than the V90 Cross Country.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 56 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche 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 Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

The Panamera’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 30 more horsepower (325 vs. 295) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid. The Panamera 4S’ standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 148 more horsepower (443 vs. 295) and 95 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid. The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid produces 160 more horsepower (455 vs. 295) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid. The Panamera GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 178 more horsepower (473 vs. 295) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 395 more horsepower (690 vs. 295) and 331 lbs.-ft. more torque (641 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Porsche Panamera turbo V6 is faster than the Volvo V90 Cross Country:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the V90 Cross Country Plus (49 city/51 hwy MPGe vs. 22 city/29 hwy).

The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 19 miles. The V90 Cross Country can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Panamera Turbo/GTS’ fuel efficiency. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Panamera and the V90 Cross Country have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Panameras 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 Cross Country.

The Panamera E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (21.1 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 7.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (23.7 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The Panamera offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Panamera’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Panamera’s brake rotors are larger than those on the V90 Cross Country:

The Panamera offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Panamera stops much shorter than the V90 Cross Country:

For better traction, the Panamera has larger standard tires than the V90 Cross Country (F:265/45R19 & R:295/40R19 vs. 235/50R19). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the V90 Cross Country (F:275/35R21 & R:325/30R21 vs. 245/45R20).

The Panamera’s standard 265/45R19 front and 295/40R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the V90 Cross Country’s standard 50 series tires. The Panamera’s optional 275/35R21 front and 315/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the V90 Cross Country’s optional 40 series tires.

The Panamera 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 V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Panamera uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V90 Cross Country, 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 Panamera offers an available adjustable 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 V90 Cross Country.

The Panamera has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Panamera’s wheelbase is .3 inches longer than on the V90 Cross Country (116.1 inches vs. 115.8 inches). The Panamera Executive’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the V90 Cross Country (122 inches vs. 115.8 inches).

The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo handles at .99 G’s, while the V90 Cross Country Plus pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.9 seconds quicker than the V90 Cross Country Plus (23.5 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Panamera w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the V90 Cross Country’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The front grille of the Panamera 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 Cross Country doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Panamera offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Panamera Sport Turismo a Large car, while the V90 Cross Country is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The Panamera Sport Turismo has 10 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V90 Cross Country (108 vs. 98).

The Panamera has .6 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear headroom than the V90 Cross Country.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The V90 Cross Country’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 25% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The Panamera’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Panamera’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 V90 Cross Country does not have an oil pressure gauge.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the Panamera (except Sport Turismo) and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the Panamera to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Panamera’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Panamera and the V90 Cross Country offer available massaging front seats. The Panamera also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the V90 Cross Country.

The Porsche Panamera comes in four door hatchback and station wagon bodystyles; the Volvo V90 Cross Country isn’t available as a four door.

The Panamera is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Porsche Panamera outsold the Volvo 90 Series by 57% during 2022.