Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the NX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Lexus NX 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 V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the NX and the V60 Cross Country have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, 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.

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 NX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 30 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The V60 Cross Country has not been fully tested, yet.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V60 Cross Country. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the V60 Cross Country ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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 Lexus NX’s reliability 12 points higher than the V60 Cross Country and the Lexus NX Hybrid is rated 34 points higher than the V60 Cross Country.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 14th.

The NX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (275 vs. 247) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 258) than the V60 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 450h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 57 more horsepower (304 vs. 247) than the V60 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Volvo V60 Cross Country:

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the V60 Cross Country B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the NX 450h running on electricity gets better mileage than the V60 Cross Country B5 (93 city/75 hwy MPGe vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the V60 Cross Country:

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The V60 Cross Country can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the NX 350h/450h’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus NX higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Volvo V60 Cross Country (5). This means the NX produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the V60 Cross Country every 15,000 miles.

The NX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a CVT.

The NX stops shorter than the V60 Cross Country:

For better traction, the NX has larger tires than the V60 Cross Country (235/60R18 vs. 215/55R18).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The NX has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The V60 Cross Country’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the NX uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60 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 NX 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 or off-road. The V60 Cross Country’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Lexus NX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Volvo V60 Cross Country.

The NX is 4.8 inches shorter than the V60 Cross Country, making the NX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The NX has .9 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more rear legroom than the V60 Cross Country.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the NX’s rear seats recline. The V60 Cross Country’s rear seats don’t recline.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the NX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The NX’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 V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The NX’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 V60 Cross Country has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the NX has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The NX 350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The NX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus NX as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus NX outsold the Volvo 60 Series by almost seven to one during 2022.