Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 Volvo V90 Cross Country

The Porsche Cayenne 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 Cayenne 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. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 Cayenne’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 Cayenne’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 40 more horsepower (335 vs. 295) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne S’ standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 139 more horsepower (434 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 Cayenne GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 158 more horsepower (453 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 Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard 3.0 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 Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 375 more horsepower (670 vs. 295) and 353 lbs.-ft. more torque (663 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running on electricity gets better mileage than the V90 Cross Country:

The Cayenne can travel with zero emissions for 15 to 17 miles (dependent on model). The V90 Cross Country can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the Cayenne 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 Cayennes 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 Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (19.8 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 7.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (23.7 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The Cayenne’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 Cayenne’s brake rotors are larger than those on the V90 Cross Country:

The Cayenne 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 Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the V90 Cross Country:

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the V90 Cross Country (F:255/55R19 & R:275/50R19 vs. 235/50R19). The Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the V90 Cross Country (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 245/45R20).

The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the V90 Cross Country’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne offers optional 22-inch wheels. The V90 Cross Country’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Cayenne 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 Cayenne 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 Cayenne 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 Cayenne has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Cayenne’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the average track on the V90 Cross Country.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the V90 Cross Country Plus pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the V90 Cross Country Plus (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the V90 Cross Country’s (35.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne has a greater minimum ground clearance than the V90 Cross Country (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the V90 Cross Country (9.6 vs. 7.9 inches).

The front grille of the Cayenne 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 Cayenne has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the V90 Cross Country.

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

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume than the V90 Cross Country with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 19.8 cubic feet).

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the V90 Cross Country’s (7700 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the Cayenne 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 Cayenne’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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 Cayenne’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.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’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.

The Cayenne’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The V90 Cross Country’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The V90 Cross Country isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the Volvo 90 Series by almost 8 to one during 2022.